Even though Microsoft only released Windows 11 three years ago, rumors about Windows 12 are already everywhere. According to the latest news, the company will introduce the new version of the popular operating system in the second half of 2024. This move will likely declare Windows 11 officially obsolete and signal the end of older versions. In line with this decision, many companies have already stopped supporting older versions of Windows. Now Steam is doing the same and ending support for Windows 7, 8 and 8.1.

In March 2023, Steam, the world’s largest online game store, announced the end of support for certain operating systems. Starting January 1, 2024, Steam will no longer be compatible with Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Users must upgrade to a PC running Windows 10, Windows 11, or the upcoming Windows 12.

Although this announcement surprised everyone at the time, it was not taken very seriously because it was only nine months old. But time flew by and now the deadline is less than 15 days away. According to the November 2023 Steam Hardware and Software Survey, only 1% of Steam users are still using older versions of Windows.

Although this number seems low at first glance, it is worth noting that the total number of Steam users is 1.2 billion as of December 2023. In this case, 1% of the total number of Steam users is approximately 12 million people. If you are still using old versions such as Windows 7 due to nostalgia, habit, financial difficulties or other reasons and you like to play games, we recommend that you upgrade to the latest version as soon as possible.

This is especially important if you want to continue enjoying your favorite games without any glitches. For example, PUBG: Battlegrounds recently announced that it cannot be played on older versions of Windows. This is a clear indication that there will be no delay after Steam closes.