Steam takes a step back with support for older Windows operating systems. Valve has finally discontinued support for Steam on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 8.1, and will focus on continuing to offer this full service to Windows 10 users and, of course, to those using Windows 11, the current leading system.
It’s not a surprise, as Steam previously announced that on January 1, 2024, it will no longer provide support for systems prior to Windows 10. With this, the company reduces optimization and maintenance costs in segments that, due to their age and lack of users, are less profitable. The system will still work, but it may stop working at any time, as even though the service remains active, maintenance will no longer be provided.
Active, but no longer safe
As explained by Steam itself, the service they offer on operating systems prior to Windows 10 will remain active, but without any kind of support and maintenance. And that implies, above all, two things: the first is that the service could go down forever at any time and will not return, and the second is that, from now on, the software of these versions of Steam is vulnerable to cyber attacks that could expose any user who continues using the service on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.
Therefore, the most recommended thing in these cases would be to abandon the Steam service if there is no option to update your PC’s operating system. However, taking into account the longevity of all these systems, and that even Windows 10 will be discontinued by Microsoft in October 2025, it is important that future devices are compatible with at least Windows 11.
Post-maintenance issues
It is crucial to know the risks of using a system that has been completely abandoned for maintenance. This is the current case of Steam in versions prior to Windows 10, and it will also be the case of Windows 10 as an Operating System from late 2025. Using unmaintained services is very dangerous, and even playing a video game on Steam you could receive a cyber attack capable of stealing your personal and banking data.
Software obsolescence is one of the biggest problems with old devices, especially if they have an internet connection. For that reason, there are always viable solutions that allow you to continue using long-lasting devices, such as switching to open source, or through secure connections where browsing cannot be dangerous.
