If you are still gaming on a 32-bit Windows PC, you will soon need to upgrade! Valve has announced that its popular PC gaming platform, Steam, will stop running on 32-bit versions of Windows starting January 1, 2026. The decision officially marks the end of an era, as 32-bit operating systems fade into history after decades of use.
Currently, Windows 10 32-bit is the only 32-bit version that is still supported by Steam. Earlier, in January 2024, Valve had already ended support for Windows 7, 8, and 8.1.
Why Valve Is Making The Change
According to Valve, the move is necessary because Steam’s core features increasingly depend on system drivers and “other libraries” that no longer support 32-bit versions of Windows. Continuing to maintain compatibility, the company explained, is simply not feasible.
“Existing Steam Client installations will continue to function for the near term on Windows 10 32-bit,” Valve said via this Steam Support ticket this week, “but they will no longer receive updates of any kind, including security updates.”
Who Will Be Affected? Hardly Anyone
The good news: almost no one will notice. According to Steam’s August 2025 Hardware Survey, only 0.01% of all participants use the 32-bit version of Windows 10. For context, most users are on Windows 10 64-bit and Windows 11 64-bit, which means this change affects only a small fraction of gamers who are still using very old or limited hardware. Steam had already pulled the plug on Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 back on January 1, 2024.
What About 32-bit Games?
Some gamers may worry this means their 32-bit games are doomed, but Valve has confirmed that’s not the case. Valve reassures that 32-bit games will remain playable on 64-bit Windows systems, so classic titles in your library are safe.
The Bottom Line
For the vast majority of gamers, nothing will change in 2026. However, for anyone still running 32-bit Windows, the message is clear: upgrade sooner rather than later. Whether that means moving to a 64-bit edition of Windows 10, switching to Windows 11, or even grabbing a Steam Deck, Valve wants you to be prepared before the clock runs out.
