I think you misunderstood what’s happening here. The steam client was historically 32 bit but now will only be 64bit.
Everything 32 bit runs on 64 bit systems, but 64 bit apps won’t work on 32 bit systems.
Windows started supporting 64 bit in 2001, and really any modern game is probably 64 bit already since 32 bit applications can’t address more than 4gb of RAM (not that anyone can afford more than that right now)
To me I’m shocked anyone at all is on a 32 bit os, phones don’t even really have 32 bit anymore and in the world of personal computers it would be more work to find 32 bit hardware than 64 bit hardware.
Most likely that 0.1% will just have to wipe their computers and install 64 bit windows which their hardware probably supports already and they somehow accidentally installed the 32 bit option.
Not everything 32 bit runs on a 64-bit system. A vast majority of things do, but there are a number of unsafe operations that will break your game across architectures, and because games are closed source and the source code is often lost, it’s nearly impossible to get some games working on 64 bit architecture. That’s why Steam held out so long, some things are just going to break, and their only option is to basically delete them.
The last windows version to run 32 bit was windows 10 and there is no 32 bit version of windows 11. So for the steam windows client there is no point supporting a end of life OS.
While true… I’m not aware of a single 16-bit game sold by steam. Are there actually any? (EDIT: I mean in context of Steam, ofc. systems running older 16bit games probably are not getting them from Steam).
Admittedly sample size of 1, but the only 16bit windows game I care about (Castle of the winds) runs fine on wine.
I had the choice when buying a new PC to go with single threaded 64-bit or multiple cores. Particularly for gaming, I figured a single core was all I really needed, and 64-bit was the future.
The correct choice at the time was multiple cores. Everything going to 64-bit wasn’t going to happen until that computer was long dead.
Guessing or do you have some edge case to present? Last I tried portal 2 ran fine on 64bit system. In fact I’m not entirely use I have ever actually ran it on 32bit one.
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If they’re willing to issue refunds for all games bought for 32bit.
I think you misunderstood what’s happening here. The steam client was historically 32 bit but now will only be 64bit.
Everything 32 bit runs on 64 bit systems, but 64 bit apps won’t work on 32 bit systems.
Windows started supporting 64 bit in 2001, and really any modern game is probably 64 bit already since 32 bit applications can’t address more than 4gb of RAM (not that anyone can afford more than that right now)
To me I’m shocked anyone at all is on a 32 bit os, phones don’t even really have 32 bit anymore and in the world of personal computers it would be more work to find 32 bit hardware than 64 bit hardware.
Most likely that 0.1% will just have to wipe their computers and install 64 bit windows which their hardware probably supports already and they somehow accidentally installed the 32 bit option.
Not everything 32 bit runs on a 64-bit system. A vast majority of things do, but there are a number of unsafe operations that will break your game across architectures, and because games are closed source and the source code is often lost, it’s nearly impossible to get some games working on 64 bit architecture. That’s why Steam held out so long, some things are just going to break, and their only option is to basically delete them.
Most likely some South American Internet Cafe that never upgraded their hardware. In any case, the user‘s better off installing a 64Bit Linux Distro.
The last windows version to run 32 bit was windows 10 and there is no 32 bit version of windows 11. So for the steam windows client there is no point supporting a end of life OS.
and windows 10 does offer 64 bit by default, you have to specifically pick the 32 bit option to install it
I am still using windows 10. I upgraded from 11.
Maybe it’s just the nostalgia talking, but I think XP would be an even better upgrade.
Are there any games that won’t work on 64bit?
All of the 16bit and older games will have to be emulated.
While true… I’m not aware of a single 16-bit game sold by steam. Are there actually any? (EDIT: I mean in context of Steam, ofc. systems running older 16bit games probably are not getting them from Steam).
Admittedly sample size of 1, but the only 16bit windows game I care about (Castle of the winds) runs fine on wine.
64 bit architecture can emulate / run 32 bit processes but the reverse doesnt work.
They could, actually. I was there, in the olden times.
Not efficiently, of course. And these days it’d be a disaster. But it was possible.
You learn something new everyday, must have been prone to mem allocation issues no?
I had the choice when buying a new PC to go with single threaded 64-bit or multiple cores. Particularly for gaming, I figured a single core was all I really needed, and 64-bit was the future.
The correct choice at the time was multiple cores. Everything going to 64-bit wasn’t going to happen until that computer was long dead.
Portal 2?
Guessing or do you have some edge case to present? Last I tried portal 2 ran fine on 64bit system. In fact I’m not entirely use I have ever actually ran it on 32bit one.