Windows 10 end-of-support could spark PC gaming hardware boom

[Daniel Sims]

The big picture: As the end-of-life deadline for Windows 10 looms and Windows 11 overtakes it in market share, analysts are speculating about the transition's impact on PC hardware shipments. While tariffs have dampened the effect on overall PC shipments, the gaming subset could experience marked growth over the next few years.

Analysts at Jon Peddie Research predict that shipments of PC gaming hardware will jump by 35% this year. The firm highlights Windows 11 upgrade requirements as the primary factor, but its effect on overall shipments has been muted.

JPR's prediction encompasses gaming desktops, laptops, individual components, and accessories, with total sales potentially reaching $44.5 billion by year's end. The firm expects that over 100 million users will need to at least upgrade their CPUs in the near future, which could lead to millions of full system upgrades.

Microsoft will cease support for Windows 10 on October 14. With Windows 11's high requirements likely leaving millions of systems unable to upgrade, there's speculation about a wave of incoming spending on new hardware. However, market research firm Canalys recently announced that PC shipments stagnated in the second quarter of 2025.

The company's August report cites the impact of the Trump administration's tariffs, as consumers focus their spending on essentials. Canalys believes that growth will remain limited through the end of the decade.

Windows 11 adoption has been slow, but the operating system recently overtook its predecessor, according to StatCounter. Outside of its system requirements, other potential factors holding Windows 11 back include its similarity to Windows 10 and the lack of software that requires the newer OS. Final Fantasy XIV is the only popular PC game that will explicitly drop support for Windows 10 in the near future.

However, Windows 11 has long maintained a notable lead in Steam surveys, suggesting that it might be more popular among gamers. The data might align with Jon Peddie's more optimistic outlook compared to Canalys.

JPR expects annual shipments to remain above $43 billion through 2028. Although the use of entry-level gaming PCs is expected to shrink by 13%, including 10 million users who will exit the market, a few million might upgrade to mid-range or high-end hardware.

Permalink to story:

Windows 10 end-of-support could spark PC gaming hardware boom

 

[ZeronicDeThunder]

Not going to happen, I'll go to SteamOS before going to Windows 11 for Gaming.
5800X3D + 6950 XT

 

[KedsDead]

I guess the key point to your argument here is. If they can afford it.

I think we might see a surge is Linux Gaming Distro's.

 

[noblody]

I somehow doubt that hordes of gamers using hardware older than 7 years will rush to upgrade just because windows 10 will not receive updates. I also wonder why cpus older than 10 years refuse to die and work just fine for content consumption. probably Intel tried to fix that with the hardware-level oxidation, but failed to tune it properly )

 

[LemmingO]

I guess the key point to your argument here is. If they can afford it.

I think we might see a surge is Linux Gaming Distro's.

If Bazzite and other distros can improve on Nvidia driver support, we'll have more and more Steam OS boxes.

 

[yRaz]

If Bazzite and other distros can improve on Nvidia driver support, we'll have more and more Steam OS boxes.

nVidia needs to improve on nVidia driver support for Linux. It doesn't make any sense, either, because all of the systems running their high end AI GPUS are using Linux so why they don't have good Linux drivers is beyond me.

 

[techstrike]

This tech economy cannot be maintained by throwing more e-waste when that tech can serve for much more years.

It has to be stopped, by regulations as the tech companies do not care about producing more e-waste.

It starts to become insane.

 

[ScottSoapbox]

This tech economy cannot be maintained by throwing more e-waste when that tech can serve for much more years.

It has to be stopped, by regulations as the tech companies do not care about producing more e-waste.

It starts to become insane.

Are as angry about other trash?

Because e waste is a small part of landfills.

I’m just curious as I’m more concerned with efficient production (free of regulations) than when people decide on their own to throw something away at their own cost.

 

[techstrike]

Are as angry about other trash?

Because e waste is a small part of landfills.

I’m just curious as I’m more concerned with efficient production (free of regulations) than when people decide on their own to throw something away at their own cost.

"Because e waste is a small part of landfills. " yes it is when you look at the other side,
https[:]//www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/from-the-india-today-archives-2022-e-waste-the-mounting-threat-2328246-2023-01-30

So, you really believe that by charging the consumer instead the producer will fix the e-waste problem?
I wish it could but the story tells otherwise

 

[GodisanAtheist]

I figure most people will just finally hit that upgrade button Windows keeps pestering people about. There is a ton of old hardware out there that can run Windows 11 fine but people are just not bothered to upgrade for essentially no reason.

I did, 10 minutes later I got Windows 10 but now the start bar can't be moved to the top of the screen where I like it.

Wow, much upgrade.

 

[KedsDead]

You can fix that with explorer patcher.. windows will tell you is a virus.. because it allows you to make those little changes to the start bar and start screen.

