7.41e patch: hero data updated, no cosmetic release
Patch 7.41e is a gameplay balance update with no new cosmetics, so our item catalog and prices stayed as they were. We updated the hero pages and matchup data on July 31.
Source / data basis: Official Valve 7.41e patch notes and our hero data updated July 31, 2026.
Patch 7.41e changed hero balance, not the cosmetic catalog. The official notes list balance changes and no new marketable cosmetics, so our item list and prices didn’t need replacing. A hero buff or nerf on its own doesn’t move a specific item’s price.
On July 31 we updated the gameplay stats on the hero pages and added matchup data dated 2026-07-31. The draft challenge and pick helper use that data, and each shows the date it was last updated.
When you look for a patch effect on prices, keep three dates apart: the patch release, the match data and the price date. Rolling match stats can include games from before the patch, so they aren’t 7.41e-only win rates. To see whether a cosmetic reacted to the patch, compare that item’s price before and after the release date.
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Mid-2026 market check: catalog total vs Economy Index
Our catalog total and the Economy Index measure different things. Here’s how to read both, and why a change in coverage can look like a price drop.
Source / data basis: Our price data and the methodology shown on the Economy Index page.
A catalog total and an economy index measure different things. The total adds one price per item in our list; the Economy Index tracks a basket of items scaled to a historical dollar anchor. Neither counts every copy players own. In a three-item example, prices of $2, $5 and $20 total $27 no matter how many copies exist.
With an example anchor of $1.53 billion, a 2% rise in the basket gives $1.5606 billion. The anchor sets the scale of the index; it isn’t a market value to read into every new point. The market report shows which periods and items are covered, not the total money traded.
Check coverage before calling a price move. If the $2 item in that example loses its price, the total becomes $25 with two of three items priced. Calling $27 → $25 a 7.4% market drop mixes up coverage with price. Compare the same items over the same dates, and note any coverage difference next to the total.
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New items in our catalog: what “first seen” means
“First seen” is the date an item first appeared in our data. It isn’t necessarily the release date, the first trade or a hint about where the price will go.
Source / data basis: Our first-seen data and the date of the price data shown; release dates are not inferred.
A “first seen” item is new to our data, not necessarily new from Valve. A quality variant, wider coverage or a correction can bring in an older cosmetic. Match the full name, quality, bundle status and date before calling something a launch.
An audit of the first-seen ledger that ships with the 23 July 2026 catalog found 31,198 entries dated 2020-01-01. That date is a placeholder for older items with no earlier price history, not the day we first saw them. For example, the entry “- 米克 - player sticker - ti 2023” carries it, which doesn’t mean a TI 2023 sticker came out in 2020. The new items page uses recent first-seen dates to find candidates, not to rebuild official release history.
Before buying a new item, check the exact variant and price type, then look at a matching listing on the marketplace. When you compare prices over time, use the same variant and price type at each date. Keep release date, first-seen date and first recorded price in separate columns — we don’t record an item’s first-ever trade.
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Steam fees can wipe out a flip margin
A resale price above what you paid can still lose money after Steam fees. Here’s the break-even math, using our fee calculator’s model, last reviewed July 20, 2026.
Source / data basis: Our fee calculator’s fee model, last reviewed July 20, 2026.
Selling above your purchase price can still lose money after fees. On Steam, the 5% and 10% fees are added on top of what the seller receives. If you paid $10 and want $10 back, the next buyer has to pay $11.50. A resale price of $11 isn’t break-even: $11 ÷ 1.15 ≈ $9.57, before cent rounding.
Use the fee calculator in “I want to receive” mode with a $10 target, then try another price in “Buyer pays this” mode. Its fee model was last reviewed on 2026-07-20, so always read the actual receive amount on the marketplace — especially for cheap items, where minimum fees apply.
At the penny end, minimum fees dominate. Our fee model gives $0.01 received from a $0.03 buyer price and $0.08 from $0.10 — one cent per fee in both cases. To receive $0.10, the buyer has to pay $0.12. Check the receive amount before calling a small flip profitable.
The investment calculator lets you compare possible future sale prices, but it can’t find a buyer at them. If demand falls short of your target, you choose between a lower sale now and waiting. Include a loss scenario when you decide to wait, and remember that Steam Wallet funds aren’t the same as a bank payout.
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Price vs buy order: reading the spread before you sell
The gap between an item’s price and its highest buy order helps you compare, but it doesn’t mean a buyer is waiting at that price for every copy.
Source / data basis: Steam price and highest buy order from the same price update.
A buy order in our data isn’t a buyer waiting for your item. It’s useful for comparison: with a $10 price and an $8 buy order, the $2 gap is (10 − 8) ÷ 10 = 20% of the price. Measured against $8, the same gap is 25%. Always say which amount the percentage uses.
Neither number proves a sale at $8 or includes all costs. On the market, check the exact item, currency, matching buy order and quantity. A buy order for two copies doesn’t price ten copies at that amount. Check what you’ll actually receive after fees separately.
Use the price table to find items to compare, then follow the selling steps for a Steam Wallet sale. If no buy order matches your copy, treat the quick-sale price as unknown rather than zero or an old value.
