Steam ends support for Windows XP and Vista on January 1

Si todavía usa Windows XP o Vista en su PC, es posible que desee considerar actualizar su sistema operativo pronto. Esto se debe a que Steam, la popular plataforma de juegos en línea, anunció que dejará de admitir estas dos versiones obsoletas de Windows el 1 de enero de 2022.

What does this mean for you? Well, if you don’t update your operating system, you won’t be able to access your Steam library, download new games or play online with your friends. You will also miss out on the latest security updates and features that Steam offers.

Why does Steam do this? According to the official announcement, Steam relies on an integrated version of Google Chrome to provide certain features, such as in-game overlay, web browser and Steam chat. However, Google stopped updating Chrome for XP and Vista in 2016, which means that these features no longer work properly on these platforms. In addition, Steam uses a Windows feature called Security Support Provider Interface (SSPI) to handle authentication and encryption, but this feature is not available on XP and Vista.

Therefore, Steam has decided to stop supporting these platforms to ensure a safe and smooth experience for its users. This is not a surprising move, considering that Microsoft stopped supporting XP in 2014 and Vista in 2017. According to Steam’s hardware survey, only 0.11% of Steam users are still using XP and 0.08% are using Vista in November 2021.

If you are one of these users, you have two options: upgrade your operating system or switch to a different gaming platform. Upgrading your operating system may require the purchase of a new license or even a new PC, depending on your hardware specifications. Switching to a different platform may mean losing access to some of your games or having to buy them again.

Either way, you must act fast before the deadline arrives. Otherwise, you’ll be left behind in the gaming world and risk exposing your PC to security threats. Don’t let your operating system prevent you from enjoying the best that Steam has to offer.

Are you still using Windows XP or Vista on your gaming PC? If so, you may want to consider upgrading soon. Steam, the popular gaming platform, will stop supporting these outdated operating systems on January 1, 2019.

Valve, the company behind Steam, announced this decision on their Steam support website. The reason is that Steam relies on Google Chrome for some features and Google has already discontinued support for XP and Vista. In addition, Steam needs to use some Windows features and security updates that are not compatible with these older versions.

If you don’t upgrade your Windows, you will still be able to play your games on Steam until the end of this year. However, you will miss out on some features, such as the new Steam Chat. Therefore, we recommend that you upgrade your Windows as soon as possible. You can choose Windows 10 or Windows 7, 8 or 8.1. However, Windows 10 is the more secure and future-proof option.

We understand that some of you may have sentimental or practical reasons for sticking with XP or Vista. But we hope you understand that this change is necessary to keep Steam running smoothly and safely for all of our users. Thank you for your cooperation and happy gaming!