Nvidia's RTX 5070 Leads Current-Gen GPU Sales, AMD's RDNA 4 Absent from Steam Survey

The recent Steam Hardware Survey for August 2025 presents an intriguing snapshot of the graphics card market, particularly highlighting the dominance of Nvidia's current-generation offerings. Despite some inherent distortions within the survey data, the findings indicate that Nvidia's RTX 5070 has secured the top position among the newest GPU hardware. Conversely, AMD's RDNA 4 series, including the Radeon RX 9070 XT and RX 9060 XT, are conspicuously missing from the top 100 most popular GPUs, a surprising revelation given AMD's earlier pronouncements regarding their market performance. This disparity underscores a significant difference in market penetration and user adoption between the two major GPU manufacturers.

While the RTX 5070's popularity is not entirely unforeseen, its standing above other current-gen GPUs like the RTX 5060 or 5060 Ti is noteworthy, especially considering its price point. Historically, older and more budget-friendly Nvidia GPUs, such as the 50 and 60-series, have dominated the top ranks, with the RTX 3070 being the first 70-series card to appear in the overall top eight. The RTX 5070, a GPU priced over $500, has only recently become widely available at or below its Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP). The complete absence of AMD's RDNA 4 GPUs from the list is particularly perplexing, given AMD's assertions of overwhelming demand for these products, which have kept their prices consistently high and above MSRP, suggesting a significant supply-demand imbalance.

Analysis of recent financial reports further supports the notion of a production discrepancy between the two companies. AMD's gaming revenue, which includes substantial contributions from console sales, remains considerably lower than Nvidia's, whose revenue is primarily driven by discrete GPUs. While some critics argue that AMD's GPUs might be categorized generically in the Steam survey, thus obscuring their true popularity, the declining combined share of 'AMD Radeon(TM) Graphics' and 'AMD Radeon Graphics' in the rankings makes it unlikely that RDNA 4 cards are simply hiding within these broad categories. The prolonged absence of individually listed RDNA 4 GPUs, nearly six months post-launch, raises questions about AMD's production capacity and its ability to deliver its latest architecture to a broader consumer base, particularly given its stated aim of targeting mainstream gamers with RDNA 4.

Ultimately, the latest Steam survey paints a clear picture of the current GPU landscape, where Nvidia continues to hold a significant lead in user adoption, especially with its newer, higher-end offerings. The persistent popularity of 8 GB GPUs like the RTX 4060 and 3060 among Steam users, despite advancements in graphics technology, reflects an ongoing consumer preference for affordability and accessibility. This trend highlights the importance of balancing innovative technology with practical considerations of supply and pricing, ensuring that cutting-edge hardware is not only powerful but also widely available to the gaming community. For companies striving for leadership in this dynamic market, understanding and addressing these multifaceted aspects will be key to long-term success and widespread user engagement.