Windows 10 Support Ends But Gamers Stay Put
Microsoft might have moved on from Windows 10, but a huge chunk of PC gamers have not. As of October 14, 2025, mainstream support for Windows 10 has effectively ended. Security updates are now limited to those who either pay for Extended Security Updates or happen to live in the European Economic Area, where these updates are currently offered for free until 2026.
You would expect that to trigger a mass exodus to Windows 11. Yet the latest Steam Hardware and Software Survey tells a very different story. According to the November survey, around 29 percent of Steam users are still gaming on Windows 10. That number did fall compared to October, but only by about two percentage points.
Meanwhile Windows 11 continues to grow. In November it picked up roughly two percentage points and now sits at about 66 percent of Steam users. So yes Windows 11 is the clear majority on Steam but Windows 10 is far from dead in the gaming world.
Why So Many Gamers Still Use Windows 10
If official support is ending why are so many players hanging on to Windows 10? There are several big reasons and they all matter for PC gaming performance and compatibility.
1. Hardware limitations
Windows 11 has stricter system requirements than Windows 10. It expects relatively modern CPUs, TPM 2.0 support and other platform features. For gamers on older but still perfectly capable rigs this can be a real problem. A system that runs modern games just fine might technically fail Windows 11 checks.
Upgrading an entire PC just to satisfy an operating system requirement is not an appealing option for everyone. Many players would rather squeeze a couple more years out of their current CPU and motherboard and simply stay on Windows 10.
2. Workarounds feel risky
There are ways to get Windows 11 installed on unsupported hardware. Tools like Flyby11 and setup methods that use utilities like Rufus can bypass the official limitations. Experienced PC enthusiasts might be happy to try this but for many players it feels like stepping into a grey area.
Installing a major operating system through unofficial methods raises worries about future stability and support. Will updates break things later? Will certain games or anti cheat systems complain? That uncertainty is enough to keep some users firmly on Windows 10 for now.
3. Familiarity and trust
Windows 10 has been the default gaming OS for years. It is stable mature and well understood. Every major game launcher works. Every driver stack is tuned for it. Many gamers follow the rule if it is not broken do not fix it which means staying where everything already works.
4. Extended Security Updates and regional differences
Some users are paying for Extended Security Updates to keep their Windows 10 machines protected into 2026. Others in the European Economic Area can get updates for free during that window. Knowing that their system is still receiving security patches removes a lot of pressure to move quickly to Windows 11.
Linux Gaming Is Growing But Still Niche
With Windows 10 nearing its end of life and Windows 11 requirements locking out some older systems Linux might seem like an obvious alternative for gamers. Groups like the End of 10 initiative openly promote Linux as a community powered answer to Microsoft deadlines.
However the Steam survey data shows that Linux is still a small slice of the PC gaming ecosystem. Linux makes up just over 3 percent of the Steam user base. It did grow slightly compared to the previous month but only by about 0.15 percent overall.
That slow growth highlights the real barriers that still exist for everyday gamers thinking about switching from Windows to Linux.
Game compatibility
Thanks to tools like Proton and native ports a lot of games run impressively well on Linux now. But the gaps are still important. Some of the biggest multiplayer titles either do not work or work unreliably because of anti cheat systems and unsupported launchers.
For a gamer whose main titles include competitive shooters or massive online games the risk of losing access to their favorites is a serious deal breaker.
Complex troubleshooting
Linux gaming has improved but it can still be more hands on than Windows. Driver issues quirks with specific hardware and unpredictable problems while traveling or switching machines can be stressful. One bad experience where a Linux system failed at the wrong moment is enough to send people straight back to a simple Windows USB installer.
What This Means For PC Gamers
The current Steam survey paints a clear picture. Windows 11 is the future of mainstream PC gaming and is steadily taking over but Windows 10 remains heavily used and will likely stick around on a significant number of gaming PCs for a while yet.
Here is what that means in practical terms for players:
- If your PC is a few years old but still meets Windows 11 requirements it makes sense to consider upgrading in the near future especially to keep up with new features driver optimizations and security.
- If your hardware does not officially support Windows 11 you can either stick with Windows 10 for as long as updates are available experiment carefully with unofficial install methods or start testing Linux on a spare drive or secondary PC.
For now Windows 10 is not quite the walking dead on Steam. It is more like a veteran hero still holding the line while the shiny new Windows 11 army builds up its forces. Over the next year or two the balance will keep shifting but as the survey shows PC gamers are rarely in a rush to abandon what already works.
Original article and image: https://www.pcgamer.com/software/operating-systems/reports-of-windows-10s-death-appear-to-have-been-greatly-exaggerated-as-29-percent-of-steam-users-still-cling-on/
