Windows 11 is Now the Most Popular OS For PC Gaming (theverge.com) 76
Microsoft's Windows 11 operating system has surpassed Windows 10 usage for Steam users for the first time since its launch in 2021. From a report: Windows 10 has been holding strong in recent years, despite Microsoft's plans to end support for Windows 10 in October 2025. There are now signs that Windows 11 adoption is finally heading in the right direction for Microsoft. Steam hardware survey data for August puts Windows 11 usage at 49 percent, an increase of more than 3 percent over the previous figure in July of nearly 46 percent. Windows 10 usage has dipped by around 3 percent to 47 percent, while macOS and Linux Steam usage has largely remained the same during August.
Captain Obvious has entered the room (Score:5, Insightful)
It's not like its users have had a choice.
And it's no different for other mainstream OS'es when people want to/need to run something properly supported/secure.
Replacement PC cycles (Score:3)
This just tracks how long it takes a large percent of users to replace old computers.
About the only interesting thing going into Windows is the introduction of process isolation at a more full level. Eventually, it will get to each application being inside of essentially what is a container.
Yes, BSD jail is calling from the year 2000.
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Yes, BSD jail is calling from the year 2000.
Always fascinating how Windows is 10-20 years behind and in some cases even more.
Re:Replacement PC cycles (Score:5, Insightful)
Windows is designed as a single-user desktop OS with a strong focus on backward compatibility. It is not at all surprising that it lags behind in general (to make sure nothing breaks) and especially on features that benefit servers the most.
On multimedia, games, 3D graphics, etc... Windows is way ahead of Linux and even more so of BSD, but it is behind game consoles. Windows also has better power management than Linux and BSD, but not as good as iOS and Android. MacOS is usually a bit ahead of Windows on most points, at the cost of very limited hardware support and compatibility breaks. It is just a question of priorities.
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> Windows ... but it is behind game consoles.
In what way? DirectStorage is already out.
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The customer is incompetent and easy to manipulate. Also refer to numerous other cases were inferior technology became dominant. The difference here is that you do not simply get a crappy picture (see VHS), the pressure is raising and you get hacked and lose it all if you are just a tiny bit unfortunate. It is not that Windows is getting worse, it is that Windows is getting more and more inadequate for a changing situation.
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It's like a North Korean ballot:
A: [_] Kim Jong un
B: [_] Death
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Hahaha, nice!
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A: [_] Kim Jong un executes you
B: [_] You blow your own brains out
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It's not like its users have had a choice.
Actually they did. Nothing has forced gamers to upgrade to Windows 11 yet. And especially nothing new has happened in the past month that would have forced the increase being discussed.
The reality is people upgrade stuff and get the latest OS as they go. Right now many people doing upgrades were the ones who couldn't upgrade to Windows 11 due to hardware requirements. But even now, you can go out buy a new computer, buy Windows 11 and install Windows 10 on it using the Windows 11 key. The choice is entirely
Well, they weren't exactly forced, but . . . (Score:2)
. . . neither were they asked. Look at the evolution which has brought MS-Windows here:
Windows was found to have bugs, including exploitable security issues. Microsoft patched the product.
The bug turns out to still be a problem - some users couldn't apply the patch because it'll break other (well written? poorly written?) software, making them complain. Some users refused to apply the patch because of the experience of others having their software broken. Some users just couldn't be bothered to click
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. . . neither were they asked.
Again, people just do not care. You had the option to stay on Windows 10. You had the option to downgrade to Windows 10. You *STILL* have the option to downgrade to Windows 10 even if you bought a brand new computer with a brand new Windows 11 license out of the box - that license is valid for the downgrade too.
Whether they were asked or not is actually irrelevant. If they had feelings about the matter they would express them by downgrading - and I'm sure complaining on Slashdot about it too since this grou
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But even now, you can go out buy a new computer, buy Windows 11 and install Windows 10 on it using the Windows 11 key. The choice is entirely yours.
Yes, I'm sure most people are perfectly comfortable with paying extra to buy Win10 separately, and manually install it.
The choice is entirely yours.
Indeed, there is even a name for it: Hobson's Choice [wikipedia.org]
most people flat out don't give a crap what OS is on their computer. They use games and apps, not OSes.
That's actually the GP's point exactly. People don't care about the OS. If their PC comes with Win11, they'll use Win11. They did not choose it, and they will certainly not go out of their way to install Win10. So Win11 is not "popular", it is not "preferred" over Win10, they did not buy the PC because it was "Win11", Win11 is just there.
