The latest Steam hardware survey reveals a significant shift in PC gaming operating systems, with Windows 11 now powering over half of Steam users. According to Valve’s October 2024 data, 51.97% of surveyed users are running Windows 11, marking a 4.28% increase from the previous month and the highest share the OS has achieved since its launch. This surge comes despite Windows 11 being available for over three years.
Conversely, Windows 10’s popularity continues to decline, dropping by 2.71% to 45.95% of surveyed users. This trend solidifies Windows 11’s lead, initially established just a few months prior in the August survey. The gap between the two operating systems is steadily widening, with the majority of Windows 10 users seemingly migrating directly to Windows 11. This growth contrasts with earlier this year when Windows 11 adoption on Steam actually dipped, with some users citing superior gaming performance on Windows 10.
Survey results for the October 2024 Steam hardware survey.
This migration isn’t entirely unexpected, given Microsoft’s impending retirement of Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025. While Microsoft will offer an additional year of paid security updates for $30, the free upgrade to Windows 11, including ongoing security updates, presents a compelling incentive for users to transition before support for Windows 10 officially ends.
While Windows 11 undoubtedly offers improvements over its predecessor, it still faces challenges, particularly for PC gamers. Recent examples include performance issues with AMD’s Ryzen 9000 CPUs at launch, largely attributed to Windows 11 compatibility. Though the 24H2 update addressed these specific problems, such bugs and inconsistencies remain prevalent within Windows 11’s interaction with PC gaming hardware, even three years after its release.
Beyond the OS: Other Hardware Trends
Although the Steam hardware survey’s month-to-month fluctuations can be volatile, the consistent upward trend for Windows 11 since mid-2024 is noteworthy. Other findings, however, present some intriguing anomalies. For instance, the RTX 3060 experienced a 1.53% surge in usage, reaching 7.24% of Steam users. This increase is puzzling, considering the RTX 3060 is no longer a top-tier graphics card, and the newer RTX 4060 delivers superior performance at a comparable price point.
Optimizing Windows 11 for Gaming
For recent Windows 11 adopters, exploring optimization strategies for gaming is highly recommended. Compared to Windows 10, Windows 11 offers a plethora of gaming-centric features, including the updated Xbox Game Bar (crucial for CPUs like the Ryzen 7 7800X3D) and DirectStorage technology.
In conclusion, the Steam hardware survey highlights Windows 11’s growing dominance in the PC gaming landscape. Driven by the upcoming Windows 10 retirement and the allure of free upgrades, gamers are steadily embracing the newer operating system despite its ongoing challenges. This shift underscores the evolving landscape of PC gaming and the importance of staying abreast of hardware and software trends.
