What's Happening?
A significant number of Steam users have recently transitioned to Windows 11, as the end of support for Windows 10 approaches. According to the latest Steam Hardware Survey, the share of users on Windows 11 has increased by 2.65%, now accounting for 63.04% of those surveyed. This shift comes as Microsoft plans to cease support for Windows 10 later this month, prompting users to upgrade to the newer operating system. Despite the increase in Windows 11 users, Windows 10 has seen a decline of 2.9%, indicating that some users may have switched to other operating systems, such as Linux, which saw a minor increase of 0.04%. The survey highlights the general trends among Steam users, although it is not a perfect representation of Valve's platform user base.
Why It's Important?
The transition from Windows 10 to Windows 11 among Steam users is significant as it reflects broader trends in the gaming community and the tech industry. With Microsoft ending support for Windows 10, users are compelled to upgrade to ensure continued security and compatibility with new software. This shift may impact game developers and publishers, who need to ensure their products are optimized for Windows 11. Additionally, the stringent system requirements for Windows 11, including support for TPM, could affect users with older hardware, potentially driving hardware upgrades. The move also highlights the importance of staying updated with the latest operating systems to access new features and security updates.
What's Next?
As the deadline for Windows 10 support approaches, it is expected that more users will transition to Windows 11. Microsoft may continue to offer security updates for Windows 10 for another year, but users will likely face increasing pressure to upgrade. Game developers may need to adapt their software to ensure compatibility with Windows 11's requirements, such as Secure Boot for anti-cheat measures. Users with older hardware may need to consider upgrading their systems to meet Windows 11's requirements, or explore alternative operating systems like Linux. The next Steam Hardware Survey will provide further insights into these trends.
