Windows 7/8.1 Users: Your games that work now will STILL work after Jan. 1st

[Ecchi Games]

I've seen a lot of panic about this, and while there's a ton of non-constructive responses like "LOL just upgrade", I do understand full well why certain individuals do not wish to upgrade to a different OS, and the pro reasons FOR do not need to be stated.

However I think it is very important for users of these platforms who are not ready to upgrade to understand that your games that previously worked on Windows 7/8.1 will CONTINUE to work even after the Jan. 1st deadline. This deadline is just official end-of-support for those operating systems, meaning clients on those systems will no longer receive updates. What this actually means is the main launcher/store client might (keyword: might) eventually stop working when a significant revision to the back-end that requires a revision to the front-end (The user client) that these older operating systems won't receive.

However, games that you purchased through Steam will continue to work as long as they are installed on your machine. There may be a few that cease functionality, such as ones that rely on SteamWorks (multiplayer matchmaking and so on). By and large, you should be able to still launch your games locally from your PC through Steam or directly from Windows Explorer. Your games should also continue to update as long as the Steam Client itself is still operational. You will continue to be able to purchase games, if the Windows 7/8.1 client becomes inoperable on the store, you can still purchase games via browser or mobile app and install them through the client.

I do not know how it will affect the accumulation of achievements, cards, or badges.

I just wanted to make this post for some constructive insight to hopefully cut through the multitude of non-constructive posts on the subject from both sides, and perhaps give a bit of piece of mind to those who wish to continue using legacy operating systems.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

You may want to take note of history. Windows XP and Vista were also dropped on January 1st and they indeed did continue to work after that date, up until about March.. working after January 1st does not equal working indefinitely.

EDIT
Also, for some perspective. The only thing you can do under XP and Vista now, is use the forums. You can't download or install games and that's the users themselves saying this.

Sort of changes the definition of working.

[rawWwRrr]

Because we really needed .... another .... new topic on this same tired topic.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Originally posted by rawWwRrr:

Because we really needed .... another .... new topic on this same tired topic.

It's the only way they can stay relevant I guess.

[Xautos]

what you and your small band of last stand types have to realise is that your OS's are dead, there is no more support, no more hope of an emergency patch. that's as constructive as it gets, anything else after that is not constructive. i've been making a lot of fun of the situation because it drives these last stand types nuts knowing i'm right and they are in complete denial of those facts that exist as they are.

sure your dead os may be able to keep running steam, but it's only a matter of time until it doesn't, what then? admit your right that in your last stand? Because the reality is you are completely wrong in the end no matter what and you'll be playing hypocrite forced to move up to windows 10 or 11 or do something different like jump across to Linux or MacOS.

This situation is it's only going one way, that is the fully constructive element here, there is nothing else.

[Neo]

There is an endless stream of people just wanting to raise this topic again. This subject has been talked about at great length. Did we really need another thread?

[Xautos]

Originally posted by Neo:

There is an endless stream of people just wanting to raise this topic again. This subject has been talked about at great length. Did we really need another thread?

it has been talked about to it's death, just like the OS's.

[C²C^Guyver |NZB|]

Originally posted by Neo:

There is an endless stream of people just wanting to raise this topic again. This subject has been talked about at great length. Did we really need another thread?

They have short memories It seems, because when this actually does happen? All of these threads will either be locked or sink to the bottom and die.

https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1762481957313056402/
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/3307213006830852844/
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/1/1736595227854998687/
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/10/3307213006832142364/
https://steamcommunity.com/discussions/forum/0/1762481957315773564/

[infinitas]

cool

[Dr.Shadowds 🐉]

I keep it simple.

- Will keep working for existing installed already until a certain point you will lose connection access to server that means being able to download games, or to using multiplayer that depends on Steam API for never version.

- Newer version of installation will not work hence why have to do manual backups, and you're gonna need large storage drives to back it all up incase anything happens.


Now idk why it so scary to just dual boot it's free, easy thing to do, and have access to both windows 7, and a supported OS. Can choose between using windows 10/11, or any Linux Distro you want to use.

[rataj]

I assume it will be like UPlay.
-you have to use an older client version (backup the latest client version)
-you can only play SP related content
-you can't use online features like in-Game Shops
-you can't get new archivements on your profile
-you can't play MP anymore
-you can't buy a new game through client

The only reason I'm upgrading to Windows 10 in three days is because of six games and one of them just to be able to play it again with mods.

Uncharted, Dead Island 2, Gotham Knights, Sniper Elite 5, Resident Evil 4 and The Long Dark. And TLD only because MelonLoader is no longer compatible with Windows 7.

[The Fifth Horseman]

Originally posted by C²C^Guyver |NZB|:

You may want to take note of history. Windows XP and Vista were also dropped on January 1st and they indeed did continue to work after that date, up until about March.. working after January 1st does not equal working indefinitely.

When the happened, my Win XP laptop did receive an update on January 1st that upgraded the client to a version incompatible with XP.
Stopping updates for unsupported OSes is fine. Pushing automated updates that outright prevent the software from working on those OSes is not.

Originally posted by rataj:

I assume it will be like UPlay.
-you have to use an older client version (backup the latest client version)
-you can only play SP related content
-you can't use online features like in-Game Shops
-you can't get new archivements on your profile
-you can't play MP anymore
-you can't buy a new game through client

Not like UPlay, then. Uplay dropped Win 7 support a while ago and despite assurances to the contrary, they pushed an update that completely broke the client on Win 7. Attempting to revert to an older client just results in a forced auto-upgrade to a version that no longer runs on that OS.

[Axe]

Originally posted by Ecchi Games:

I've seen a lot of panic about this, and while there's a ton of non-constructive responses like "LOL just upgrade"

"LOL just upgrade"

[rataj]

Originally posted by The Fifth Horseman:

Not like UPlay, then. Uplay dropped Win 7 support a while ago and despite assurances to the contrary, they pushed an update that completely broke the client on Win 7. Attempting to revert to an older client just results in a forced auto-upgrade to a version that no longer runs on that OS.

I'm not sure if I understood your post correctly. But you just have to write the latest version number for an older client in the “version.txt” and Uplay starts again. But as I said above, it then limits the possibilities and functions of the game and client. I still play Odyssey since Ubisoft took this step. Well, people worry about it for nothing anyway. There is always a way. But many prefer to sell their principles and soul because they JUST want to play.

[Seraphita]

Imagine seeing an OS losing support and then stating with a straight face: "When I'm told that I should upgrade, it's non-constructive" because they want to keep their old OS. We can really tell what the logic of people is these days. It's almost depressing, honestly.

We're at an age where people feel justified to call logical people trolls just because they're told something that they don't like to hear. The phrase they want is not "They're non-constructive" but rather, "I am not interested in logic." to what we say "deal with it".

And really, if you think "deal with it" is not constructive, what else are you expecting? Companies like Steam to cater to your wishes of keeping a dead OS? I'm sorry that the world doesn't work like that and you don't like it. There's not much we can do about it.

[Axe]

... and we have to live with these people too... This is why life will never be a walk in the park