Sorry, pre-2008 CPUs, as Steam 64-bit is set to kick in as the main version.
Valve has updated their app to a modern 64-bit on Windows 10 and 11.
But what does this mean for gamers, and will it improve performance?
Steam 64-bit
In summary, Steam 64-bit will not dramatically improve performance. There, nice and easy – you can go home!
But for a deeper rundown, most modern applications run on 64-bit software. This allows applications to use more system memory, i.e., RAM. You know that thing you cannot afford nowadays.
Also, it allows modern CPU features and means, in general, better stability for larger libraries. Although it does not mean your games on Steam are all 64-bit and get a boost. It does mean that 64-bit versions are going to work better with Steam.
However, you can still run 32-bit games, as compatibility will remain the same.
But the bad news is that from the 1st of January 2026, the older 32-bit version will stop getting support. Although most people run on a 64-bit operating system, there are some brothers out there still rocking the 2004 ThinkPad, and all the power to them!
Of course, those not on Steam 64-bit will still be able to use the 32-bit variant. However, it does mean that no future security features and client updates will be coming your way. So any new games posted after the update freeze may not work so well. But you probably already know that having to deal with BF6 on a 2005 Lenovo, I am not breaking any new ground here!
This customer support will end simultaneously for Windows, Mac and Linux users. Although a fun fact is that 95% of users are on Windows, 3.2% on Linux and just 2% on Mac.
I foresee those Linux numbers going up in the future, though, because, my word, have you seen how bad Windows updates have got?
Linux Rise Up
It’s no industry secret that Windows has gotten worse over the years. Call it suffering from success, dogery codes or AI; something has definitely gone wrong with the Windows team.
Their Indian-born Microsoft CEO Sataya Narayana has been going on as the boys in the Rogue Dungeon crawler scene as a “bad run. This year alone I have seen Xbox just ritualistically commit seppuku and bail out of the console market.
I have seen Windows Update brick SSDs and release horrible updates enforcing a substandard Co-Pilot AI no one wants. This has apparently forced 500 million users to migrate over to both Linux and Mac.
However, because of this, people are discovering the wonders of Linux and how great it is to finally take control of their hardware.
Also Steam 64-bit works really well on Linux, and even SteamOS has been proven to run faster than Windows 11!
Also, the latest update adds support for Nintendo Switch Pro 2 controllers, so yay for everybody! Now I just have to wait 3 years for the RAM crisis to die down, and Half-Life 3 will be announced!
Seriously though, did you know that the CEO claimed that 30% of its code was written by AI?
