Still Using Windows 7 or 8 for Steam Games? It’s Time to Think About Upgrading Your Operating System

If you’re someone who’s still hanging onto Windows 7 or 8 for your Steam games, it might be time to think about making the jump to a newer operating system.

Let’s face it, in the world of technology, nothing lasts forever. This is especially true for operating systems. Companies like Microsoft and Apple are always looking to shed older systems that hardly anyone uses anymore. This approach is mirrored by software developers, including Valve, who has been distributing games on Steam since the days of Windows XP. Back in January, Valve made it clear that support for Windows 7 and 8 would be no more, meaning if you’re experiencing problems with Steam on these platforms, their support team isn’t going to be able to help you out.

Fast forward 11 months, as reported by PC Gamer, the first Steam update has arrived that can’t be downloaded on Windows 7 or 8. The announcement was straightforward: “This version of the Steam client will no longer run on Windows 7 or Windows 8,” as stated in the update notes. If you use these older operating systems, your Steam client won’t automatically update to the newest version. It’s understandable that some folks stick with Windows 7 or 8 due to the high costs of upgrading to a new computer. But the decision aligns with the recent findings from October’s Steam hardware survey, which revealed that just 0.29% of users are still on Windows 7.

What’s more intriguing is that almost nobody is using Windows 8—it’s almost a relief, given how much backlash it received when it was around. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher why Valve waited this long to cut off support, especially with the increasing adoption of Windows 11, the latest from Microsoft. But, sometimes transitions in the tech world take their sweet time.