Windows 11 Continues Its Rise in Popularity Among PC Gamers
Windows 11 is gaining traction among PC gamers, according to recent statistics from both the Steam hardware survey and Statcounter. The June figures reveal that 35.75% of gamers on Steam have already adopted Windows 11, which marks a significant increase of 1.76% compared to the previous month. In May, the adoption rate increased by 0.6%, while April saw a massive 11% jump (although this was due to a survey anomaly). When assessing the statistics without the anomaly, March and April witnessed a steady increase of just over 1% combined, similar to May’s growth rate.
However, the story is different when looking at Windows 11’s adoption among everyday users. Statcounter’s figures indicate that Windows 11 is currently used by 23.91% of non-gaming users, which shows an increase of almost 1% from the previous month’s 22.95%. Surprisingly, in May, Windows 11 actually experienced a slight decline from 23.11% to 22.95%. Over the past three months, the increase in Windows 11 adoption among everyday users has been a shaky 0.82%, in contrast to the more significant 2.36% growth observed among gamers.
The data clearly highlights the discrepancy between Windows 11’s popularity in the gaming world and its adoption among regular users. When comparing the adoption percentages, Windows 11 currently stands at 36% among gamers and 24% among everyday users, indicating that the gaming community has embraced the newer operating system to a much greater extent. This significant difference poses a challenge for Microsoft, as the fact that only approximately a quarter of the general user base has transitioned to Windows 11 must be disappointing. To put this into perspective, at a similar point in its existence, Windows 10 had already captured a market share of 36% among everyday users.
To address this situation, Microsoft will need to focus on bug fixes and addressing reported issues, such as the problems some Windows 11 users have encountered with SSD speeds since March. It may also be beneficial for Microsoft to reintroduce features that were removed from Windows 11, such as the useful ‘never combine’ functionality for the taskbar, which is expected to be added back before the end of the year. Additionally, Microsoft may be relying on significant new features to entice regular users to transition to Windows 11. One of these features is Windows Copilot, an AI assistant for the desktop that is currently being tested in a limited capacity.
It’s essential to note that Windows 11 has stricter hardware requirements compared to Windows 10, which means some users will have to wait until they acquire new PCs or perform complex upgrades, like installing a TPM module. These hardware limitations contribute to the slower adoption rate among regular users.
In conclusion, while Windows 11 continues to gain momentum among PC gamers, its progress among everyday users remains more modest. Microsoft will need to address bugs, reintroduce popular features, and leverage new innovative functionalities to attract more users to transition to Windows 11. Additionally, the stricter hardware requirements present a significant challenge for wider adoption. Only time will tell if Microsoft can overcome these obstacles and achieve broader acceptance of its latest operating system.
