Windows 11 ended 2024 with a significant boost in Steam users, increasing its market share by 13% compared to the same period last year. The operating system now accounts for 54.96% of Steam gamers, up from 41.95% in December 2023.
The surge can be attributed to Windows 10’s decline, which lost over 11% market share among Steam users in just one year. As Windows 10 reaches its end-of-support on October 14, 2025, many users have upgraded to Windows 11, taking advantage of its improved gaming features and newer hardware requirements.
Gaming PCs are a significant driver of this trend, as they often run on more advanced hardware, making it easier for gamers to upgrade to Windows 11. Meanwhile, general users continue to dominate with Windows 10, with 62.7% of desktops running the older operating system compared to 34.12% using Windows 11.
While a direct comparison between Steam and Statcounter data may be challenging due to differing metrics, the disparity in usage is clear: gamers are quicker to adopt Windows 11 over its predecessor. As Microsoft emphasizes the benefits of upgrading to Windows 11 before its end-of-support date, it’s likely that this trend will continue in the coming years.
Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/pc-gaming/windows-11-wrapped-up-2024-with-a-massive-spike-in-steam-users