Emerging Trends in Gaming Operating Systems: Windows Dominates, But Alternatives Are Gaining Ground

As 2024 draws to an end, the gaming landscape continues to evolve, revealing various trends in the operating systems that gamers prefer on platforms like Steam. Windows maintains its position as the primary choice for gamers, reflecting the platform's longstanding popularity in the industry.

According to the most recent statistics, Windows 11 64-bit leads the pack with a substantial 54.96%, indicating a nearly 2% increase from the previous year. Following closely is Windows 10 64-bit, holding a significant 42.39%, although it saw a slight decrease of 0.92%. Regardless of these minor fluctuations, it is evident that a vast majority of Steam users still favor Microsoft’s operating systems for their gaming experiences.

Beyond Windows, other operating systems like macOS and Linux are gradually gaining traction among users. MacOS 15.1.1 64-bit has experienced a notable increase of 0.41%, bringing its share to 0.52%, while the total representation of macOS stands at 1.61%. Linux, too, is witnessing growth, with an increase of 0.26%, resulting in a total of 2.29%. Although these numbers are still markedly less compared to those of Windows, both OS options are making their influence acknowledged throughout the gaming community.

Considering these developments, it becomes increasingly important to optimize games for various operating systems to expand one's audience. Are you contemplating support for multiple operating systems in your upcoming game launch? What do you think about the increase in alternative operating systems in the gaming sector?