Recent data from Valve’s latest Steam hardware survey reveals a significant shift in the operating system landscape among gamers. Windows 11 has surged to a remarkable 51.97% adoption rate, marking a 4.28% increase from the previous month. This is the highest share the operating system has achieved since its launch over three years ago. In contrast, Windows 10, which now accounts for 45.95% of users, has experienced a decline of 2.71%. The transition is notable, especially since Windows 11 first surpassed Windows 10 in the August survey, and the gap continues to widen as users migrate.
As the clock ticks down to the retirement of Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, the urgency for gamers to transition grows. Microsoft plans to provide an additional year of security updates for Windows 10, but only for those willing to pay a fee of . Given that most PCs can now upgrade to Windows 11 at no cost, the decision to switch becomes increasingly logical, especially with the promise of ongoing security updates.
Challenges and Improvements in Windows 11
While Windows 11 is undeniably gaining traction, it is not without its challenges, particularly for the gaming community. Recent reports highlighted performance issues with AMD’s Ryzen 9000 CPUs at launch, which were largely attributed to compatibility problems with Windows 11. Fortunately, the recent 24H2 update has addressed these concerns, yet such bugs and anomalies have been a recurring theme since the operating system’s debut.
Despite the occasional hiccups, the trend toward Windows 11 appears to be solidifying. The Steam hardware survey, while not infallible, has shown a consistent increase in Windows 11 adoption since mid-year. Interestingly, the survey also noted a 1.53% rise in the RTX 3060’s user base, now representing 7.24% of Valve’s surveyed gamers. This increase is somewhat perplexing, given that the RTX 3060 is no longer considered a top-tier graphics card, especially with the newer RTX 4060 offering superior performance at a similar price point.
For those who have recently made the switch to Windows 11, there are numerous features designed to enhance the gaming experience. The latest Xbox Game Bar and DirectStorage are among the advancements that cater specifically to gamers, particularly those utilizing high-performance CPUs like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D. To maximize the benefits of this new operating system, gamers are encouraged to explore optimization guides tailored for Windows 11.
