Windows 7 and 8 users to upgrade to Windows 10 to continue using Steam
Valve, the company behind the popular gaming platform Steam, has announced that it will discontinue its support for Windows 7 and 8.1 starting January 1, 2024. This decision affects a small number of persistent Steam users still using the older operating systems.
In recent years, Microsoft ended support for Windows 7 and Windows 8, with the former no longer receiving security updates since January 2020 while the latter lost support in January 2023. The latest GPUs from NVIDIA and AMD have also stopped supporting Windows 7 and Windows 8.
Valve’s decision based on Chromium integration
The main reason for Valve’s latest decision is due to the built-in Chromium-based browser that Steam uses to render the Steam store and other UI. With Google having already sunsetted their support for Chrome on Windows 7 and Windows 8 in October last year, Valve is left with no option but to end support for the outdated operating systems.
Upgrading to Windows 10 or higher is recommended
Valve recommends upgrading to a newer version of Windows, preferably Windows 10 or higher, to avoid any potential security vulnerabilities stemming from unsupported operating systems. Upgrading to Windows 10 is relatively simple for users of these previous versions; Microsoft still offers a free upgrade path.
Windows 10 will continue receiving security updates from Microsoft until at least October of 2025. However, upgrading to Windows 11 may require hardware upgrades or an unsupported installation that may put user data in jeopardy.
The impact of Valve’s decision
While this move by Valve may seem sad news for fans of these older systems, it is an expected one. Only a small percentage of Steam users are still on these operating systems – less than 2% of Steam users were on Windows 7 and Windows 8 in February 2023, according to the monthly Steam Hardware Survey.
Windows 10 and 11 are the most popular versions of Windows, with 62.3% and 32.1% of Steam users, respectively. Earlier versions of Windows, including Windows 7 and Windows 8.1, account for just 1.9% of all users and continue to slide in popularity.
Those with old machines may be attracted to switch to Linux or even HoloISO, a PC version of the portable Steam Deck’s SteamOS. However, compatibility issues with some games may still arise.
Final thoughts
It is understandable that Valve would want users to upgrade to newer versions of Windows that are still supported by Microsoft. With the increased integration of Google Chrome into Steam, it was inevitable that Valve would leave behind the legacy operating systems.
With over two years to prepare for the end of support, users on Windows 7 and Windows 8 have sufficient time to upgrade their systems or migrate their data to compatible operating systems.
However, it is important that users take necessary security precautions such as using a reputable antivirus software and keeping their systems updated to stay safe from cyber-attacks as they continue gaming on Steam.
Image Source: Wikimedia Commons
