Valve, the company behind the popular gaming platform Steam, has announced that it will no longer support older versions of Windows starting January 1, 2024. This means that Steam will no longer function on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 operating systems. The decision is based on the fact that the newest features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which is no longer compatible with these older versions of Windows. Additionally, future versions of Steam will require features and security updates that are only available on Windows 10 and above.
According to Valve’s February Hardware and Software Survey, only a small percentage of players, 0.09 percent, currently use a Windows 7 system, with an additional 1.43 percent running Steam on the 64-bit version. The Windows 8.1 user base is even smaller, at 0.34 percent. The majority of Steam users, 62.33 percent, are already on Windows 10, followed by 32.06 percent on the new Windows 11.
To continue using Steam and any games purchased through the platform after 2024, users will need to update to a recent version of Windows. While upgrading from Windows 7 to Windows 10 is relatively straightforward, moving to Windows 11 will require a TPM 2.0 setting for security reasons, which can be enabled through the motherboard’s BIOS settings.
This move by Valve follows in the footsteps of other companies like Fortnite, which recently dropped support for Windows 7 and 8 due to security concerns and the implementation of Unreal Engine 5.1.
On a positive note, Dolphin Emulator, a popular app for playing Nintendo Wii and GameCube games on PC, will soon be available on Steam. The emulator now has a store page on Steam, where users can wishlist it. The release is planned for sometime in the second quarter of 2023.
Steam has also announced its Sales and Fests schedule for 2023, allowing users to plan their game shopping sprees ahead of time. Last year, the company updated its regional pricing tool, which could result in higher game costs in countries outside the US. In India, for example, default PC game prices could increase by up to 85 percent if developers choose to accept the recommended price adjustments.
It’s important to note that support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 on Steam will officially end on January 1, 2024.
Denial of responsibility! TechCodex is an automatic aggregator of the all world’s media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
Eugen Boglaru is an AI aficionado covering the fascinating and rapidly advancing field of Artificial Intelligence. From machine learning breakthroughs to ethical considerations, Eugen provides readers with a deep dive into the world of AI, demystifying complex concepts and exploring the transformative impact of intelligent technologies.
