As the clock ticks down to the end of support for Windows 10 on October 14, a notable shift is occurring within the gaming community. Recent surveys from Steam reveal a significant migration towards Windows 11, with the percentage of users still on Windows 10 plummeting from nearly half in February to just 35% today.
According to data from Jon Peddie Research (JPR), this transition is having a profound impact on the PC gaming hardware market, which has experienced a remarkable 35% growth in 2025, reaching a valuation of .4 billion. This surge encompasses not only sales of desktops and notebooks but also the DIY PC building segment and various peripherals and accessories. The research firm attributes much of this growth to consumers upgrading their hardware to accommodate Windows 11.
Users are upgrading their hardware, not just software
JPR highlights that a significant number of gamers are opting for new prebuilt systems as they transition to Windows 11. Ted Pollak, Senior Gaming Analyst at JPR, notes, “Never before in the history of the Microsoft Windows operating system has there been a forced hardware migration requirement. And this cannot be solved by swapping out a graphics card. It requires a CPU upgrade for over 100 million gamers, which, in turn, requires a motherboard upgrade and most likely RAM as well.”
“We are observing that most PC gamers are simply buying new prebuilt systems,” says the firm.
Ted Pollak, Senior Gaming Analyst at Jon Peddie Research
This trend is not limited to prebuilt systems; the DIY gaming community is also adapting. Pollak explains that many DIY enthusiasts are building new computers alongside their existing Windows 10 setups rather than attempting to retrofit their current machines. Dr. Jon Peddie, President of JPR, anticipates a notable decline in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years, projecting a decrease of around 13%, including those who may exit the PC platform altogether.
While Windows 10 will continue to function on existing PCs, the cessation of technical support, software updates, and security fixes from Microsoft makes upgrading a prudent choice, particularly for those who have been considering a new gaming rig. Although the system requirements for Windows 11 are not overly demanding, they do exclude some users with older entry-level hardware.
Interestingly, there has also been a noticeable uptick in Steam users exploring Linux as an alternative. Valve’s SteamOS, utilized in its Steam Deck handheld device, remains the dominant Linux-based operating system on the platform, but growth is evident in other areas as well.
