Windows 11 has officially become the most popular operating system for gaming on Steam, surpassing Windows 10 for the first time in history. According to Steam’s monthly hardware and software survey, the 64-bit version of Windows 11 saw a significant increase in usage, growing by 3.36% in August to reach 49.17% of all Steam-connected computers. This marks the first time Windows 11 has claimed the top spot since its release in 2021.
In contrast, Windows 10 experienced a decline, losing 3.07% of its user base, now at 47.09%. Despite being an older OS, Windows 7, launched in 2009, still has a small but persistent presence among gamers, with 0.37% of users.
- Windows: 96.78%
- macOS: 1.30%
- Linux: 1.92%
When looking at Steam’s broader landscape of operating systems, Microsoft dominates the platform with a combined share of 96.78% across all Windows versions. The remaining share is split between macOS at 1.30% and Linux at 1.92%. This data highlights gamers’ strong preference for Windows, with Windows 11 now leading the charge.
What explains the turnaround?
The rise of Windows 11 as the most popular gaming OS on Steam can be attributed to two key factors: its increasing global adoption and the specific requirements of next-generation PC games.
While many games still list Windows 10 as the minimum requirement, it’s becoming more common for developers to recommend Windows 11 to achieve optimal performance and take advantage of the latest system optimizations.
Additionally, new PCs sold in the market often come pre-installed with Windows 11, making it a default choice for those upgrading or starting fresh for gaming purposes. This shift naturally drives more gamers towards the latest version of the OS, contributing to its growing popularity on platforms like Steam.
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Windows 10 falls but is still the most used in the world
While Windows 11 has become the top choice for gaming on Steam, Windows 10 remains the most widely used operating system globally. According to data from Statcounter, Windows 10 accounts for 64% of computers running Microsoft’s OS, compared to 31% for Windows 11.
Released in 2015, Windows 10 continues to be popular, particularly on older or less powerful devices that don’t meet the hardware requirements for upgrading to Windows 11. Despite Microsoft’s plan to end official support for Windows 10 in October 2025, the company is offering a paid subscription service that extends updates for an additional three years.
Meanwhile, Windows 11 is showing steady growth. Its market share increased from just over 23% in August 2023 to 31% a year later. Although Windows 10 still leads, the gap between the two versions is closing each month, indicating a gradual shift towards Windows 11 as more users adopt the newer OS.
