Nearly half of Steam’s users are still using Windows 10, with end of life fast approaching – PC Guide – For The Latest PC Hardware & Tech News
By subscribing, you agree to our Privacy Policy and may receive occasional deal communications; you can unsubscribe anytime. Microsoft has already announced that after October 14, 2025, they will no longer provide free software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10. This means that in just a few months, Windows 10 will join the list of unsupported operating systems alongside Windows 8.1 and Windows 7. However, a significant portion of users, especially gamers, are not willing to switch to Windows 11, at least not yet.This comes from Steam’s January 2025 Hardware & Software Survey, which shows that while Windows 11 is the most popular Windows OS, over 40% of users are still on Windows 10. Windows 11 has been out for four years now, yet many gamers haven’t found a compelling reason to upgrade. But now, with Windows 10 nearing its end of life, it seems Microsoft will be pushing them to make the switch.“End of life and end of support are terms that refer to the end of technical support and security updates for Windows 10. After 10 years, this older version of Windows will no longer receive free software updates from Windows Update, technical assistance or security fixes. For consumers, end of support means that Microsoft recommends updating to the latest version of Windows for the latest critical updates and support that can keep you secure online.”Windows 11 came with some pretty specific hardware requirements, which essentially meant that those with pre-2018 processors would not be able to upgrade. This is perhaps one of the biggest reasons why nearly half of Steam users are still using Windows 10.Now, using an unsupported OS doesn’t mean you won’t be able to use your device, but it does make your system more vulnerable to malware attacks and viruses as security updates are no longer being pushed. This means that those who care about protecting their data may now have to upgrade to a better device just to get a supported OS.This has led gamers to seek alternatives, with some suggesting that now would be a great time for SteamOS to be released. And as much as we’d like to see that happen, it’s not going to be anytime soon. Valve does plan to bring SteamOS to more devices – we’ve already seen this with the upcoming Lenovo Legion Go S powered by SteamOS – but for desktop users, there are still some hurdles preventing a widespread release.Will you be buying a new handheld with SteamOS?Yes, I’ll be buying the Lenovo Legion Go S with SteamOSNo, I’m happy gaming on a Windows handheldI already have a Steam Deck and don’t need to upgradeI’m waiting for a sequel to the Steam Deck before I upgradeHassam boasts over seven years of professional experience as a dedicated PC hardware reviewer and writer.Our team of experts use a combination of independent consumer research, in-depth testing where appropriate – which will be flagged as such, and market analysis when recommending products, software and services. Find out how we test here.Copyright © 2025 PC Guide. All rights reserved.
