Windows 8 hasn’t been the hit with consumers that Microsoft was hoping it would be, at least not yet. In the video game industry, it has been the abject failure game developers like Valve’s Gabe Newell said it would be even though some of Valve’s customers have already adopted the new operating system. About 237,600 of them based on data from the company’s latest survey of Steam users.
Valve compiles a monthly overview of Steam’s membership through a voluntary, optional survey of its users. It breaks down what PC technology Steam users are running the client and games on, covering everything from video cards, graphics processors, operating systems, etc. Based on the latest survey, 0.44 percent of Steam users are running Windows 8. With 54 million active users on Steam, you get 237,600 Windows 8 users on Steam provided that Valve’s data is consistent across all its users. It’s likely not, but it’s a reasonable estimation.
The short version: Windows 8 is definitively not a hit with PC gamers, even if some of them upgraded to the new OS. It isn’t just Steam that proves Microsoft’s bid to win the Apple audience isn’t connecting with video game players. The NPD Group reported that Windows PC game sales crumpled in the month after Windows 8’s release, shrinking by 21 percent between Oct. 21 and Nov. 17 compared to the same month the previous year.
“It hasn’t made the market any worse, but it hasn’t stimulated things either,” said the NPD’s Stephen Baker, “It hasn’t provided the impetus to sales everybody hoped for.”
Even Microsoft’s own partners are badmouthing the OS. “Demand for Windows 8 is not that good right now,” said David Chang, the CFO of PC maker Asus.
Video game developers have been opposed to Windows 8 since Microsoft first announced the operating system, because it was an attempt to make PCs a closed platform rigidly controlled by Microsoft. If you wanted to make a PC game and sell it through the Windows 8 store, you had to abide by Microsoft’s approval process and store rules, much like on Apple platforms. Independent apps can be purchased and run on Windows 8, but the process would not be as open as on past Windows platforms.
Windows 8 isn’t actually the least used operating system amongst Steam users, though. That distinction belongs to Apple’s OS X 10.7.4.
This article is shoddy. Perhaps the author should go back and review the Steam statistics and add in the 4.25% of users categorized as using Windows 8 64 bit. It is very concerning that this was missed since every version of Windows clearly is tracked in two categories by Steam.
Further, I am having trouble seeing how NPD data, which only tracks physical sales, can in any way be correlated to the adoption rate of Windows 8, especially with regard to Steam usage, whose digital sales are in no way tracked or accounted for by NPD. In fact I’m not sure how physical sales of games (even if digital sales weren’t a huge untold part of the story) would have any correlation to the success of Windows 8 at all.
I’m using windows 8 right now. I think its awesome. Its really and updated windows 7 with a new user interface and its faster that greased lighting.
I’m surprised people hate it so much. I like it more and more every day. in fact going back to windows 7 and the older style start menu and controls seems dated and old to me now.
I don’t have a single bad thing to say about it.
The author clearly misread the statistics from Valve. I hope he has the integrity to issue a correction or retraction. Windows 8 has already hit 4.69% of Steam users (4.25% running the 64-bit version + 0.44% running the 32-bit version), according to the statistics Valve published, in just one month, already surpassing all versions of Mac OS X combined.
I’m getting on just fine with games in Windows 8.
Steam are planning on releasing their own games console. Of course they are going to slate Windows.
The OS X Launch Pad is almost exactly the same thing as the Windows start screen (Apple uses grid of icons rather than tiles). Is valve’s CEO saying Linux is the future of desktop gaming? What is with the irrational complaining?
Actually in a way, He kinda is. They’re investing quite a bit in Linux for the future and have a closed beta for Steam already. Of course they’re also working with AMD and Nvidia on better drivers and are forcing progress on the platform. It looks very encouraging.
IBM once could have ruled the PC world, but they threw it all away.
Now Microsoft is doing the same.
As a long term DOSWindows user I have to start thinking that the future belongs to Linux.
So very true. The problem is they make one huge mistake. In this case, Microsoft tried to be too different and cutting edged. It flopped/flopping horribly.
I used to walk into Wal-Mart and see kids and adult playing with the laptops. Now they look at it confused. Half of them are poking the screen eventhough the unit isn’t touchscreen, other’s simply walk by.
Windows Vista was a red-headed step-child. Windows 8 is simply a mistake. Should have used protection Microsoft.
I’m sticking with my dual boot Vista/XP rig. It’s good for everything: gaming, modding, whatever. I really don’t see the need for 8.
I submitted this for correction. This is just embarrassing for Digital Trends. Here’s a better report:
http://asia.cnet.com/windows-8-is-fourth-most-popular-os-on-steam-62219677.htm
What was wrong with windows 7? Did we really need to be controlled even further with a new windows release..?
Lol. Articles like these make me chuckle everytime. People always bitch and complain. I don’t know how people forgot but XP was the same way. Ppl HATED xp. And then before you know it, it became the gamer standard. Windows 8 is just fine. People who write things have never taken time and used it for some length of time.
If you need further proof, the Windows Store is rolling out a “Top Paid Apps” section (finally). I haven’t seen it yet here in the US, but apparently one of the top apps is Pin Steam, which pins steam games to the start screen:
http://www.windows8update.com/2012/12/06/windows-store-adds-top-paid-apps-section/