If you’re still gaming on Steam using Windows 7 or 8, it’s probably time to think about upgrading your system.
In the tech world, it’s a harsh truth that nothing lasts forever—especially software. This is particularly true for operating systems. Companies like Microsoft and Apple aren’t too keen on maintaining support for older systems that most users have moved on from. Valve, the gaming giant that’s been distributing games on Steam since the Windows XP era, is no exception. Back in January, they announced they were ending official support for Windows 7 and 8. This means their support team can no longer provide technical assistance for any issues users on these outdated platforms might encounter.
Fast forward to today, and as PC Gamer recently highlighted, we’re witnessing the first Steam update unavailable to Windows 7 and 8 users. The update notice bluntly states, “This version of the Steam client will no longer run on Windows 7 or Windows 8. Users on these OS versions will not automatically update to this new version of the Steam Client.” It’s understandable why some might hang on to these older systems—upgrading can be costly, and not everyone is ready to make that financial leap. However, the recent Steam hardware survey reveals a mere 0.29% of users are still on Windows 7.
What’s even more surprising is the report’s finding that nobody is using Windows 8 anymore. Not that it’s shocking, given the general consensus that Windows 8 was quite the flop. Considering the growing number of users migrating to Windows 11, Microsoft’s latest offering, it’s almost puzzling that Valve delayed this decision for so long. But, as with many things in tech, these transitions can take time.
