After nearly three years, PC players can finally welcome a fresh new champion. According to the latest Steam Hardware Survey for August 2024, Windows 11 has surpassed Windows 10 as the preferred operating system among gamers, marking a significant shift in user preferences since 2016.
According to recent statistics, Windows maintains its prominent position in the market, boasting a substantial 96.78 percent overall share among users running versions including Windows 11, 10, 8, and 7. Across various platforms, including macOS and Linux, adoption rates remain relatively stable, yet still account for a modest 3.22% share of the total market. Customers experience native gaming performance with SteamOS, the default operating system on the Steam Deck. Although SteamOS would be an attractive option for a Steam Deck, the ideal gaming PCs currently rely on Windows – at least, for the time being.
As Windows 11 marks its third anniversary, a clear indication emerges that Microsoft’s concerted efforts to migrate users to its most recent operating system have finally begun to bear fruit. According to the latest August Steam Survey, Windows 11 adoption has surged by 3.36%, now boasting an impressive 49.17% market share among users. Microsoft’s market share for Windows 10 support has declined by approximately 3.07%, resulting in a total customer base share of 47.09% as of now.
As of January 2024, Steam support has ceased for Windows 7 and 8 users, with only 0.44% of users remaining on these outdated platforms, an increasingly small fraction of the larger picture. As the Windows 10 support deadline approaches in less than a year, I anticipate a gradual decline in support as each new gaming PC is released, with momentum building towards eventual obsolescence over the next 12 months. The two-horse race is gathering momentum, but the introduction of a fresh racing chief has injected a new dynamic into the competition.
Microsoft’s celebration, however, marks a milestone that has been years in the making. The launch of Windows 11 was met with a lukewarm reception from gamers due to concerns over performance and the requirement for newer hardware, including support for TPM 2.0 chips, which made it incompatible with older devices. Despite offering free upgrades to Windows 11, many users remain hesitant to switch until further notice.
Microsoft deliberately limits access to its most advanced features on Windows 11, using a tiered system to drive adoption of its latest innovations.
Microsoft’s DirectStorage technology expertly accelerates game loading times and boosts gaming performance on PCs equipped with top-notch gaming solid-state drives (SSDs), functioning seamlessly on Windows 10 yet receiving the most significant enhancements on Windows 11.
When planning to build a gaming PC, it’s highly recommended to install Windows 11, as Microsoft will only provide security updates for Windows 10 until October 2025.
