Gamers across the globe continue to embrace Windows 11 in ever-rising numbers, with the latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey illuminating a seismic shift not just from Windows 10, but from alternative operating systems as well. Now, with Windows 11 firmly established as the foremost single operating system among Steam users, its ascendency reveals much about the evolving landscape of PC gaming and the hardware trends that are shaping the experience for millions.
Every month, Valve's Steam platform publishes the Steam Hardware & Software Survey, an unprecedented insight into what gamers are running on their machines. The June snapshot paints a compelling picture: Windows 11 grew by 1.54% in its share among Steam users, now holding just shy of 60% of the Windows market on the world's largest PC gaming platform.
Notably, this shift is not solely attributed to users upgrading from Windows 10. Instead, the trend appears to align with a broader movement away from other operating systems—namely, macOS and Linux—whose shares have marginally declined in the same period. According to the data, Windows' total user share on Steam saw a slight uptick, while macOS and Linux ceded ground, suggesting that some who formerly gamed on these platforms are returning, or converting, to Windows, and particularly Windows 11.
DirectStorage and Gaming-First Features:
One of Windows 11’s most touted gaming features is DirectStorage, promising significant reductions in load times for games designed to leverage NVMe SSDs. Earlier reports and developer posts highlight performance gains in select titles, although the real-world impact remains somewhat mixed and heavily dependent on how game developers utilize this API. Meanwhile, Auto HDR and enhanced compatibility with the latest graphics drivers cement Windows 11 as the OS most closely aligned with the direction modern PC gaming is headed.
User Interface and Productivity:
Despite a mixed reception to its UI overhaul, Windows 11 offers refinements such as improved window management, a modern Start Menu, and virtual desktops, which can translate to a smoother experience for power users toggling between gaming sessions and productivity tasks.
Security and Support:
Security is a major talking point in Windows 11’s design. The system requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, both of which, Microsoft asserts, better protect users from firmware-level threats. While some view these requirements as unnecessarily restrictive, they point toward a future where security isn’t a last-minute consideration. Microsoft’s commitment to long-term support and regular updates is another factor pushing both consumers and enterprise toward adopting its newest OS.
Nonetheless, Windows 7 is finally reaching irrelevance, its share now minuscule on Steam. The push-pull of extended support and legacy hardware compatibility will likely prevent Windows 10’s numbers from dropping off a cliff, but the inexorable march toward Windows 11 dominance is clear.
Yet, Valve’s continuing investment in Proton and SteamOS (powering devices like Steam Deck) signals that Linux will remain a contender, at least in the handheld and enthusiast spheres. For now, however, serious PC gaming is all but synonymous with Windows.
This marks a significant milestone. While desktops still dominate the top ten, the rise of the RTX 4060 laptop GPU is telling. More gamers are playing on mobile machines, often with performance that rivals desktop setups from just a few years prior. As premium desktop cards reach ever-higher price points, the value proposition of high-end laptops, especially those powered by the RTX 4060, becomes increasingly attractive.
Affordability is a major driver. With some top desktop GPUs costing more than a complete mid-range gaming laptop, the calculus for buyers is shifting. Students, professionals, and casual gamers are drawn to the all-in-one convenience and portability, especially when it comes with little compromise in performance for most titles.
The surge in popularity of devices like the Steam Deck underscores this shift. Valve’s handheld runs a Linux-based OS, and its success stories point to an ecosystem that, while still not threatening Windows’ hegemony, continues to diversify the ways people play PC games.
For most gamers, the move to Windows 11 is evolutionary. They gain access to modern features, improved performance in select cases, and ongoing support for new hardware standards. Even those sticking with Windows 10 benefit indirectly, as the competitive dynamic ensures a high baseline for PC gaming experiences.
Wider Hardware Support and Gaming Mobility
The rise of RTX 4060-powered laptops means more people can game on the go, blurring the lines between mobile and stationary play. This opens up PC gaming to audiences who might not have had the space, budget, or interest in a full desktop setup.
Healthy Competition Means Better Value
AMD’s ongoing gains inject healthy competition into the CPU and GPU markets. Consumers benefit from more choices and better value, as both Intel and AMD race to deliver the best performance at accessible price points.
There are concerns—justified, in many cases—about Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements. TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and modern CPUs are mandatory, leaving older but still very capable systems unable to upgrade. While extended support for Windows 10 provides a cushion, some fear Microsoft’s approach is nudging users toward unnecessary upgrades.
Fragmentation and Compatibility
The diversity of hardware, particularly as gaming laptops and handhelds proliferate, means ongoing challenges for developers optimizing games across myriad configurations. Ensuring consistent performance and compatibility is already a formidable task, and increasing hardware diversity complicates matters.
Linux and macOS—Perennial Underdogs
Despite improvements, Linux and macOS remain on the outside looking in. For Linux, Valve’s Proton and native support efforts help, but hurdles remain, especially for anti-cheat-heavy multiplayer titles. MacOS faces even steeper odds, with Apple Silicon and limited developer focus meaning most AAA games never make it to the platform.
