Windows 11 has crossed a critical threshold among PC gamers: it now powers nearly two of every three gaming rigs on Steam. The latest monthly hardware survey from Valve shows the operating system at 65.59% of participants in November 2025, a full two-point leap from the month before. That jump coincides squarely with Microsoft’s end-of-support deadline for Windows 10, which arrived on October 14 and is now pushing holdouts to finally upgrade—or face growing security risks.

At the same time, Linux on Steam ticked up to a new record of 3.20%, a small but meaningful gain that reflects the quiet democratization of PC gaming beyond Windows. And on the hardware side, Nvidia’s midrange laptop GPUs now reign supreme, with the RTX 4060 Laptop GPU emerging as the single most common graphics chip among Steam users.

The survey’s findings are more than a numbers game. They carry concrete consequences for how you game, what hardware to buy next, and when you should seriously consider leaving Windows 10 behind. Here’s what changed, why it matters, and what you need to do now.

The November Survey at a Glance

Valve’s Steam Hardware & Software Survey is an optional, anonymized snapshot of the hardware and software used by millions of active players. While it doesn’t reflect every PC on the planet, its sheer scale makes it the most influential bellwether for gaming hardware trends.

Here’s how the OS landscape shifted in November 2025:

  • Windows 11 (64-bit): 65.59% (+2.02 percentage points) — a new record high.
  • Windows 10 (64-bit): 29.06% (-2.08 points) — the steepest one-month decline since the survey began tracking both OSes.
  • Linux: 3.20% (+0.15 points) — the first time the open-source platform has broken through 3%.
  • macOS: 2.02% (-0.09 points) — still a niche player, with no meaningful gaming growth.

The combined Windows share remains overwhelmingly dominant at 94.79%, but the internal migration from Windows 10 to 11 is the story of the month.

On the hardware side, the survey reveals a market that overwhelmingly prefers practical midrange components over bleeding-edge specs:

  • Most common GPU: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (4.22%), followed closely by the desktop RTX 3060 (4.16%).
  • System RAM: 16 GB leads at 40.94%, but 32 GB is catching up fast at 36.96%.
  • CPU cores: 6-core CPUs are the most common, at 28.44%.
  • VRAM: 8 GB is the modal configuration (33.36%).
  • Display resolution: 1080p remains the clear winner, used by approximately 52.8% of players.

Why Windows 11 Adoption Spiked Now

The two-point surge didn’t happen in a vacuum. It is the direct result of Microsoft’s long-announced end-of-support milestone for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. That date meant the cessation of free security updates for most home users, effectively turning any Windows 10 PC into a ticking security risk unless its owner takes specific action.

Other factors amplified the migration:

  • New PC purchases during the holiday sales season often come preloaded with Windows 11, bringing fresh hardware into the Steam population.
  • OEMs and system builders have shipped Windows 11 as the default for over two years, so the installed base from recent purchases is naturally high.
  • App and game compatibility nudges from software vendors: some anti-cheat systems and game launchers now recommend or require modern Windows builds for full functionality.
  • Diminished fear of upgrade friction: after four years of iterative improvements, many gamers now see Windows 11 as a stable, low-risk update.

Crucially, the survey’s sampling method means some of the monthly change could reflect users who previously opted out of the survey finally being counted, or seasonal hardware refreshes that bring in new Windows 11 devices. Still, the trend line is unmistakable.

For Windows 10 Holdouts: Your Options Are Shrinking

If you’re among the 29% still gaming on Windows 10, the November survey is a reality check. That operating system is now unsupported by Microsoft, and the security implications are real. Without regular patches, your system becomes increasingly vulnerable to exploits that target known flaws in the OS or in software that no longer receives updates.

You have three paths forward, each with trade-offs:

  1. Upgrade to Windows 11 for free if your PC meets the hardware requirements. Most gaming rigs from 2018 or later likely do. Check Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool to confirm. The upgrade preserves your apps and files in most cases, and it’s the simplest, cheapest route to security and future compatibility.
  2. Buy a new Windows 11 PC if your current machine is incompatible. The latest gaming laptops and desktops ship with Windows 11 and offer much better performance than older hardware. This is also the only path if you want official support and no tinkering.
  3. Pay for Extended Security Updates (ESU) to keep Windows 10 patched until 2028. Microsoft offers this program primarily to businesses, but individuals can purchase it as well. Pricing details are not publicly listed for consumers, but it’s a temporary solution, not a long-term fix.

There is a fourth, less orthodox route: switch to Linux. We’ll cover that below. But for competitive gamers or those deeply invested in anti-cheat-protected multiplayer titles, Windows remains the only reliable option today.

The longer you delay, the greater the risk. Game developers are already prioritizing Windows 11 testing. Some multiplayer titles may eventually drop Windows 10 support entirely, leaving holdouts locked out of updates or matchmaking.

