Windows 8's Steam Usage Already Outpacing Mac OS X

By Catherine Cai
published

Steam's Hardware & Software survey shows that Windows 8 is already outpacing OS X.

Despite Gabe Newell's harshly critical comments of Windows 8 as a closed platform, it appears that the platform's usage has already outpaced Mac OS X. 

According to Steam's Hardware & Software Survey for November 2012, Windows 8 users account for 4.69% of overall Steam users, making it the fourth most used OS. In comparison, Mac OS X users sit a little above 3%.

In contrast, Windows 7 experienced a 0.84% decline, presumably from some users upgrading to Windows 8.

Unfortunately, since the Hardware & Software survey is opt-in, this may not be an accurate reflection of the overall breakdown OS breakdowns of Steam users. The survey also only shows off percentages, so there aren't any actual figures.

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63 Comments Comment from the forums
  • bejabbers
    Real gamers don't use mac... so this doesn't say anything.
    Reply
  • billgatez
    NO hard to beat OSX. Because MAC users don't typicality buy MAC's for gaming.
    Reply
  • A Bad Day
    bejabbersReal gamers don't use mac... so this doesn't say anything.
    Real gamers do use mac... IF they love dealing with incompatibility issues and lighting their money on fire.
    Reply
  • I use windows 8 on steam. Only because I had vista and it was horrible, and windows 8 had equivalent performance as windows 7 but only cost me 40 bucks to upgrade. Actually really enjoying it, runs alot like windows 7, sept my PC boot's up in about 5 seconds now, vs a whooping minute and change with vista (also upgraded to a SSD) Not as radical as everybody made it out to be. Just a different start page, but there are options out there to make it just like windows 7. (not sure why you would upgrade from windows 7 if you had the choice) Def recommend this OS for people buying new PC's.
    Reply
  • compuservant
    The vast majority of Steam's installs are going to be on consoles so this article is really pointless.
    Reply
  • jhansonxi
    No Linux yet, probably because the client is still in beta. IE, Google Chrome, and Safari are far down the list. I'm surprised that GIMP and foobar2000 is on it while VLC is not.
    Reply
  • A Bad Day
    compuservantThe vast majority of Steam's installs are going to be on consoles so this article is really pointless.
    Sure, TOTALLY Sony, Nintendo, and Microsoft are going to allow a competing software to be installed on their products.
    Reply
  • Real gamers don't use mac, and not to far off from now, Real gamers will not use Windows also! Linux for gamers GameX will rule!
    Reply
  • Soda-88
    Dear Gaben, ever heard of Windows 8 Desktop?
    Reply
  • CaedenV
    I use win8, and I use steam.

    I am uncounted.
    Reply