NEWS  Windows  July 2, 2024  Reading time: 2 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

Despite a slower adoption rate compared to its predecessor, Windows 11 is rapidly becoming the operating system of choice for gamers. According to Valve’s latest Steam Hardware & Software Survey for June 2024, Windows 11 is on the verge of surpassing Windows 10 in popularity among Steam users.

WINDOWS 11'S ASCENDANCY IN THE GAMING COMMUNITY. In June 2024, Windows 11’s market share among Steam users increased by 0.55 percentage points, reaching a total of 46.63%. This places it within striking distance of Windows 10, which saw a decline of 0.93 points, bringing its share down to 49.42%. The gap between the two operating systems has now narrowed to less than 3%.

THE LEGACY OF WINDOWS 7 AND 8.1. Even as newer versions of Windows vie for dominance, older iterations like Windows 7 and 8.1 remain in use. The survey indicates that 64-bit Windows 7 holds 0.4% of the market, with a slight increase of 0.02 points, while 64-bit Windows 8.1 maintains a 0.08% share.

BROADER OPERATING SYSTEM TRENDS AMONG GAMERS. Windows continues to be the predominant platform for Steam users, with 96.61% of participants using some version of the OS, an increase of 0.40 points. Linux users comprise 2.08% of the gaming community, a slight decrease of 0.24 points, while macOS users account for 1.31%, down by 0.16 points.

UNDERSTANDING THE STEAM HARDWARE & SOFTWARE SURVEY. The Steam Hardware & Software Survey, conducted monthly by Valve, provides critical insights for developers into the hardware and software preferences of gamers. Participation in the survey is voluntary and anonymous, with the collected data guiding technological investments and product offerings.

JUNE 2024 HARDWARE INSIGHTS. The survey also sheds light on hardware trends among Steam users. Intel continues to dominate the CPU market with a 66.80% share, followed by AMD at 33.15%. Microsoft, a minor player in this space, holds a 0.05% share. Here's the details on the most relevant hardware specifications: 

CPU Core Distribution:

• 6 cores: 32.63% (-0.47)
• 8 cores: 20.61% (-0.57)
• 4 cores: 19.27% (-1.32)

Memory Preferences:

• 16GB: 47.23% (+0.15)
• 32GB: 29.38% (+0.66)
• 8GB: 11.45% (-0.60)

Popular GPU Models:

• Nvidia RTX 3060: 5.50% (-0.51)
• Nvidia GTX 1650: 4.04% (-0.34)
• Nvidia RTX 3060 Ti: 3.46% (+0.27)

Video Memory:

• 8GB: 34.79% (+0.56)
• 12GB: 17.79% (+0.36)
• 6GB: 13.77% (-0.38)

Display Resolution:

• 1920 x 1080: 57.47% (-0.61)
• 2560 x 1440: 19.38% (+0.66)
• 3840 x 2160: 3.71% (-0.02)

The steady rise of Windows 11 among gamers reflects a broader shift towards newer, more advanced operating systems capable of supporting the latest gaming technology.

While Windows 10 remains in the lead for now, the growing popularity of Windows 11 on platforms like Steam suggests that it may soon become the dominant OS in the gaming community. This transition underscores the dynamic nature of the gaming ecosystem and the continual evolution of hardware and software preferences among users.

 IMAGES CREDITS: VALVE | MICROSOFT / XBOX