What remains unclear is how developers, hardware manufacturers, and platform owners will navigate the increasing fragmentation of the PC gaming ecosystem. Continued support for legacy users, optimization for wildly varied hardware, and the slow but persistent growth of alternatives like Linux all signal that flexibility—and not just raw power—will define the next era of PC gaming.
Steam’s numbers bear out an undeniable fact: there has never been a better time to be a PC gamer. Whether you’re playing on the bleeding edge with Windows 11 and an RTX 4060 laptop, sticking with Windows 10 for a while longer, or experimenting on handheld Linux-powered devices, the choices have never been more expansive—or more exciting.
Source: Windows Central Gamers continue to make the switch to Windows 11 — and not just from Windows 10, either
Every month, Valve's Steam platform publishes the Steam Hardware & Software Survey, an unprecedented insight into what gamers are running on their machines. The June snapshot paints a compelling picture: Windows 11 grew by 1.54% in its share among Steam users, now holding just shy of 60% of the Windows market on the world's largest PC gaming platform.Notably, this shift is not solely attributed to users upgrading from Windows 10. Instead, the trend appears to align with a broader movement away from other operating systems—namely, macOS and Linux—whose shares have marginally declined in the same period. According to the data, Windows' total user share on Steam saw a slight uptick, while macOS and Linux ceded ground, suggesting that some who formerly gamed on these platforms are returning, or converting, to Windows, and particularly Windows 11.
Why Windows 11? Gaming Features, Optimization, and Future-Proofing
Windows has always been the operating system of choice for the majority of PC gamers, a fact driven home by the consistent figures Steam reports month after month. But what’s compelling users to jump to Windows 11 specifically?DirectStorage and Gaming-First Features:
One of Windows 11’s most touted gaming features is DirectStorage, promising significant reductions in load times for games designed to leverage NVMe SSDs. Earlier reports and developer posts highlight performance gains in select titles, although the real-world impact remains somewhat mixed and heavily dependent on how game developers utilize this API. Meanwhile, Auto HDR and enhanced compatibility with the latest graphics drivers cement Windows 11 as the OS most closely aligned with the direction modern PC gaming is headed.
User Interface and Productivity:
Despite a mixed reception to its UI overhaul, Windows 11 offers refinements such as improved window management, a modern Start Menu, and virtual desktops, which can translate to a smoother experience for power users toggling between gaming sessions and productivity tasks.
Security and Support:
Security is a major talking point in Windows 11’s design. The system requires TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot, both of which, Microsoft asserts, better protect users from firmware-level threats. While some view these requirements as unnecessarily restrictive, they point toward a future where security isn’t a last-minute consideration. Microsoft’s commitment to long-term support and regular updates is another factor pushing both consumers and enterprise toward adopting its newest OS.
The Downside for Legacy Users
As Windows 10’s usage share wanes—it still commands a significant portion of Steam users but is declining steadily—the question of legacy support grows louder. Recently, Microsoft announced an extension to Windows 10’s security updates, allowing users to pay for updates for at least another year. This lifeline will appeal to those unable, or unwilling, to upgrade. Whether due to hardware compatibility, enterprise restrictions, or resistance to change, a non-trivial slice of the PC gaming audience is set to stay on Windows 10, at least for the near future.Nonetheless, Windows 7 is finally reaching irrelevance, its share now minuscule on Steam. The push-pull of extended support and legacy hardware compatibility will likely prevent Windows 10’s numbers from dropping off a cliff, but the inexorable march toward Windows 11 dominance is clear.
Alternative Platforms: The Outlook for macOS and Linux Gamers
While Windows gains ground, both macOS and Linux saw a marginal slip in their already modest Steam shares. The challenge for these operating systems is formidable—Apple’s hardware is not known for widespread gaming support, and while Proton (Valve’s compatibility layer for Linux) has made significant strides, compatibility gaps and performance deltas remain for many marquee titles.Yet, Valve’s continuing investment in Proton and SteamOS (powering devices like Steam Deck) signals that Linux will remain a contender, at least in the handheld and enthusiast spheres. For now, however, serious PC gaming is all but synonymous with Windows.
The GPU Landscape: RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Dethrones a King
Perhaps just as striking as the operating system shift is the change at the top of Steam’s most-used graphics cards. For what seemed like an eternity, NVIDIA’s GeForce RTX 3060 held the crown, beloved for its blend of affordability and performance. But in a surprise twist, June’s data put the RTX 4060 laptop GPU in the top spot.This marks a significant milestone. While desktops still dominate the top ten, the rise of the RTX 4060 laptop GPU is telling. More gamers are playing on mobile machines, often with performance that rivals desktop setups from just a few years prior. As premium desktop cards reach ever-higher price points, the value proposition of high-end laptops, especially those powered by the RTX 4060, becomes increasingly attractive.
Laptops on the Rise: Changing How We Game
The popularity of the RTX 4060 laptop GPU is more than a curiosity—it suggests a tangible shift in gamer preferences. PC gaming has long been the province of the desktop, prized for upgradability and raw power. Yet, the last few years have seen meteoric improvements in mobile GPUs and CPU performance-per-watt, narrowing the gap between laptops and desktops.Affordability is a major driver. With some top desktop GPUs costing more than a complete mid-range gaming laptop, the calculus for buyers is shifting. Students, professionals, and casual gamers are drawn to the all-in-one convenience and portability, especially when it comes with little compromise in performance for most titles.
