hardware survey Archives

Winsage

July 2, 2026

Windows 11 surpasses 70% among PC gamers on Steam as Windows 10 starts fading away

Windows 11 has surpassed 70% market share among Steam users, reaching 70.44% with a 0.68% increase from the previous month. Windows 10's market share has declined by 0.43%. Linux's market share has decreased by 0.30% to 3.69%, down from 2.57% last year, while macOS has risen by 0.05% to 2.21% from 1.76% last year.

Winsage

July 2, 2026

Windows 11 hits a new PC gaming milestone on Steam with over 70% market share — Windows 10’s time is running out

In June 2026, Steam's Hardware Survey reported that Windows remains the dominant operating system. Linux's market share decreased by 0.30% to 3.69%, although it is an improvement from 2.57% the previous year. macOS increased by 0.05% to 2.21%, up from 1.76% a year ago. Windows 11 continues to attract users despite controversies surrounding Microsoft. Windows 10 is nearing the end of its life, prompting discussions about the future of operating systems.

Winsage

June 16, 2026

The RTX 20 series has officially become Nvidia’s Windows 7

Windows 7 now has a user base of only 0.07%, while 8.54% of Nvidia RTX owners still use the RTX 20 series graphics cards. The RTX 20 series, launched in 2018, introduced technologies like ray tracing and DLSS, which have since evolved and become standard in modern gaming. Despite their decline, both Windows 7 and the RTX 20 series are still utilized by loyal users, with the RTX 20 series being the oldest generation still in use. The RTX 20 series is recognized for laying the groundwork for advancements in PC gaming, and its long-term impact is expected to be significant.

AppWizard

June 14, 2026

Sony pulling back from PC also means it’s pulling back from China

Sony has shifted away from porting singleplayer PlayStation titles to PC, raising concerns about competition with Valve. Alinea Insights reported that 42% of Death Stranding 2's PC sales came from China, its largest market on Steam. Approximately 39.48% of Steam users have their language set to English, while 21.85% prefer Simplified Chinese, representing over 30 million players. Shift Up, developer of Stellar Blade, announced they will not partner with Sony for the sequel, focusing on a global market strategy. Alinea's analysis shows that releasing games on PC does not harm PlayStation sales; Death Stranding 2 saw increased PS sales following its PC launch, and Stellar Blade also experienced a rise in PS5 sales despite not being discounted. Launching games on PC broadens the player base and enhances marketing opportunities.

Winsage

June 5, 2026

Linux is losing ground on Steam as Windows 11 continues its rise among PC gamers — is Microsoft repairing its reputation?

In May 2026, Linux accounts for 3.99% of Steam users, down from a peak of 5.33% in March and a decline from 4.52% in April. This decline follows a period of growth when Microsoft faced challenges with Windows. Despite being higher than sub-2% levels previously, the continuous decrease is notable. Microsoft is increasing its focus on gaming performance, likely in response to competition from Linux, especially with the upcoming launch of Project Helix, a hybrid of PC and console gaming.

Winsage

May 27, 2026

The Witcher 3’s new expansion drops Xbox One and Windows 10 — “Hardware capabilities have evolved”

A beloved RPG is returning with a new expansion, leading to updated minimum PC requirements. The new specifications are as follows: - CPU: AMD Ryzen 5 2600 / Intel Core i5-8400 (previously Intel Core i5-2500K 3.3GHz / AMD A10-5800K APU 3.8GHz) - GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 / AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT 8GB (previously NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 / AMD Radeon HD 7870) - VRAM: 6 GB (unchanged) - RAM: 12 GB (previously 6 GB) - Storage: 70 GB SSD (previously 50 GB available space) - OS: 64-bit Windows 11 (previously 64-bit Windows 7 / 64-bit Windows 8 or 8.1) Support for legacy platforms like Xbox One is being phased out. Windows 11 has a market share of 67.74%, while Windows 10 is at 25.63%. CD Projekt Red stated that the updated requirements are necessary for smooth performance and compatibility with new content. The expansion is set for release on Xbox Series X|S, PS5, and PC in 2027.

Winsage

May 11, 2026

Microsoft keeps fixing Windows and Xbox, but the community keeps complaining

Microsoft has rolled out four Windows Insider builds, introduced new hidden features, and revamped the Windows Run feature. Despite these advancements, many Windows 10 users are hesitant to upgrade due to financial constraints. Xbox Mode has received criticism for its performance on dual monitor setups. Approximately 25% of Windows users on Steam are still using Windows 10. Windows 11 will enhance CPU frequency during high-priority tasks, and recent Insider builds have improved touchpad gestures, File Explorer descriptions, and voice-typing interface. Users can now prevent Chrome and Edge from automatically downloading local AI models. Feedback on new features like the Low Latency Profile has been predominantly negative, with users expressing concerns over CPU spikes.

Winsage

May 6, 2026

Why are 25%+ gamers still using Windows 10 despite its EOL status?

A significant portion of gamers, over 25%, continues to use Windows 10 despite its end-of-life status declared on October 14, 2025. Reasons for this preference include: 1. Windows 10 has reached peak stability after years of updates, providing reliable performance. 2. It is compatible with older PCs, allowing gamers to use existing hardware without costly upgrades. 3. Windows 10 has fewer AI features, offering a streamlined experience preferred by many gamers. 4. Basic applications launch more swiftly in Windows 10 compared to Windows 11, enhancing performance. 5. Windows 10 has fewer ads and bloatware, resulting in a cleaner user interface. 6. Users can create a local account during setup in Windows 10, unlike the mandatory Microsoft account requirement in Windows 11. However, Windows 10 is no longer receiving security updates, which poses a risk as vulnerabilities may arise without patches.

AppWizard

May 6, 2026

Review: Pragmata PC Review: Path Tracing Is A Game Changer

Path tracing scalability is maximized on the RTX 5090 with 4K DLSS quality mode, while the RTX 5070 can achieve a commendable experience using optimized settings at 1440p DLSS balanced mode. The RTX 5070 is the most prevalent Blackwell GPU according to the Steam Hardware Survey, indicating that path tracing is becoming mainstream. Optimal performance in Pragmata on an 8GB GPU requires selecting the lowest texture quality setting due to bugs and potential stuttering with medium settings. Higher mesh quality settings may reduce geometry on 8GB cards. Optimized settings for Pragmata include various configurations for ray tracing, texture quality, and shadow quality, closely mirroring developer settings for current-generation consoles. Enabling the shadow cache option significantly improves frame rates by reusing existing shadow data.

Winsage

May 4, 2026

6 months after Windows 10 was put to pasture, over a quarter of Steam users are still on the dying OS

Windows holds a 93.47% share of users on Steam, but only 67.74% have upgraded to Windows 11 nearly five years after its launch, with 25.53% still using Windows 10. The adoption of Windows 11 has been hindered by the TPM 2.0 requirement and high hardware costs. Linux's share of Steam users decreased from 5% to 4.52%. Governments, including France, are considering alternatives to Windows.