Nearly half of all Steam users use Windows 11 – but why?
It was recently revealed that Windows 11’s market share has declined as more and more users opt for Windows 10. Gamers must have missed the memo, though, because it turns out that Windows 11 is gaining ground as the most popular operating system among Steam players. .
Given that, my position is that Microsoft is simply doing it enter Windows 11 and instead moving to launch and support Windows 12, it’s fascinating to see gamers actually leaning into the operating system to the point that almost half of gaming PCs surveyed by Valve have it installed.
According to data from the latter Steam Hardware and Software ResearchWindows 11 is installed by 45.15% of Steam users, while Windows 10 has an install base of 51.02%. Currently, the two major operating systems are neck and neck, with 11 having a chance to take over as the most popular gaming operating system, especially since 10 is on the decline in that regard and all of today’s best gaming PCs come with Windows 11. Pre-installed.
But why?
It’s fascinating why this would be the case, as there isn’t much incentive for gamers to make the switch. There are more niche features like Auto HDR, advertised as a Windows 11 setting that makes older games look as vibrant and bright as modern releases, but the setting does almost nothing.
Then there is the matter of ads that appear in the Start menu with no option to log out, which – in addition to the forced integration of AI into the operating system – has made the user interface more cluttered and annoying to navigate. It honestly baffles me why so many gamers have made the switch with so little material benefit and so many downsides.
So it’s possible that so many gamers installed 11 out of convenience and not any kind of material benefits. All current Windows PCs have Windows 11 installed instead of Windows 10, meaning if you bought a desktop or laptop in 2022 or later, you already have it.
Although almost half of Steam gamers are currently using Windows 11, there is a huge group of users who would rather stick with Windows 10 than move on, despite the fact that Windows 10 will end of support (EOS) in October 2025 for users looms. Or maybe that’s the answer. They may be waiting to move on Windows 12 instead of addressing the problems of using Windows 11.
Regardless of the reason, Windows 11 at least received some good news after its fair share of bad press in recent weeks.