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Yes, I'm sure most people are perfectly comfortable with paying extra to buy Win10 separately
What part of "install Windows 10 on it using the Windows 11 key" was too difficult for you to understand? Is there another language you speak where maybe we can try and get the point across to you more easily?
Re:Captain Obvious has entered the room (Score:4, Insightful)
What part of "install Windows 10 on it using the Windows 11 key" was too difficult for you to understand? Is there another language you speak where maybe we can try and get the point across to you more easily?
Yes, that's exactly how I told my grandparents how they were idiots for buying a new computer with Windows 11 on it and how easy it is to downgrade to Windows 10. All they had to do is perform a clean install of Windows 10 by creating a bootable USB, alter the BIOS settings, and disconnect the machine from the network so it does not phone home and invalidate their installation. Also don't forget to write down that Windows 11 key before they wiped out the HD. It might have been important.
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Yes, that's exactly how I told my grandparents how they were idiots for buying a new computer with Windows 11 on it and how easy it is to downgrade to Windows 10.
And why were you forcing your opinion on others? In what way was buying a new computer the equivalent of a forced upgrade (the discussion underway here)? I remember when my dad got his new computer complete with Windows 11. You know what I did? Nothing. He's not an idiot for anything and easily adjusted to Windows 11. In the mean time you are trying to saddle your grandparents with system that is about to be EOL? I do see an idiot in that family.
By the way what is your grandparents gamer tag? You have read
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And why were you forcing your opinion on others? In what way was buying a new computer the equivalent of a forced upgrade (the discussion underway here)?
By forcing you mean, having to listen to relatives ask and complain about why their Windows is not the same as it used to be and how to "fix" it? By the way, you were advocating it is easy fix, why don't you offer tech support to everyone who got Windows 11?
I remember when my dad got his new computer complete with Windows 11. You know what I did? Nothing. He's not an idiot for anything and easily adjusted to Windows 11. In the mean time you are trying to saddle your grandparents with system that is about to be EOL? I do see an idiot in that family.
Again you say it's easy to fix. Let me forward everyone to you then.
By the way what is your grandparents gamer tag? You have read the context of this thread right?
*Sigh*. Why? So you can harass them when they are playing their games? You do know games like Doom were released over 30 years ago. Guess what people can get on Steam? Old video games p
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And I bet your concerns about bloomers figuring out how to install an OS will magically disappear when you try convincing everyone to switch to Linux. If you think following a 3 step process documented on the MS site is impossible, I can't wait for you to explain to them what "RTFM" means.
Notice I never said anything about switching to Linux. Never. The complaint was specifically about Windows.
But good job proving how little you know about Windows though, I guess everyone can safely ignore you now. The only thing you've got right so far is your user name.,
Coming from an Anonymous Coward, that is rich.
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Theres a lot of snark going on here but:
1. You just download tool that makes the bootable usb for you
2. you dont need to modify bios, just figure out the boot menu key (F12?)
3. Boot and install windows
4. The key is installed into the bios - you dont need to write it down and it should activate just fine
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1. You just download tool that makes the bootable usb for you
*Sigh*. Imagine having to explain that one sentence to your grandparents how to do all these things. . . over the phone.
2. you dont need to modify bios, just figure out the boot menu key (F12?)
Depending on the manufacturer, booting via USB might be disabled as a security measure. It might have to be enabled. All this needs to be conveyed over the phone. Or I have to get visit them. Some grandparents are far enough away where this is not a minor inconvenience.
3. Boot and install windows
Sure, that takes zero time to do.
4. The key is installed into the bios - you dont need to write it down and it should activate just fine
It might be in the BIOS. It might not. However, it is a good idea to have the key for the
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Actually they did. Nothing has forced gamers to upgrade to Windows 11 yet.
You mean besides except for the times [microsoft.com] that it did? [pcgamer.com] It happens every year unless users take drastic measures to keep Windows from doing that. In my case, hardcoding the Windows 10 version so nothing updates it "accidentally".
But even now, you can go out buy a new computer, buy Windows 11 and install Windows 10 on it using the Windows 11 key. The choice is entirely yours.
Google: Windows 11 installed without permission
In your view the upgrades are some nefarious force that no user wants.
Some upgrades are things users do not want. For example, MS was forced to delay Windows Recall because almost no one wants more spyware on their machines.
Sorry to spoil your fun but most people flat out don't give a crap what OS is on their computer. They use games and apps, not OSes.
People care that new updates do not break things. People care that an OS works as inte
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Do you have an article showing that this happened in the past month? You know - the context of the discussion that in the past month gamers increased the number of Windows 11 machines?