 

[BbN48]

Uh, why would a stop to updates "force" everyone to upgrade? They might just not care that much about more patches. How necessary is the "support" really? Usually not very.

 

[dipankar]

Is this article, to push gamers for new pc upgrade ? Gamer usually upgrade their PC on between 2-3 yrs. Usually their upgrade reason to get compatability, visual & performance from games. They little care about OS, whereas more priority is playing games. They will not rush to upgrade unless they feel their CPU & Graphics Card are becoming obselete and doesn't meet their expectation.

 

[havok585]

It wont force anything.

People will still use windows 10, for years to come.

ESU exists.

 

[ioliveirafarias]

I bought a W11 license for $9 and I still regret it.

 

[KedsDead]

Mine was free.. I want to return it.

 

[SRB]

Keep in mind, the reason for all of this is Microsoft. The created the periodic update model with the idea of selling regular updates. I'm still not sure why they went to this "we'll keep updating so you'll never have to buy Windows again". I think they though it would become a less important product in the internet age. Now, they're backpedaling on it big time. I think they wanted to milk as much money out of customers as they could, so get everyone to pony up for Win 11 before they start selling Win 12 as the next big update.

I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop....no perpetual licenses sold ever again and announcing the new definition of EOL as the date which the software will no longer function.

Microsoft's wet dream is to make Windows a software as a service (SAS) like Office 365, or some online games. They want to rent a product, not sell it to you.

 

[human7]

nVidia needs to improve on nVidia driver support for Linux. It doesn't make any sense, either, because all of the systems running their high end AI GPUS are using Linux so why they don't have good Linux drivers is beyond me.

Compute is the main focus there, which is easier to optimize than games (it can be tricky to scale up, but gaming is tricky to scale to all the different game engines and implementations which is less an issue compute side), so that's probably why, just not enough money in it for them to bother. Still, I agree, one would think there'd be some carry over, so not that much extra work.

 

[LimyG]

While most businesses will feel obliged to either update or pay for extended support, I really don't see average users suddenly switching to W11, even if their system easily supports it.

Windows 10 is fine. I have installed W11 twice and then unistalled and gone back to W10. IMHO W11 is up there with the worst ever OS.

Also security isn't really an issue. That's more of a user competence thing.
Regarding patches, how often do we here of undisclosed potential exploits which MS has sat on for months or even years. Patches for W11 are more like monthly free bloat instability forced downloads.

With windows 10, good computer practice first. Then not using remote, a decent router and antivirus solution (including Defender even which I believe will recieve updates.) Without ESU, a waste of money, W10 is not suddenly going to turn into swiss cheese.

It's a decent OS which I'll keep using until I get off my lazy bottom and learn Linux.

Windows 11 is pathetic.

 

[dangh]

I moved to linux a few years ago from w11 to cut off this crap. The learning curve was smaller than I thought will be, and the feeling of control of your system is just so damn good, even after those years.

 

[Nobina]

Every single time something changes around Windows people blabber about switching to Linux and it's been going on for some 15 years. It's not happening. You can still use Windows 10, you just won't get Windows updates that do nothing anyway.

 

[James321]

This was maybe the plan, but the plan will backfire.

 

[LimyG]

Every single time something changes around Windows people blabber about switching to Linux and it's been going on for some 15 years. It's not happening. You can still use Windows 10, you just won't get Windows updates that do nothing anyway.

I agree with this. Most of the security updates are related to remote stuff, and how many undisclosed security holes exist in all versions?

Security is no longer in the top 3 most important things for MS.
I forget the name, but that awful screen capture in the background thing, all this unwanted A.I.
I wont' go on, it's all been said, bloat bloat.

Most virus/malware is STILL caused by careless users.
With W10 blocking remote and it's port 3389 for extra piece of mind and it will be secure and superior to that fat pig called W11.

 

[mbrowne5061]

Not going to happen, I'll go to SteamOS before going to Windows 11 for Gaming.
5800X3D + 6950 XT

Yeah, I am literally in a 3-way game of "Chicken" right now with Microsoft and Valve. Hoping valve puts out their official PC image of SteamOS before the EOL date for Windows 10, or Microsoft blinks and pushes EOL back at the last second.

If it gets to October 14, and there is no SteamOS or Windows 10 EOL pushback, I am putting Mint on the computer that cannot be upgraded to Windows 11, and then upgrading the computer that can be upgraded to 11 (just to get the license), and then immediately replacing that with Mint.

Until Microsoft knocks it off with their "Recall" feature, AI features, and other "we know best" features, I'll switch to some kind of linux distro and then sandbox Windows inside of it for things like CAD software.

 

[LimyG]

Posted here by mistake. SORRY.