Windows 11 Overtakes Windows 10 on Steam, Signaling a Major Shift
September 2025 on Steam paints a familiar yet evolving picture for PC gaming hardware. The latest statistics from Valve reveal a significant acceleration in the adoption of Windows 11, with the newest Microsoft operating system now powering a commanding 63.04% of gaming machines on the platform. This surge represents a robust 2.65% increase, underscoring gamers' definitive move away from the once-dominant Windows 10. The older OS continues its precipitous decline, now holding a mere 32.18% of the user base, a drop of 2.9%. It's a clear indication that the era of Windows 10 is rapidly drawing to a close.
Interestingly, a curious entry named 'Windows 2022 64-bit' has surfaced, accounting for a minuscule 0.09% of users. The origins and purpose of this entry remain a mystery, leaving even seasoned observers scratching their heads. Meanwhile, Apple's macOS has seen a notable uptick, reaching 1.91% (+0.14%). While some might label this as an anomaly, it points towards a gradual ascent towards the 2% mark. However, Mac gaming still lags behind Linux, which holds a respectable 2.68%. The much-hyped era of mainstream Mac gaming, spurred by the initial M-series processors, has yet to materialize into significant Steam market share.
NVIDIA RTX 4060 Laptop Dominates Graphics Card Landscape
The true spectacle in this month's Steam hardware survey lies in the graphics card arena. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 for laptops has emphatically seized the top spot, boasting an impressive 4.84% of users and a healthy 0.22% growth. This mobile powerhouse has decisively outpaced its desktop counterparts, leaving them struggling in its wake. The formerly strong contenders, the desktop RTX 3060 (4.41%) and RTX 4060 (4.25%), have both experienced significant drops of -0.38% and -0.60% respectively. This substantial lead firmly cements the RTX 4060 Laptop's position as the undisputed leader.
This dominance highlights a crucial trend: affordable gaming laptops are proving to be an incredibly accessible gateway into PC gaming. The allure of features like NVIDIA's DLSS and Frame Generation technology, readily available on these mobile GPUs, is undeniably powerful. The RTX 4060 Laptop also recorded the highest monthly growth among all graphics cards, reinforcing its current reign.
New RTX 50 Series Shows Promising Early Gains
Beyond the established leadership, the nascent NVIDIA RTX 50 series is demonstrating impressive early traction. The RTX 5070 Ti, often lauded for its excellent price-to-performance ratio within the new lineup, has garnered 0.91% of users with a solid 0.16% increase. Hot on its heels, the RTX 5060 Ti is also making waves, securing 0.89% of the market with a 0.15% rise. Its popularity is likely fueled by a generous VRAM offering, appealing to gamers seeking more headroom. Other new RTX 50 series cards are steadily climbing the ranks as well.
Even the colossal GeForce RTX 5090, a halo product for enthusiasts, has managed to capture 0.31% of the Steam user base, marking a 0.05% growth. Cumulatively, NVIDIA commands a staggering 74.12% of the GPU market on Steam. In stark contrast, AMD's presence is significantly smaller at 17.81%, with a substantial portion of these users relying on integrated graphics, particularly within the burgeoning portable gaming console segment.
Intel's CPU Market Share Continues to Shrink on Steam
The CPU landscape on Steam continues to paint a grim picture for Intel. The 'blue team' has seen its market share among Steam users dwindle further, now standing at 58.61%, a concerning loss of 1.15%. This decline is mirrored by AMD's steady gains, with the 'red team' expanding its CPU market share to 41.31%. The disparity is stark and speaks volumes about the current competitive dynamics. Until Intel can introduce compelling new architectures like Panther Lake, it seems its reign in the CPU market among PC gamers is set for further erosion. Intel, please take care – your gamers are waiting.
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