Steam’s latest hardware survey reveals a clear shift in PC gaming preferences as Windows 11 continues its rapid ascent among gamers while Linux experiences a slight stall after recent gains. The December 2025 data shows Windows 11 surging by an impressive 5.24% month-over-month to claim 70.83% of Steam users, while Linux dipped marginally from 3.20% to 3.19%. This dramatic Windows 11 growth coincides with Windows 10’s end-of-support approaching, driving gamers toward Microsoft’s latest operating system.
Windows 11 Dominance Accelerates
The survey marks one of Windows 11’s strongest monthly gains ever recorded on Steam, pushing its market share well past the 70% threshold for the first time. Windows 10, meanwhile, continues its steady decline, dropping 2.36% to 26.70% as users migrate to avoid post-EOL security risks. Combined, Windows still commands 94.95% of the Steam gaming audience, maintaining its overwhelming dominance in PC gaming.
This surge likely reflects multiple factors beyond just Windows 10’s impending end-of-life. New Windows-based gaming handhelds continue gaining popularity, while OEMs increasingly ship consumer PCs with Windows 11 pre-installed. The operating system’s improved gaming performance, Auto HDR, and DirectStorage support have also convinced many gamers to upgrade voluntarily, particularly those with newer NVIDIA RTX GPUs that benefit from Windows 11’s optimizations.
Linux Growth Pauses Unexpectedly
After showing steady gains throughout late 2025, Linux’s Steam presence cooled in December. The 0.01% decline may seem minor, but it breaks a multi-month upward trend that had enthusiasts optimistic about the open-source platform’s desktop gaming viability. While overall Linux usage remains stable around 3.2%, individual distributions tell different stories.
Fedora bucked the downward trend with a 0.05% gain, suggesting enterprise-focused distributions continue attracting technical users. However, more gaming-popular distros like SteamOS and Ubuntu appear to have lost ground. The Steam Deck’s continued success hasn’t translated into broader Linux adoption among traditional desktop gamers, indicating persistent driver compatibility and configuration challenges remain barriers for mainstream adoption.
Hardware Trends Reflect Gaming Evolution
Beyond operating systems, the December survey reveals significant shifts in PC hardware preferences. The NVIDIA RTX 3060 has overtaken the RTX 4060 Laptop GPU to become Steam’s most popular graphics card, reflecting the desktop GPU’s value proposition for 1440p gaming. This shift underscores gamers’ preference for desktop performance over portable form factors.
Memory configurations show growing adoption of 32GB systems, which climbed 2.11% while 16GB setups declined by 0.80%. This trend aligns with increasingly memory-hungry modern games and content creation workloads, pushing gamers toward higher-capacity DDR4 and DDR5 kits despite ongoing RAM price pressures from AI data center demand.
VR Makes a Comeback
Virtual reality appears poised for renewed growth, with Meta’s Quest 3 surging 24.42% to become Steam’s most popular VR headset. The standalone headset now leads the Quest 2 by 2 percentage points, suggesting VR gaming interest is rebounding after several stagnant years. Improved standalone capabilities and falling headset prices likely contribute to this VR renaissance.
The Quest 3’s dominance reflects broader industry trends toward wireless, standalone VR experiences that don’t require expensive PCs. However, its strong SteamVR presence indicates many users pair the headset with gaming rigs, leveraging its PC VR compatibility for high-end experiences while enjoying standalone convenience for casual use.
What Drives Platform Preferences
Windows 11’s dominance stems from several practical advantages for gamers. Native game compatibility remains unmatched, with anti-cheat systems, DirectX 12 Ultimate, and driver optimizations all optimized for Microsoft’s ecosystem. Hardware manufacturers prioritize Windows testing and support, ensuring day-one driver availability for new GPUs and CPUs.
Linux’s stall highlights ongoing challenges despite Valve’s Proton compatibility layer revolutionizing Wine-based gaming. While thousands of titles now run flawlessly through Proton, edge cases persist with certain anti-cheat implementations and niche professional tools. The average Steam gamer prioritizes frictionless gaming over ideological platform preferences, explaining Windows’ enduring lead.
Future Implications for PC Gaming
Windows 11’s surge solidifies Microsoft’s position as the undisputed gaming platform through at least 2028, when Windows 10 support officially ends. Linux’s pause doesn’t signal retreat but rather highlights the difficulty of displacing an entrenched ecosystem. Proton continues improving monthly, suggesting Linux gaming could resume growth once broader compatibility matures.
Hardware trends point toward continued GPU and RAM upgrades as ray tracing, path tracing, and 4K gaming become mainstream. The RTX 3060’s popularity foreshadows strong demand for mid-range 40-series cards as prices normalize. VR’s Quest 3 momentum suggests 2026 could see broader VR headset adoption alongside traditional monitors.
Steam’s survey data serves as the most comprehensive snapshot of PC gaming hardware and software preferences worldwide. Windows 11’s dominance reflects practical realities rather than ideological battles, while Linux’s slight retreat underscores the challenges of ecosystem transition. Gamers continue prioritizing performance and compatibility above all else, driving clear winners across platforms and components.
