As the end of Windows 10 support approaches, a significant shift is occurring in the gaming community, with an increasing number of gamers transitioning to Windows 11. This trend is underscored by recent data from Valve's Steam Hardware and Software Survey, which reveals that as of July 2025, 59.9% of Steam users are operating on Windows 11, while 35.19% continue to use Windows 10.
The impending cessation of Windows 10 support is a primary driver of this migration. Microsoft has announced that support for Windows 10 will conclude in October 2025, prompting users to upgrade to Windows 11 to maintain access to security updates and new features. This urgency is particularly pronounced among gamers, who require up-to-date systems to ensure compatibility with the latest games and hardware.
Nvidia's recent announcement further accelerates this transition. The company plans to end driver support for Windows 10 in the near future, meaning that future graphics drivers will be optimized exclusively for Windows 11. This development leaves gamers with little choice but to upgrade if they wish to utilize the latest hardware and receive performance optimizations for new games.
Despite the growing adoption of Windows 11, Windows 10 maintains a substantial presence among Steam users. The operating system's 35.19% market share indicates that a significant portion of the gaming community has yet to make the switch. This reluctance may be attributed to hardware compatibility issues, user preference for the familiar interface of Windows 10, or concerns about potential bugs and performance issues in the newer operating system.
The broader operating system landscape among Steam users also reflects interesting trends. Windows continues to dominate with a 95.53% share, while Linux usage has risen to 2.89%, and macOS accounts for 1.88%. (phoronix.com) The increase in Linux adoption is noteworthy, suggesting a growing interest in alternative operating systems within the gaming community.
In terms of hardware preferences, the Nvidia RTX 3060 remains the most popular graphics card among Steam users, holding a 4.62% share. Nvidia continues to lead the GPU market with 73.94% of users, followed by AMD at 17.83% and Intel at 7.86%. The most common system configurations include six-core processors, 16GB of RAM, and 1080p display resolutions.
As the deadline for Windows 10 support draws near, it is anticipated that the migration to Windows 11 will accelerate. Gamers are likely to prioritize the upgrade to ensure continued access to the latest games, hardware support, and security updates. This transition marks a significant evolution in the gaming ecosystem, reflecting the community's adaptability and responsiveness to technological advancements.
Source: Neowin Gamers continue switching to Windows 11 as the end of Windows 10 draws near