If you are still hesitant of upgrading to Windows 11 (or even Windows 10), you might want to do so ASAP: Steam just announced that it will drop support for Windows 7 and 8 by January 1, 2024.
In a statement, Steam said that this is necessary as “core features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older versions of Windows.” Aside from that, Steam notes that their platform “will require Windows feature and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.”
Steam also justifies the move, as its February 2023 survey reveals that Windows 7 users only consist of 1.52%, while its 0.34% for Windows 8 users.
While that’s unfortunate–especially for those who are loyal to Windows 7 and 8–it’s a necessary decision on Steam’s part. To recall, Microsoft has already ended support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 since January 10 this year. Microsoft, in fact, ended support for Windows 7 since 2020.
Running unsupported software can be dangerous for your computer, as they don’t have the latest security patches to combat potential malware or other exploits when connected to the internet. Malware can cause your PC, Steam, and games to perform poorly or crash–and worse, can potentially steal your sensitive information from Steam and other accounts.