On January 1, 2024, Steam officially stops supporting Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, according to a pre-announcement made in March 2023. This decision comes as a result of Steam’s utilization of the Chrome engine embedded within the app for web page rendering. Since Chrome will no longer support these operating systems, Steam is forced to follow suit.
Although Steam clients will still be able to function on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1, they will no longer receive any new updates, including security patches. Users will have to bear the risk of potential malware threats on their own. Furthermore, Valve does not guarantee the longevity of Steam in the future.
According to the Steam Survey conducted in December 2023, Steam users on these older operating systems collectively account for a mere 0.89% of all users. The most popular operating system is Windows 10, with a commanding 53.45% share, followed by Windows 11 at 41.95%.
TLDR: Steam officially ends its support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 on January 1, 2024. Steam clients can still be used on these operating systems but will no longer receive updates and security patches. Users must assume the risk of potential malware. Windows 10 is the most widely used OS among Steam users, with Windows 11 following closely behind.
Leave a Comment