Steam’s November Hardware & Software Survey landed with a clear, measurable shift: Windows 11 now runs on roughly two-thirds of Steam clients, while midrange laptop GPUs and 8 GB of VRAM have become the de facto baseline for many gamers — a set of changes that matters for gamers, developers, OEMs and anti‑cheat vendors alike.
Valve’s monthly Steam Hardware & Software Survey is a voluntary, opt‑in snapshot of the Steam user base that reports operating system breakdowns, GPU models, memory sizes, display resolutions and other telemetry from clients that choose to participate. It is a gamer‑centric sample — heavy on enthusiasts, recent buyers and portable gaming — so it should be read as an indicator of trends inside the gaming market rather than a literal census of all desktops worldwide. That caveat matters because small percentage-point changes on Steam still equate to millions of machines in absolute terms. November 2025’s topline numbers crystallize a post‑Windows‑10 moment: Windows 11 (64‑bit) registered 65.59% share on Steam, a jump of approximately +2.02 percentage points month‑over‑month, while Windows 10 (64‑bit) fell to 29.06%. Combined Windows usage remains dominant at 94.79%, while Linux climbed to 3.20%, a modest but notable rise within the Steam cohort. Those specific figures are reported directly by Steam and echoed by multiple outlets covering the survey.
Actionable takeaway: treat Steam’s November snapshot as both a current state and a directional leading indicator. For game studios and hardware partners, it’s time to align feature testing, driver support and marketing around a user base that increasingly expects Windows 11 as the default experience — while still supporting a significant Windows 10 tail and watching Linux’s gradual ascent.
Windows 11’s majority on Steam is not merely a stat; it’s a practical signal that the gaming ecosystem — from developers to OEM shelves — must respect. At the same time, the persistence of Windows 10 users, the modest rise of Linux, and the prominence of laptop GPUs mean the platform picture will remain multi‑faceted for months to come. Stakeholders who read the Steam snapshot correctly will pair immediate operational changes (test matrices, security audits, buyer messaging) with a long‑view strategy that hedges for continued heterogeneity in player hardware and operating systems.
Source: Windows Central https://www.windowscentral.com/gami...ey-windows-11-linux-gains-windows-10-decline/
Background / Overview
Valve’s monthly Steam Hardware & Software Survey is a voluntary, opt‑in snapshot of the Steam user base that reports operating system breakdowns, GPU models, memory sizes, display resolutions and other telemetry from clients that choose to participate. It is a gamer‑centric sample — heavy on enthusiasts, recent buyers and portable gaming — so it should be read as an indicator of trends inside the gaming market rather than a literal census of all desktops worldwide. That caveat matters because small percentage-point changes on Steam still equate to millions of machines in absolute terms. November 2025’s topline numbers crystallize a post‑Windows‑10 moment: Windows 11 (64‑bit) registered 65.59% share on Steam, a jump of approximately +2.02 percentage points month‑over‑month, while Windows 10 (64‑bit) fell to 29.06%. Combined Windows usage remains dominant at 94.79%, while Linux climbed to 3.20%, a modest but notable rise within the Steam cohort. Those specific figures are reported directly by Steam and echoed by multiple outlets covering the survey. What moved in November: the headline shifts
Windows 11’s acceleration and the Windows 10 tail
- Windows 11 (64‑bit): 65.59% (+2.02% MoM).
- Windows 10 (64‑bit): 29.06% (-2.08% MoM).
- Windows (all versions combined): 94.79% of Steam users.
Linux’s quiet but consequential growth
- Linux: 3.20% (+0.15% MoM).
GPU and memory trends: laptop silicon and VRAM normalization
- Most reported GPU model: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU — ~4.22% of reported GPUs.
- Desktop RTX 3060 closely trails at ~4.16%.
- 8 GB of VRAM is now the modal VRAM size at 33.36%.
Why the numbers matter — practical implications
For gamers and buyers
- Security and feature parity: Windows 10’s end‑of‑support means no more free security updates or regular fixes after October 14, 2025. Users must consider either upgrading to Windows 11, enrolling in limited Extended Security Updates (if eligible), or migrating to other platforms. Microsoft documents these end‑of‑support details and recommended paths.
