The popular online gaming platform, Steam, has stopped providing support for Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1 operating systems starting from January 1, 2024. Users who still use these outdated operating systems won’t be able to get updates or technical assistance from Steam. They might also face reduced functionality or performance issues in Steam and its games.
Steam advises its users to upgrade to a newer Windows 10 or a later version, to ensure the smooth operation of Steam and its products. While Steam expects that existing installations on old operating systems may still work for some time after the deadline, the company can’t guarantee their reliability or security.
The decision to discontinue support for Windows 7 and 8 lies in the fact that Steam relies on an embedded version of Google Chrome, which is incompatible with older and unsupported Windows versions. Additionally, Steam also said that future versions will require Windows features and security updates only available on Windows 10 and above.
Steam also mentioned the importance of updating operating systems in time, highlighting the risks associated with running unsupported software. Microsoft stopped providing security updates and technical support for Windows 7 back in January 2020 and Windows 8.1 in January 2023. Computers using these operating systems are also vulnerable to new malware and other threats, which can impact the performance and security of the PC, Steam, and its games. Such malware could also steal Steam account credentials or other services.