Ensure your system meets the requirements for upcoming gaming experiences.
Ensure your system meets the requirements for upcoming gaming experiences.
You're frequently prompted to upgrade to Windows 10. Is it common for everyone to be using it now? Are there any downsides to this change for gaming? Thanks, Mike
From a gaming perspective, there aren't major downsides. You might face some compatibility problems with older titles, though you're unlikely to encounter them. I think DX12 could improve your experience, but there are some details I'm hearing that might not be accurate. If you're okay with tracking, upgrading would be a good move. (Or you can turn off most of the tracking, though not everything.)
I intend to move to Linux for most of my computing needs. Then I’ll run Windows 10 as a virtual machine for gaming, or keep it on a dedicated device just for that purpose, so I won’t have my work being transferred to a third party. Most games will eventually need Windows 10, which Microsoft aims for because they expect more users and plan to profit from monitoring your actions and selling the data to advertisers—similar to what Google does. The main distinction is that you can opt out of their services, but with Linux you have more control. They claim you can disable it, but how accurate are those claims? On an OS you don’t really manage, it’s hard to know the full truth. Microsoft has already attempted to push telemetry features into Windows 7 and 8 through security updates, which I view as deceptive. Make your decision, but stay informed. Windows 10 records your activity and sends it to external parties.
Based on my observations, the main drawback of moving from Windows 7 to Windows 10 has been reduced system control over updates. It can be frustrating, though it does allow postponing reboots. Overall, other aspects have performed similarly to or better than Windows 7. In the future, when backward compatibility with DirectX 11 disappears for newer games, Windows 10 or similar versions may become necessary. However, given past trends, it might take many years before that happens. I suggest applying the Windows 10 update while it's still available, but it isn't currently essential.
Windows 10 offers similar performance to Windows 7 or 8, except when running specialized applications like DX12. It's unlikely to replace these older versions for future gaming, as they share the same core platform with minor visual and control differences. While some tests show Windows 10 can be slower than its predecessors, the gap is very small and often hard to notice. Most PC gamers still stick with Windows 7, and recent data from Steam indicates about a third of users are on Windows 10. DX12 remains available in Windows 7 and 8, while Vulkan support is gaining traction among major game engines, with Valve confirming only Vulkan support now. New Vulkan games like DOTA 2 and Talos Principle are already using it, suggesting it may soon outpace DX12 in adoption.
In the end, you'll likely require Windows 10 to play many games.
What features of Windows 10 beyond DX12 might limit a game designed for Windows 10 to work on Windows 7 and 8? I believe Windows 10 isn't likely to become essential for gaming mainly because it doesn't offer any special capabilities for running games—its foundation is similar to Vista, 7, and 8. Windows Vista's limitations aren't due to missing features but because many third-party devices lack compatible drivers, whereas Windows 7 did receive more support. With Windows 7 and newer versions, the situation looks different, and I think any functionality with Windows 10 support should still work on older systems. Other factors include: - Steam statistics show Windows 7 remains the main OS for gamers - Adoption of Windows 10 is expected to decrease over time - DirectX 12 and Vulkan provide comparable performance across all previous Windows versions, including XP, and offer benefits over DX12
Based on my observations, Windows 10 has several downsides. Many built-in features include privacy risks that hinder the use of newer capabilities like DirectX 12. Compatibility problems are widespread, with some games and apps needing patches from the modding community. While some praise the OS, in reality it often falls short. People are pressured to upgrade by removing support or using workarounds, but you’ll still face glitches and occasional fixes unless you’re a light user.