Do you realise that even if the machine is upgraded like this you can actually force the downgrade within 30 days?
Do you also reaslise that if your machine is upgraded like this you can still install windows 10 from an ISO if you actually have strong feelings about not running Windows 11.
But gaslight people all you want, I pre
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Do you have an article showing that this happened in the past month? You know - the context of the discussion that in the past month gamers increased the number of Windows 11 machines?
It took me seconds to find this complaint from June 29, 2024. Why did my PC install Windows 11 twice in the last 24 hours [microsoft.com]. It's been happening for years. MS is not likely to stop forcing installs anytime soon.
Do you realise that even if the machine is upgraded like this you can actually force the downgrade within 30 days?
You do realize some people did not want it installed in the first place? How about I come over to your house and rearrange all your furniture without permission or notice? When you complain, I'll say you can move everything back. I won't do it even though I've inconvenienced you..
Do you also reaslise that if your machine is upgraded like this you can still install windows 10 from an ISO if you actually have strong feelings about not running Windows 11.
[sarcasm] Because c
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Came to post this comment too.
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It's not like its users have had a choice.
And it's no different for other mainstream OS'es when people want to/need to run something properly supported/secure.
Came here to say precisely this. Having an 'upgrade' forced on you is not the same thing as it being 'popular'. Most gamer kids are barely computer literate to start with and don't even know if they have a choice or not, they just want to play their games.
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Re: Captain Obvious has entered the room (Score:2)
Is popular the right word? (Score:5, Interesting)
How many people upgraded to windows 11 saying “OOooh Im going to windows 11!!!” vs most people who drug their feet for years despite the constant nagging and subtle threats from their browser, to finally cave to the inevitably of it all? Yes I upgraded my Alienware laptop a couple months ago. Im not sure I would say the move is popular for me. It just something I delayed about as long as I could.
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Just my first thought as well. I doubt many people are moving to Win11 because it is so great and so much better than win10. It is more a case of being forced or coerced.
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> ... people who drug their feet for years
That's just cruel
An alternate title for the article ... (Score:3)
Here is an alternate title:
"The Supported and Preinstalled OS is Now the Most Popular OS For PC Gaming "
Support and preinstalls wins. Who could have seen that coming? I suppose noting the turnover date can be a useful statistic for planning purposes.
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Support and preinstalls wins. Who could have seen that coming? I suppose noting the turnover date can be a useful statistic for planning purposes.
Leaving aside that Windows 10 is still supported, and you can install Windows 10 using your Windows 11 key, here's an alternative title:
"People who previously couldn't upgrade to Windows 11 do with new PC"
or maybe this one:
"People don't give a shit about OSes, Windows 11 usage ticks up with new PC purchases".
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Leaving aside that Windows 10 is still supported, and you can install Windows 10 using your Windows 11 key, here's an alternative title:
You left out the part where you are required to do a clean install of Windows 10 which most consumers never want to do.
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Support and preinstalls wins. Who could have seen that coming? I suppose noting the turnover date can be a useful statistic for planning purposes.
Leaving aside that Windows 10 is still supported, ...
As in maintenance mode. Its 13 months from the end of support.
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s/Popular/Used
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"Windows 11 is Now the Most Popular OS For PC Gaming " Here is an alternate title: "The Supported and Preinstalled OS is Now the Most Popular OS For PC Gaming " Support and preinstalls wins. Who could have seen that coming? I suppose noting the turnover date can be a useful statistic for planning purposes.
Caveat: Even that does not make it the most popular OS, just the most commonly used one.
A not insignificant % may hate it with a passion, but may have had little choice in the matter of what OS their machine came with, or whether it auto-"upgraded" itself
The simple fact that it took a whopping three years to take over the #1 spot despite Microsoft going out of their way to push it out to everyone and their grandma *for free* at any chance they got clearly shows that a great many people weren't exactly e
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\The simple fact that it took a whopping three years to take over the #1 spot despite Microsoft going out of their way to push it out to everyone ...
Uh, no. They made it hard to install. New hardware requirements prevented many perfectly workable PCs from upgrading. Win11 was not as easily upgraded to as Win10.
Most used? Yes. Most popular? Doubtful. (Score:3)
This is more like a hostage situation with some of the victims developing Stockholm syndrome.
Personally, I will stay on Win10 for games until the first major security problem I cannot work around. For anything else, I am already on Linux (with the exception of my teaching laptop, because I have to steam via Teams and some beamers crash with Linux) and I will keep some no-network Win10 VMs around. I may or may not do a Win11 VM as well, but do not really see the point.