- Buying considerations: The November snapshot shows midrange laptop GPUs dominating — a signal that value‑oriented performance (mobile RTX 4060, RTX 3060 range) hits the sweet spot for most Steam users. Gamers shopping in holiday windows will find competitive laptop deals that offer strong price/performance at 1080p and even capable 1440p play.
- VRAM and longevity: With 8 GB VRAM now the most common configuration, modern AAA textures and ray‑tracing budgets increasingly assume that baseline. Systems with less VRAM will struggle sooner on upcoming titles that target richer texture sets.
For developers and QA teams
- Test matrix complexity: Despite Windows 11’s majority, nearly 30% of Steam’s gamer cohort still runs Windows 10, so developers cannot abruptly drop Windows 10 compatibility without excluding a large player slice. Anti‑cheat systems and multiplayer frameworks in particular must be tested across both OS families to avoid fragmentation.
- Platform diversification: Linux’s incremental growth, the Steam Deck’s continued footprint, and Valve’s SteamOS investments mean localization of testing and compatibility for Linux/Proton increasingly matters for single‑player and indie titles. Competitive multiplayer will remain the sticking point due to kernel‑level anti‑cheat complexities.
- Target hardware: The midrange GPU skew in Steam telemetry suggests developers can safely prioritize performance targets around 8 GB VRAM, 16 GB system RAM for baseline builds, and optimized fidelity presets for laptop GPUs that handle many players’ actual hardware.
For OEMs, retailers and component vendors
- Inventory and messaging: Windows 11 preinstalled on new systems is no longer niche; it’s the default. Retail messaging and driver packaging should emphasize Windows 11 readiness and clear upgrade paths for shoppers with older machines. Timing promotions around Steam‑reported SKU spikes (mobile RTX 4060, for instance) can amplify conversion.
- Pricing effects: The prevalence of laptop GPUs in the survey is partly a pricing story — many RTX 40‑series laptop SKUs offer better immediate value than desktop counterparts during holiday promotions, explaining why laptop silicon climbs quickly in usage polls in November.
Technical verification and cross‑checks
To ensure the figures and claims in this analysis are accurate, the key numbers were verified against multiple independent sources:- Steam’s official hardware survey data for November 2025 provides the raw percentages for OS share, GPU models and VRAM distribution. Those published tables list Windows 11 at 65.59%, Windows 10 at 29.06%, Linux at 3.20%, RTX 4060 Laptop GPU at ~4.22%, and 8 GB VRAM at 33.36%.
- Windows‑facing reporting outlets and technology press coverage summarizing the survey corroborate the headline movements and add market context (retail cycles, Steam Deck influence on Linux). Coverage from mainstream tech publications reproduces the same topline figures.
- Microsoft’s official documentation confirms Windows 10 end of support on October 14, 2025, which helps explain the timing of migration reflected in the November snapshot.
Strengths of Steam survey data — what it reliably shows
- Gamer‑centric signal: Steam samples actual players and their installed hardware; for game developers and publishers this is often more actionable than broad desktop telemetry.
- High sensitivity to retail cycles: Laptop refreshes and holiday deals show up quickly in the survey, making it a good near‑term barometer for what players actually own this month.
- Useful hardware profile: RAM, VRAM and GPU model breakdowns allow studios to size minimum/recommended specs for the majority of their active audience.
Limits and risks — what the Steam snapshot does not tell you
- Not representative of all PCs: The Steam survey overrepresents gaming enthusiasts and early buyers; corporate fleets, low‑end consumer rigs and certain regions are underrepresented. Inferring global PC market shares from Steam alone risks overstating adoption speed.
- SKU wobble and timing bias: Laptop GPU rankings can spike quickly because OEM shipments and holiday promotions concentrate many new machines into a short period. That’s why mobile RTX 4060 can top the model list in November and shift again once the promotional window closes.
- Anti‑cheat and closed‑ecosystem friction: Linux’s rise is meaningful but limited by anti‑cheat and proprietary driver ecosystems; several large online competitive titles still have partial or no Proton compatibility. That constrains Linux adoption for multiplayer gamers despite gains in single‑player and handheld segments.
- Sample volatility: Monthly shifts can reflect who logged into Steam that month (e.g., new buyers) rather than a smooth installed base migration. Small percentage changes should be interpreted with that volatility in mind.
