Are you still playing Steam games on Windows 7 and 8? Valve has just announced that support for both operating systems will end next year. This decision means you’ll have to upgrade to Windows 11 or 10, but PC gamers may have the option to try out Linux and SteamOS.
Valve’s Steam News reminds that even the best gaming PC can’t support legacy software forever. Windows 7 and 8 already have Internet Explorer on a big hard drive in the sky, and there’s reason to believe that Windows 10 will soon be a thing of the past. However, the event means you need to install Windows 11 or find another operating system, and you only have the rest of the year to figure it out.
When will Steam support for Windows 7 and 8 end?
Valve said in a statement that Steam support for Windows 7 and 8 will end on January 1, 2024.. The store giant partly blames Google Chrome, as he says the new features require a built-in version of the browser that “works better on older versions of Windows.” Of course, the main effect is due to the lack of features and security updates that are now only present in Windows 10 and above.
Naturally, most long-time users of the Microsoft operating system will likely upgrade to Windows 11 or 10, but the latter can be time consuming as well. However, 62.33% of Steam users are still playing the 2015 operating system, so any skeptics upgrading to it are probably safe for now.
If you’re looking for a fresh start, you can turn your desktop into something that surpasses the upcoming Steam Deck 2 by installing SteamOS. Linux fans will say it has better driver support and better video memory usage, but Microsoft counters that with Windows 11 features like autoHDR and its fast DirectStorage API.
Of course, the lack of support for Windows 7 and 8 means that all Steam games technically require a newer operating system. This can have major implications in terms of recommended PC specs for older builds, as similar CSGO system requirements include an older operating system.
So if you have an unstable platform that you use to play a certain old game, you’ll want to replace your operating system as soon as possible. You can even install the best gaming SSD and give it new life, but we understand why you might want to keep your old PC with a time capsule.
Source : PC Gamesn
