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Steam’s Hardware and Software Survey is in for November 2025, and it’s no surprise to see Windows 11 gain users here, as Windows 10 recently reached end of life, forcing many users to upgrade. This led to a 2% increase in Windows 11 users on Steam.
Windows 11 is not the only OS to see a bump, as Linux also saw a 0.15% rise in users.
This follows Linux finally cracking 3 percent of Steam users in October 2025, now sitting at 3.20% overall. It still has a long way to go, as Windows controls 94.79% of Steam’s user base, with 65.59% now running Windows 11.
What else does the Steam survey show?
Interestingly, the RTX 4060 mobile GPU is now the most popular graphics card for users on Steam, with 4.22% of users having one, perhaps thanks to recent Cyber Monday deals enticing enough people to upgrade their laptops. Additionally, 8GB of VRAM is now the leading standard across Steam Users, accounting for 33.36% of users.
Modern games now push far more detailed textures and effects, so needing more VRAM has become the norm. That is why 8GB has effectively become the baseline across Steam, as older cards with lower memory are beginning to struggle. Sure enough, even Valve's own Steam Machine PC is targeting 8GB of VRAM.
The rise of the RTX 4060 laptop also makes sense when you consider pricing. Many 4060 laptops are far cheaper than their desktop equivalents, which makes them an appealing upgrade path for anyone wanting better performance without spending much more.
We are also seeing older entry-level cards like the GTX 1650 continue to drop in usage as players move on to newer hardware.
Laptop GPUs seem to dominate the survey trends, showing that many people may prefer portable systems as opposed to typical desktop rigs.
The trend of moving towards more portable gaming is also seen in devices like the Xbox Ally, which is flying off shelves, and Valve’s own Steam Deck, which has performed well. Let’s also not forget that Nintendo’s own first-party console, the Nintendo Switch, sold over 100 million units, and the Nintendo Switch 2 has sold significantly more than the original Switch during the same timeframe.
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