Windows 11 had a rocky start. Between the unstable initial builds, demanding hardware requirements, and the tendency to clash with various anti-cheat software, it was not initially well-received. Most PC gamers preferred the stability and compatibility of Windows 10. However, with Windows 10 support officially ending on October 14, it has been confirmed that 65.59% of Steam users are now using Windows 11.

Looking at Steam's operating system statistics since the Windows 10 end-of-support date was confirmed on April 28, 2023, Windows 10 held a 60.51% share in May 2023, while Windows 11 sat at 33.99%. By November of the same year, Windows 10 dropped to 53.53% and Windows 11 rose to 42.04%, showing that the official announcement triggered a shift in the user base over the following six months. Even with negative sentiment toward the transition, the official deadline clearly accelerated the migration.

However, gamers continued to report issues such as build instability, frame drops, and compatibility problems with anti-cheat programs. General dissatisfaction with UI/UX changes and unnecessary information exposure also persisted. Due to these factors, 50.35% of Steam users were still using Windows 10 as of May 2024, and it was not until the third quarter that Windows 11's market share finally surpassed that of Windows 10.

Faced with a slower-than-expected transition, Microsoft announced a free Extended Security Update (ESU) program in June 2025, promising to provide security patches for one more year. However, the situation was different for game companies. To maintain anti-cheat systems, ensure update stability, and optimize server operations, focusing on the latest operating system became necessary, making the decision to end Windows 10 support inevitable.

Against this backdrop, many game companies began announcing the end of Windows 10 support starting in the second quarter of 2025. While games do not become completely unplayable, the confirmation that they would no longer receive related support accelerated the user transition. As a result, Windows 11's share rose to 65.59% by November 2025. Nevertheless, even with the end of Windows 10 support, approximately 30% of users are still using the older OS.

In short, while the transition to Windows 11 is expected to continue, there is a need to consider the remaining Windows 10 users. Many gamers are still using hardware that does not meet the high requirements of Windows 11, and with the rise in PC component prices since the second half of 2025, many find it difficult to upgrade. In this situation, the game industry as a whole is facing the challenge of determining how to provide stable services while strengthening security.