AMD’s Steady Climb: The Rise of Alternatives
Intel has long held a dominant position among PC gamers, but that lead is narrowing. AMD’s Ryzen CPUs have brought fierce competition, offering high core counts and excellent gaming performance often at lower price points. According to both the Steam survey and market analysts, AMD continues to close the gap on Intel, a trend likely to continue with the recent wave of premium gaming handhelds powered by AMD chips, including the Steam Deck and ASUS ROG Ally.The surge in popularity of devices like the Steam Deck underscores this shift. Valve’s handheld runs a Linux-based OS, and its success stories point to an ecosystem that, while still not threatening Windows’ hegemony, continues to diversify the ways people play PC games.
Evaluating the Upsides: Strengths of the Current Landscape
Windows 11 Delivers Evolution, Not RevolutionFor most gamers, the move to Windows 11 is evolutionary. They gain access to modern features, improved performance in select cases, and ongoing support for new hardware standards. Even those sticking with Windows 10 benefit indirectly, as the competitive dynamic ensures a high baseline for PC gaming experiences.
Wider Hardware Support and Gaming Mobility
The rise of RTX 4060-powered laptops means more people can game on the go, blurring the lines between mobile and stationary play. This opens up PC gaming to audiences who might not have had the space, budget, or interest in a full desktop setup.
Healthy Competition Means Better Value
AMD’s ongoing gains inject healthy competition into the CPU and GPU markets. Consumers benefit from more choices and better value, as both Intel and AMD race to deliver the best performance at accessible price points.
The Risks and Potential Downsides
Hardware Requirements and Forced ObsolescenceThere are concerns—justified, in many cases—about Windows 11’s strict hardware requirements. TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, and modern CPUs are mandatory, leaving older but still very capable systems unable to upgrade. While extended support for Windows 10 provides a cushion, some fear Microsoft’s approach is nudging users toward unnecessary upgrades.
Fragmentation and Compatibility
The diversity of hardware, particularly as gaming laptops and handhelds proliferate, means ongoing challenges for developers optimizing games across myriad configurations. Ensuring consistent performance and compatibility is already a formidable task, and increasing hardware diversity complicates matters.
Linux and macOS—Perennial Underdogs
Despite improvements, Linux and macOS remain on the outside looking in. For Linux, Valve’s Proton and native support efforts help, but hurdles remain, especially for anti-cheat-heavy multiplayer titles. MacOS faces even steeper odds, with Apple Silicon and limited developer focus meaning most AAA games never make it to the platform.
Looking Ahead: What’s Next for PC Gaming?
The data reveals a clear trajectory: Windows 11 will likely eclipse Windows 10 entirely within the foreseeable future, at least among Steam users. Laptops, once seen as a compromise for “real gaming,” are increasingly becoming reference platforms in their own right, and AMD’s steady rise ensures continued innovation and choice in the market.What remains unclear is how developers, hardware manufacturers, and platform owners will navigate the increasing fragmentation of the PC gaming ecosystem. Continued support for legacy users, optimization for wildly varied hardware, and the slow but persistent growth of alternatives like Linux all signal that flexibility—and not just raw power—will define the next era of PC gaming.
Steam’s numbers bear out an undeniable fact: there has never been a better time to be a PC gamer. Whether you’re playing on the bleeding edge with Windows 11 and an RTX 4060 laptop, sticking with Windows 10 for a while longer, or experimenting on handheld Linux-powered devices, the choices have never been more expansive—or more exciting.
Key Takeaways for Gamers and Enthusiasts
- Windows 11 now commands nearly 60% of the Windows share among Steam users, with growth coming not just from Windows 10 but from macOS and Linux converts.
- Microsoft’s extension of Windows 10 security updates means the older OS will remain a significant presence, but momentum is clearly with Windows 11.
- The RTX 4060 laptop GPU has become the most-used GPU on Steam, marking a shift toward gaming on portable devices.
- AMD continues to narrow the gap with Intel in both desktop and portable markets, powered by devices like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally.
- Despite ongoing advances, Linux and macOS maintain only niche status among PC gamers, with Windows as the near-universal platform for serious play.
- The increasing diversity in gaming hardware poses both opportunities and challenges for developers, hardware makers, and users alike.
Conclusion
The landscape of PC gaming, as measured by the Steam Hardware and Software Survey, is more dynamic than ever. Windows 11’s rise—fed not only by natural upgrades but by newcomers and switchers from alternative operating systems—signals the ongoing vitality of the ecosystem. The changing balance of power in GPU and CPU markets, the resurgence of high-value gaming laptops, and the glimmer of alternatives all augur well for consumers who crave choice, performance, and innovation. As the numbers continue to shift and new hardware is launched, one truth remains constant: PC gaming continues to set the pace for technological progress and entertainment around the world.Source: Windows Central Gamers continue to make the switch to Windows 11 — and not just from Windows 10, either