Steam has signalled the end of support for the Windows 7 and Windows 8 operating systems, citing the software’s reliance on an embedded version of Google Chrome that similarly is ceasing support for the older Windows versions as well as features and security native to Windows 10 and above.
As of January 1st, 2024, Steam users will be required to update their copy of Windows to Windows 10 or higher, otherwise they will no longer be able to use Steam.
VIDEO PRESENTED BY PLAYSTATION VR2. CLICK TO LEARN MORE.
The full statement reads:
“As of January 1 2024, Steam will officially stop supporting the Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 operating systems. After that date, the Steam Client will no longer run on those versions of Windows. In order to continue running Steam and any games or other products purchased through Steam, users will need to update to a more recent version of Windows.
The newest features in Steam rely on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which no longer functions on older versions of Windows. In addition, future versions of Steam will require Windows feature and security updates only present in Windows 10 and above.”
Windows 10 first became available in 2015, and Windows 11 in 2021, so there’s been a reasonable amount of time for Steam users to have updated their operating systems already – but if you’re one of the roughly 6.5% of users worldwide still running Windows 7 or Windows 8 and you’re still working through that Steam Sale backlog, you’d better get around to fixing that.
The initial announcement of these changes comes by way of an “End of Life” alert in the latest Steam Beta Client Update, which also comes with the following changes: