The annual holiday tradition of video game discounts has arrived once more at Steam as they unleash the 2025 version of their Winter Sale. which runs from today through until 10:00 Pacific time on January 5, 2026… that grim first Monday of the year.

For me and my fellow pedants it is technically not yet winter yet, as the solstice doesn’t arrive until Sunday.  But I always feel like all of December is winter.  It is one of those situations where I don’t need to be technically correct, even if I felt I had to point it out.  Something is wrong with me I am sure.

Along with that rider about the start of winter I also have a habit of pointing out how the sale aspect of the event isn’t as special as it once was.  Now it almost feels like remembering how special Christmas was as a child.  But there are sales year round and I am an adult and can buy stuff whenever I darn well please, right?

Still, as with memories of childhood, there is still a little ache in my heart remembering how exciting Steam having its big winter sale once was.

Which is not to say there are not some good deals.  The Deep Discounts page has a few items worth note such as the LEGO Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga for just five bucks.

Meanwhile, Icarus, which is on my wishlist as Potshot was looking at it as a possible next destination for the group… well, that is just tree fiddy now!

Icarus available for 90% off

So I will shop, even if the sale thing is a bit jaded in many of us.

But wait, there is more!

It is also time to vote in the annual Steam Awards.

This will at least pass a bit of time.  I do like that they point out if any of the titles you nominated made the final cut for the awards vote.  And look who I nominated for Game of the Year.

Game of the Year Award Choices

That’s right, I went with Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, a game I know nothing about, BEFORE it won all the awards at The Game Awards this year.

That said, I voted for Dispatch this round, if only because I tend to vote against any title that is too popular, and hasn’t Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 won enough freaking awards this year?

The other nomination of mine that made it to the finals was for No Man’s Sky under the Labor of Love category.

The Labor of Love Award choices

Last year NMS got robbed by Baldur’s Gate 3, which was barely old enough to have had any post-launch labors at that point.  It is like these popularity contests are just popularity contests or something.  Anyway, we’ll see if Larian using AI for… whatever they are claiming now… changes the equation.

The rest of the categories involve games with which I have had zero contact, so I am just trying to counter-program with my votes.

Outstanding Visual Style Award Choices

That’s right, I am going with My Little Puppy for visual style!  Fight me!

Anyway, you can cast your vote until Jan 3, 10:00 AM Pacific Time, after which I assume the winners will be announced.

And then there is your annual Steam Replay for 2025.  As I have done in the past, I will go into mine in its own post.  But you can see what Steam thinks of what you play style it.

I think I have advertised for Steam enough here.  They aren’t the only one having a sale, but I might get to a bit of that later.

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