If you’re still clinging to Windows 7 or 8 while diving into your favorite Steam games, it might be time to consider an upgrade.
Software life cycles are inevitable—everything has to bow out eventually, especially operating systems. Tech giants like Microsoft and Apple eventually need to move on from supporting outdated systems that few people are still using. This shift impacts companies like Valve, the creators behind the massive PC gaming platform Steam, who’ve been around since the era of Windows XP. It’s old news by now, but back in January, Valve announced they were officially ending support for Windows 7 and 8. This move means that Steam Support can no longer troubleshoot any hiccups you might encounter if you’re still on those operating systems.
Spotted by PC Gamer, we’re now seeing the first Steam update that Windows 7 and 8 users won’t be able to snag. “This version of the Steam client will no longer run on Windows 7 or Windows 8,” read the update details. “Users on these OS versions will not automatically update to this new version of the Steam Client.” There are understandable reasons why some people might still be sticking with these older systems—computers aren’t exactly cheap, and upgrading isn’t always feasible for everyone. Yet, it’s a logical step when you consider that a mere 0.29% of users, according to October’s Steam hardware survey, are still hooked to Windows 7.
Interestingly, it appears that Windows 8 usage has hit rock bottom—absolutely no one is using it now. And perhaps that’s for the best, considering Windows 8’s less-than-stellar reputation. It’s a bit surprising that Valve took this long to pull the plug on support, especially as Windows 11 continues to gain traction among users. But hey, sometimes these transitions take a bit of time to fully unfold.
