Valve conducted a comprehensive survey among Steam store users to understand the common operating systems and hardware powering gamers’ rigs. The findings show that a noticeable portion of players rely on Nvidia GPUs, with the GeForce GTX 1650 emerging as the most popular card among respondents at the time of the survey. The figure sits at just under 6 percent, signaling consistent adoption of the GTX 1650 across a wide range of PC builds. The broader hardware landscape reveals a strong preference for Nvidia technology, as 75.69 percent of respondents reported using Nvidia graphics cards in some capacity, while AMD solutions accounted for 15.15 percent of user configurations. (Source: Valve)
From a software standpoint, the survey highlights ongoing shifts in Windows operating system usage among Steam players. Windows 11 continued to gain ground but had not yet overtaken Windows 10, which remained the dominant OS for the platform. In December 2022, Windows 11 reached a share of 28.42 percent, marking a rise of 0.44 percentage points from the previous month, while Windows 10 retained a commanding lead at 65.42 percent, though the share edged down by 0.18 percentage points month over month. These dynamics illustrate how Steam users gradually migrate to newer Windows versions as compatibility and performance updates roll out. (Source: Valve)
Overall, Windows remained the operating system of choice for Steam users, capturing 96.15 percent of the market among respondents. Apple’s macOS trailed in second place with 2.48 percent, and Linux occupied a smaller but notable niche at 1.38 percent. This distribution underscores the Windows-centric nature of PC gaming on Steam, while leaving room for smaller segments to experiment with alternative platforms. (Source: Valve)
The graphics card landscape on Steam shows a clear tilt toward Nvidia among players. The GeForce GTX 1650 stood out as the most popular card since December 2022, reflecting a blend of affordability and solid performance for many mainstream gaming titles. Beyond the single-card winner, Nvidia’s presence was reinforced by the broader share of Nvidia graphics solutions overall. Meanwhile, AMD solutions, though present, trailed behind their Nvidia counterparts in reported usage. These patterns help explain the typical price-to-performance considerations that gamers weigh when upgrading or building a PC. (Source: Valve)
Looking at the broader context of 2022, industry analyses note that the year featured a high number of Steam releases, contributing to a record pace and a vibrant storefront ecosystem. This release cadence likely influenced hardware and OS choices as players pursued new titles and optimized experiences. (Source: industry reports)