Steam’s Summer Sale kicked off with exciting discounts, but many users faced issues accessing the store. Reports of outages started around 9:50 a.m. Pacific Time, quickly gaining traction. By 10:30 a.m., over 3,000 reports flooded in about problems accessing the store.
For those checking an unofficial Steam Status page, it confirmed that the store was “offline,” while other services seemed to work fine. Issues escalated with the Steam Charts page, which was not loading properly, although it indicated over 32 million people were online.
The timing of these outages is critical. As noted by tech experts, server overload often occurs during major sales events like this, especially during the first hours. A recent survey revealed that 83% of online shoppers prioritize fast load times during sales. But with millions scrambling to snag their favorite games, crashes become inevitable.
Social media lit up with users expressing their frustrations. Many joked about Valve being “allergic” to money, showcasing errors they encountered while trying to fill their carts. The popular game, *Gris*, which was heavily discounted, became a litmus test for many users as they reported failing to add it to their carts. This reflection of community sentiment can be seen on platforms like Reddit and X.
The outages are not uncommon. A similar crash took place during last December’s Winter Sale; however, that one resolved in under an hour. So far, this summer’s issues have persisted longer, leaving users in suspense wondering when normalcy would return.
As the outage continued for over two hours, reports surged on Down Detector, reaching about 5,000 instances. While navigating this frustrating experience, shoppers remained hopeful that they could soon access their wishlists and complete purchases. Fortunately, some users noted that the shopping functionality was gradually returning by the end of the day, with reports dropping significantly.
For now, it seems Valve will need to optimize its server capabilities to handle high traffic better during peak times like these. As gamers regroup and share their experiences, it’s clear that while outages are a setback, the excitement of sales keeps the community engaged. Here’s hoping for smoother sailing the next time around!