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This is more like a hostage situation with some of the victims developing Stockholm syndrome.
Sorry to get in the way of your fever dream, but the reality is the overwhelming majority of people flat out don't give a shit. If the OS works, and their apps / games runs that's all they need. There's nothing forcing the upgrade to Windows 11, Windows 10 is still (for now) fully supported, which means that these so called "victims" are perfectly able to do something else if they so choose.
I know it upsets you that not everyone hates ${OS_Version_du_jour) like you do. But that's the fact.
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If they forced you to say that, blink twice.
*Blinks once with a very confused look while wondering why the fuck the person asking cares about what OS they are runnning.*
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Seems like this has been the cycle since XP. With every other version being the anti-christ
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Yep. MS is incapable of learning. They make the same mistakes over and over again.
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And people keep paying for it, so to them it's not much of a mistake. There are more Windows 11 installs than there were Windows XP installs and that is with most people still on Windows 7 or 10.
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The standard modus operandi for MS is to ‘incentivize’ (read strong-arm) the developers into dropping support for older libraries and then only release the new ones on the platform of preference. Forced obsolescence.
Reminder: alternative ISOs exist (Score:1)
Default 11 install is absolute garbage for gaming. It's significantly slower than default 10 install, and even more so behind stripped down 11 and 10 installs.
If you are forced into downgrading to 11 for gaming, do a fresh install from a stripped down ISO, rather than default win 11 install. This a moment of "yes, you can in fact download more ram, and a better CPU and GPU on top of it". Because stripped down installs run on way less RAM and way less GPU and CPU overhead.
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Do you have an easybutton doc for post-install 11 to optimize it? Asking for a friend with so many irons in the fire that timesaving resources are appreciated.
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There is at least one popular script maker that has a script that he is constantly maintaining.
But mostly, it's easier to bake it into ISO, because "post current install" is a rapidly moving target with a lot of moving parts. So chance of something breaking is far greater.
It includes running a script you found on the internet. So unless you know how to vet it, DO NOT DO THIS.
I repeat. IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT THIS IS, YOU SHOULD NOT N O T NOT DO THIS!
If you're in doubt, DO NOT DO THIS.
If you're even slightly
Most used - not popular (Score:2)
Maybe 2024 will finally be (Score:4, Funny)
the year of the Windows 11 Desktop.
Steam -- Linux (Score:4, Interesting)
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And you know how much PC gamers lover their "bro, you're running Nvidia GTX 80205 16 TB? Did that come with a copy of Quake 2? A GTX 1304800 64TB is the absolute minimum for anything barring minesweeper. It's 2024, bro. Not 1994..."
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nVIDIA GPU are actually better in terms of performance and ease of install compared to Windows these days. They even have repos for all major distros so it's just an apt update away and if you're not too picky, you can even get them signed so SecureBoot doesn't need anything manual.
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Steam doesn't represent all users. (Score:1)
Steam alone doesn't represent the entire gaming market and is therefore not an accurate measure to make such statements, Mr msmash. Standalone installers are extremely popular.
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Most popular game is ... (Score:2)
Brought to you by CloudStrike.
Common, not popular (Score:2)
If people had the choice of OS to have on a given new machine, and more chose Win11 than anything else, then you could call it "popular."
But they don't, so you can't.
The only way to get people to use Windows 11 (Score:2)
Is to give them no other choice. Upgrade at gunpoint or forbid manufacturers from selling something that customers actually want. Windows 12 will be the last version of Microsoft's desktop operating system. It will be so bad everyone will be forced to use Linux on the desktop. It's sort of already happening with Windows 11.
"popular" (Score:1)
Still on Win10 20H2 (Score:2)
Runs all the games and various ML stuff just fine. Very little overhead and it just works.
Windows 11: Because users were forced! (Score:2)
Cattle (Score:2)
It matters not that they are going to sell every single word you utter, every emoji you type to private companies and give it for free to the CIA.
They will just do it.
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wine/crossover (Score:2)
All people using wine or crossover to play windows games on linux/macos will belong to the windows statistics, even if they don't use windows.
The Path Forward? (Score:1)
So, I'm not there yet, I've often run Windows with success long past it's expiration date, but am looking into what will be running on my next workstation.
I'm primarily in it for the games. I mean, sure, I make my living thanks to the software that runs everyones banks, and oil companies, and stock markets, well all the people screwing us over day in and day out, but I got into computers through games, before they were small enough to put in plywood cabinets at bars.
I'm realising more and more, that all I n