Practical guidance: what stakeholders should do now
For everyday gamers (short checklist)
- Check Windows compatibility: Run Microsoft’s PC Health Check or Settings > Windows Update to confirm if your machine can upgrade to Windows 11. If it can, weigh security and feature benefits.
- Back up before upgrades: Use Windows Backup or third‑party tools to preserve saves, settings and licenses. Major OS migrations benefit from a clean backup.
- Consider hardware trade‑offs: If your system can’t meet Windows 11 requirements, evaluate whether a targeted hardware refresh (e.g., TPM module or newer CPU) or a replacement PC is more cost‑effective than paid ESU extensions.
For developers and QA leads
- Maintain Windows 10 test coverage for the near term: With ~29% of Steam users still on Windows 10, deprecating support too fast will exclude players and increase support tickets. Prioritize critical path testing across both OSes, and document Windows‑specific regressions.
- Add Linux smoke tests where possible: Use Proton testbeds and Steam Deck QA to catch regressions early, particularly for single‑player and modifiable titles. Plan resources for kernel‑level compatibility where anti‑cheat or proprietary drivers are in play.
- Use midrange hardware for performance targets: Optimize for 8 GB VRAM and realistic laptop thermal envelopes — most of your active audience sits in that sweet spot.
For IT and enterprise purchasers
- Audit Windows 10 fleets: Identify devices that cannot be upgraded and prioritize replacements where security or compliance matters. Consider ESU only as a short bridge for essential systems.
- Coordinate game‑testing and workstation provisioning: If enterprise teams require gaming hardware for development or simulation workloads, plan procurement around Windows 11 compatibility and current GPU VRAM baselines.
Wider market signals and what to watch next
- Holiday and OEM cycles: Expect laptop GPU rankings to fluctuate into early 2026 as new desktop GPU generations and retail promotions settle into standard shipping patterns. Steam’s November spike for laptop RTX 4060 is a seasonal signal, not necessarily a durable desktop market takeover.
- Linux momentum: Watch for whether Valve’s SteamOS improvements, Proton advances and handheld ecosystem growth translate into steady month‑over‑month gains beyond niche spikes. Continued improvements in anti‑cheat compatibility would materially accelerate Linux adoption for multiplayer titles.
- Developer support windows: Monitor how quickly major publishers stop shipping Windows 10‑specific builds or cease testing on legacy APIs; those moves will be leading indicators for when the broader gaming ecosystem flips to Windows 11 as the de facto baseline.
Final analysis — strengths, risks and takeaways
November’s Steam survey tells a clear, actionable story: Windows 11 has crossed a practical adoption threshold among active Steam users, and mobile midrange GPUs plus an 8 GB VRAM baseline dominate the gaming hardware profile. Those shifts matter because Steam’s audience overindexes for early buyers and high‑engagement players — the segment that often sets expectations for launch requirements and developer support windows. Strengths of this signal include the survey’s direct line to gamers and its sensitivity to retail cycles; weaknesses are the known sampling biases and the volatility introduced by laptop refresh waves. Risks include fractured support expectations (developers juggling OS and anti‑cheat permutations), security exposure for Windows 10 holdouts, and potential overreliance on short‑term GPU rankings to inform long‑term hardware roadmaps.Actionable takeaway: treat Steam’s November snapshot as both a current state and a directional leading indicator. For game studios and hardware partners, it’s time to align feature testing, driver support and marketing around a user base that increasingly expects Windows 11 as the default experience — while still supporting a significant Windows 10 tail and watching Linux’s gradual ascent.
Windows 11’s majority on Steam is not merely a stat; it’s a practical signal that the gaming ecosystem — from developers to OEM shelves — must respect. At the same time, the persistence of Windows 10 users, the modest rise of Linux, and the prominence of laptop GPUs mean the platform picture will remain multi‑faceted for months to come. Stakeholders who read the Steam snapshot correctly will pair immediate operational changes (test matrices, security audits, buyer messaging) with a long‑view strategy that hedges for continued heterogeneity in player hardware and operating systems.
Source: Windows Central https://www.windowscentral.com/gami...ey-windows-11-linux-gains-windows-10-decline/
