No one uses 32 bit Windows (especially for gaming), but at least we might at last get a 64 bit verison of the Steam client on Windows.
Steam Confirms End of Support for 32-bit Windows OS in 2026
https://www.techpowerup.com/341141/steam-confirms-end-of-support-for-32-bit-windows-os-in-2026
10 Comments
ryannathans@aussie.zone · 29 pts · 346d
Finally sounds like some plans to make the steam client 64bit
fuckwit_mcbumcrumble@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 10 pts · 345d
They'll somehow make the client 32 bit but still need a 64 bit computer.
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 10 pts · 345d
It'll be two separate 32-bit clients that need to be ran together so it adds up to 64.
Lippy@fedia.io · 3 pts · 345d
Ah yes, the Atari Jaguar approach.
dukemirage@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 346d
Never really considered that games don’t stop running on legacy hardware, but the Steam client does. GOG‘s way of downloadable installers is preferably.
Rentlar@lemmy.ca · 13 pts · 346d
https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/pc-gaming/steam-drops-windows-7-and-8-support-with-the-latest-client-users-told-to-update-to-a-more-recent-version-of-windows-to-continue-gaming
When 7 and 8 support was fully dropped (where the newest Steam client requires 10 or above to run at all), Steam clients on older OSes were not updated automatically. It's only if you manually try to update the launcher, it would "brick" your installations.
I agree that GOG's method will stand the test of time better (as we wouldn't have to archive specific versions of Steam), but for those with existing setups you aren't SOL right away when support ends.
Zedd_Prophecy@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 346d
It's still kinda shitty. There's better way to archive the old version of steam but leave it readily available.
yesman@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 345d
There is no way to have a legacy Steam client that's not maintained but still must authenticate users, transactions, and downloads.
ryannathans@aussie.zone · 4 pts · 346d
At least you can easily run 32 bit applications on 64 bit operating systems and hardware without performance penalty
BCBoy911@lemmy.ca · 9 pts · 345d
I'm wondering how this will affect Linux support. Steam client on Linux depends on very old 32-bit libs from Ubuntu 12.04 (!) and is a major reason for distros keeping their 32bit support