According to the latest statistics reported by Statcounter, Windows 11 continues to lose ground in April 2024. The situation, however, appears to be very different in the world of gaming, where Microsoft’s operating system is rapidly making gains popularity.
Figures provided by StatCounter, a leading web traffic analysis company, show a once again negative picture for Windows 11. In April, the operating system market share dropped to 25.65%, with a loss of almost one percentage point compared to the previous month: a further decline after the peak of 28.16% reached in February. In reverse, Windows 10 has seen a significant increaseexceeding the 70% threshold for the first time since September 2023.
Windows 11 still declining on Statcounter, but growing among gamers
The downward trend for Windows 11 is decidedly anomalous given that the opposite usually happens, with new operating systems gradually nibbling away at shares of decent ones released. In short, it seems that Windows 11 is facing a significant challenge in attracting new users, probably because it doesn’t offer many real advantages over its predecessor. Microsoft also announced the elimination of one of its unique features, such as the Windows Subsystem platform for Android that guaranteed the installation of some Android apps.
Despite the undeniable difficulties on the consumer front, Windows 11 is enjoying good success among gamers. According to data provided by Valve, in fact, Microsoft’s new OS has almost reached Windows 10 in terms of market share among Steam users. In the April 2024 Steam Hardware and Software Survey, Windows 11 reached a share of 45.15%, an increase of 3.54 percentage points compared to the previous month. Windows 10, on the other hand, dropped to 51.02%, losing 3.38 points. The two OS are separated, therefore, by around 6 percentage points, a very different situation compared to the data collected by Statcounter.
This divergence between the consumer and gamer markets can be attributed to the fact that gamers tend to upgrade their computers more easily, and are more demanding in terms of performance and functionality. As Microsoft prepares to introduce new artificial intelligence features for Windows 11 later this month, the company hopes that these innovations will reverse the negative trend on the consumer front. However, rumors suggest that some of the more interesting parts may not be available on existing hardware, limiting the appeal for users who don’t plan to upgrade their PCs.