Linux on Steam: From Peripheral to Persuasive

Linux’s 3.20% share may look tiny next to Windows, but it’s the fastest-growing non-Windows platform on Steam. That growth is no coincidence. It’s fueled by three converging forces:

  • Valve’s Steam Deck and SteamOS have made Linux gaming a plug-and-play experience for millions. Proton, Valve’s compatibility layer, now runs thousands of Windows games with little to no tinkering.
  • Windows 10’s end of life prompted some users to try Linux instead of buying new hardware or upgrading to Windows 11, especially those with older PCs.
  • A growing community and better documentation lower the barrier for newcomers. Distributions like Linux Mint, Pop!_OS, and Nobara are explicitly tuned for gaming.

But before you make the jump, understand the real limitations:

  • Anti-cheat remains the biggest blocker. Many popular competitive games (Fortnite, Destiny 2, Valorant, R6 Siege, and others) rely on kernel-level anti-cheat systems that do not work under Proton. If your gaming library is heavily weighted toward these titles, Linux isn’t yet viable as a daily driver.
  • Peripheral and software support can be patchy. Gaming mice, RGB control software, and streaming tools often have no official Linux versions.
  • Performance varies by title. While Proton performance is often excellent, some games lose 5–10% frame rates or experience occasional glitches.

That said, for single-player gamers, indie enthusiasts, and those looking to breathe new life into older hardware, Linux is a legitimate, cost-free alternative. The Steam Deck has proven that a Linux gaming ecosystem can work. Just check the ProtonDB database for your must-play games before switching.

The Hardware You Actually Need (Not What You Think)

The Steam survey’s hardware numbers debunk the myth that PC gaming is all about overclocked monsters and $2,000 GPUs. In reality, the typical Steam user games on a machine that is comfortably midrange:

  • GPU: An RTX xx60-class card—desktop or laptop—is the sweet spot. The RTX 4060 Laptop GPU topping the chart shows that gaming laptops are no longer second-class citizens. If you’re buying new, an RTX 4060 or RTX 5060 (when available) will keep you playing at 1080p high settings for years.
  • RAM: 16 GB is still enough for every current title, but 32 GB is becoming the safe recommendation. Memory prices are low, and a 2×16 GB DDR4 or DDR5 kit costs as little as $50–80. If you’re building or buying now, target 32 GB.
  • CPU: A 6-core processor from AMD or Intel handles gaming and light streaming effortlessly. You don’t need a 16-core chip unless you also do heavy content creation.
  • VRAM: 8 GB is fine for 1080p gaming, but if you plan to jump to 1440p or keep your card for 3+ years, opt for a model with 12 GB or more.
  • Display: 1080p at 144 Hz or higher remains the dominant configuration. High-refresh 1440p monitors are gaining traction, but they’re not yet the majority.

The lesson: don’t overspend on components that won’t meaningfully improve your gaming experience. A balanced midrange build delivers excellent performance per dollar and will age gracefully.

What to Do Right Now: A Practical Cheat Sheet

If you’re on Windows 10:
1. Run Microsoft’s PC Health Check tool to see if your PC qualifies for the free Windows 11 upgrade.
2. If it does, back up your files, read a quick upgrade guide, and pull the trigger. It costs nothing and keeps you secure.
3. If it doesn’t, evaluate whether it’s time for a new PC. Factor in ESU costs and hardware lifespan. A $30 ESU might be worth it for one year, but a $800 laptop with Windows 11 might be a smarter five-year play.

If you’re considering Linux:
- Make a list of the games you actually play. Look each one up on ProtonDB.com.
- If any of them require kernel-level anti-cheat, assume they won’t work. No amount of tinkering can fix that.
- Install a beginner-friendly distro like Linux Mint or Pop!_OS on a spare USB drive and test it for a week before committing.
- Remember: switching back to Windows is always possible if it doesn’t work out.

If you’re buying or building a new gaming rig:
- Aim for an RTX 4060/5060-class GPU (or AMD equivalent like the RX 7600). Laptop or desktop—both are well-supported.
- Get 32 GB of RAM. It’s the best $50 insurance you can buy.
- Choose a 6- or 8-core CPU. AMD Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 are ideal.
- Stick with a fast 1080p or 1440p monitor. Spending more on a high-refresh display usually pays off more than a marginally faster GPU.

The Road Ahead

Expect Windows 11’s share on Steam to keep rising throughout 2026, likely crossing 75% by year’s end as holdout hardware is retired and new machines land. Windows 10 won’t vanish overnight—many enterprise and educational environments will linger for years—but the gaming population moves faster.

Linux will continue to inch upward. Valve’s rumored SteamOS expansion to more handhelds and living-room PCs could accelerate adoption. Whether it reaches 5% by 2027 depends largely on whether anti-cheat vendors finally embrace Proton or Linux native builds.

Nvidia’s dominance will face its first real test as Intel Arc and AMD RDNA 4 mature, but for now, choosing Nvidia remains the path of least resistance for gamers.

The biggest takeaway from this survey is that PC gaming is not a spec race. It’s a landscape of pragmatic choices. Windows 11 offers security and broad compatibility. Midrange hardware delivers enough power for the games people actually play. And Linux is no longer a fantasy—it’s a functional, if imperfect, alternative.

Act now on upgrading, secure your system, and build your rig around the games you actually play, not the benchmarks you’ll never need.