It appears that the reign of Windows 11 at the top of the gaming world has been cut short, as Valve's latest data show Windows 10 once again beating its younger sibling in the battle of operating systems on Steam. In September 2024, the Steam Hardware & Software Survey revealed Windows 10's market share surged to 48.66%, marking an increase of 1.57 percentage points from the previous month. Meanwhile, Windows 11 saw a proportional drop to 47.69%, a decline of 1.48 points .
Furthermore, it’s worth noting that despite this temporary leap, Windows 11 is not done yet. As of October 1, it reportedly reached an all-time global market share high of over 33.3% according to Statcounter. Experts anticipate that as Windows 10 edges toward its end of support in October 2025, and with significant updates rolling out for Windows 11, many users are expected to upgrade .
Source: Neowin Windows 10 is once again the most popular OS on Steam
Quick Turnaround: Windows 10's Sudden Comeback
Last month, Windows 11 had taken the lead for the first time since its launch three years ago, signaling a possible shift in the landscape of PC gaming. However, this victory proved fleeting. The curious case of October shows that while Windows 11’s market share had recently been celebrated, it has swiftly regressed back to the second place.Stats & Trends: What the Numbers Say
The Steam survey reported that 64-bit Windows 7 still clings to its spot in third place with a mere 0.31%, while an enigmatic entry labeled "Windows 2022" has emerged, accounting for approximately 0.08% of users. Notably, Windows continues to dominate the gaming platform, being the operating system of choice for 96.84% of the surveyed participants .Furthermore, it’s worth noting that despite this temporary leap, Windows 11 is not done yet. As of October 1, it reportedly reached an all-time global market share high of over 33.3% according to Statcounter. Experts anticipate that as Windows 10 edges toward its end of support in October 2025, and with significant updates rolling out for Windows 11, many users are expected to upgrade .
What’s Fueling These Changes?
The cyclical nature of user preferences can often be traced back to several factors. In this case, while Windows 10 benefits from existing user loyalty and familiarity—especially with the uncertainty around Windows 11 and its hardware requirements—Windows 11's recent major updates point to a more robust gaming experience than before. These include enhancements designed to improve gaming performance and user interface, which could attract more players back to the newer system in the near future.Hardware Choices
On the hardware side, nothing groundbreaking has shifted in a month. Steam users generally stick with the tried-and-true configurations: the most popular choice remains 16GB of RAM, a six-core processor, and the Nvidia RTX 3060 graphics card featuring 8GB of VRAM, alongside a resolution of 1080p for gaming . Interestingly, Intel processors dominate with a significant 66.6% market share amongst surveyed participants, while Nvidia's grip on the GPU market is even firmer at 77.75% .Conclusion: A Title Likely to Change Hands Again
While Windows 10 sits snugly on its throne this month, the game isn't over. The dynamics between Windows 10 and 11 continue to evolve, with Windows 11 ready to make a comeback as more users get acclimated to it. As the industry pushes toward more advanced gaming requirements, it will be fascinating to see how these trends play out leading into 2025 and beyond. Windows Forum users should stay tuned for further developments: who knows, next month's statistics might show a new twist in this ongoing rivalry!Source: Neowin Windows 10 is once again the most popular OS on Steam