In the latest hardware and software survey conducted by Steam for January 2025, a notable trend has emerged among its users. The data reveals that over 44 percent of gamers are still utilizing Windows 10, while a slight majority, 55 percent, have made the transition to Windows 11, as reported by PC Guide.
Impending Deadline for Windows 10 Support
Microsoft has been transparent about its plans regarding Windows 10, announcing that official support will cease on October 14, 2025. This impending deadline raises concerns for users, as the operating system will no longer receive new security updates, potentially leading to increased instability and susceptibility to malware.
Since its launch four years ago, Windows 11 has been offered as a free upgrade for Windows 10 users. However, the transition is not as straightforward as it seems. The stringent hardware requirements for Windows 11 have left many older PCs ineligible for the upgrade, creating a divide among users.
For those still operating on Windows 10, the time may be ripe to consider an upgrade to Windows 11 before the support deadline looms. Alternatively, users can opt to extend their Windows 10 support for a fee or continue using the outdated system, albeit at the risk of leaving their PCs exposed to vulnerabilities.
As the deadline approaches, it will be intriguing to observe how the balance between Windows 10 and Windows 11 users shifts in the coming months.
Graphics and Storage Insights
In addition to the operating system statistics, the Steam hardware survey has unveiled insights into the gaming hardware landscape. The most prevalent graphics card among Steam users is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060, boasting 16GB of memory. Furthermore, the survey indicates that the most common storage capacity exceeds 1TB, with users typically having between 100GB to 249GB of free space available.
Further reading: Hidden Steam features you shouldn’t overlook
This article was originally published in our sister publication PC för Alla and has been translated and localized from Swedish.
