Valve has made a significant announcement regarding its support for Windows 10 32-bit systems, revealing plans to discontinue this service starting January 1, 2026. Users still operating on 32-bit versions are encouraged to transition to a 64-bit system to ensure continued access to Steam’s features and updates.
Details of the Transition
In a recent update on the Steam support page, Valve clarified that while 32-bit games will continue to function for the time being, the Steam clients currently installed on these systems will not receive updates after the cutoff date. This includes essential security updates and technical support, which will no longer be available for users on outdated operating systems.
Interestingly, Valve noted that Windows 10 32-bit is currently utilized by a mere 0.01 percent of systems, according to their Steam Hardware Survey. Despite Steam being a 32-bit application on Windows, the company has indicated that future iterations of the platform will exclusively operate on 64-bit versions of Windows.
Valve’s announcement comes in tandem with Microsoft’s decision to end support for Windows 10, as well as Windows 8.1 and 7, on October 14. While these operating systems will remain functional, they will no longer receive updates or technical assistance, which poses a growing risk of cyber vulnerabilities for users.
In light of these developments, Valve strongly encourages users to upgrade their operating systems sooner rather than later, as core features within Steam are not supported on 32-bit versions of Windows. This proactive step will not only enhance security but also ensure a smoother gaming experience moving forward.
