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- Windows 11 is bloated, frustrating to set up, and offers worse gaming performance compared to SteamOS.
- SteamOS not only outperforms Windows in several modern games, but it also provides better battery life and a smoother experience.
- Microsoft seems lost in its gaming strategy, sidelining potential hardware innovations and frustrating users with legacy issues.
SteamOS Crushes Windows? The Sad State of Microsoft Gaming
Let’s get this out of the way upfront: I want Windows to succeed. I’ve been gaming on Windows since dial-up modems screamed through the night and CRTs ruled the desk. But something’s been brewing lately, and after my latest run-in with Windows 11’s setup wizard and an airplane power outlet, I’m starting to believe it...
Microsoft might’ve just... given up.
The Setup Experience is a Nightmare
Remember when setting up a new Windows PC used to feel exciting? Like, late-2000s “fresh install” satisfying? That’s gone. Windows 11 greets you with a gauntlet of useless questions: “Is this for entertainment, work, gaming?” Yes. All of it. Let me use my computer already!
By comparison, setting up SteamOS feels like stepping into the future. It’s fast, it’s light, and it doesn’t interrogate you about your life goals before letting you launch a game. I recently watched Dave2D's comparison of two identical Legion Go devices—one running Windows 11 and the other running SteamOS—and honestly, it was brutal. SteamOS didn’t just keep up... it ran laps.
Performance Isn't Even Close Anymore
This blew my mind: In games like Cyberpunk 2077, Doom Eternal, and Spider-Man 2, SteamOS outperformed Windows 11. We’re not talking about minor differences—Windows barely edged out in one game, and even that win was within margin-of-error frame rates.
That’s right: with a Proton compatibility layer translating Windows-only games into Linux-friendly form, SteamOS still came out ahead.
I used to laugh at Linux gaming. Now, I’m not just considering the switch—I’m actively researching the best distro. (Mint? Manjaro? SteamOS on desktop?)
Battery Life? Windows Loses There Too
Let’s talk real-world usability. I was on a long-haul flight recently, excited to play Final Fantasy VI (yeah, I'm old school) on my laptop. Spoiler alert: battery life on Windows is a joke. Even with a low-powered 2D game, my rig was draining faster than a leaky faucet.
Meanwhile, SteamOS is sipping power. Side-scrollers and indie games can go for hours—actual hours—on Steam Deck or Linux-powered handhelds. It’s embarrassing. Windows laptops should crush in efficiency, especially for legacy games. Instead, it feels like Microsoft is fighting the OS itself.
Microsoft's Gaming Strategy: Where Even Are We?
What’s even going on at Microsoft? Rumors were swirling about an Xbox handheld—which honestly could've been the killer move—but that’s apparently been put on ice while they try to “fix” Windows gaming performance.
Good luck with that.
I mean, they already have a lightweight gaming OS—it’s called the Xbox operating system. Why can’t they use that as the base for a new PC-focused version? Instead, Windows 11 keeps getting bigger, slower, and more convoluted.
Even little things like Xbox Live integration or matchmaking in Halo Infinite are broken half the time. My buddy couldn’t even join a party the other day because Microsoft’s login systems were bugging out. It’s like a joke at this point.
The Good Old Days... Are Just Old Now
Remember the "My Games" folder from Windows Vista? That thing was actually useful. It organized save files, config data—it made migrating PCs easy. Gone. Like Games for Windows Live—which, thankfully, also died. But its ghost still haunts us in the form of bizarre login issues and password resets if you mistype once.
Don’t even get me started on Microsoft accounts in games. My kids love Minecraft Dungeons, but I’ve had to reset my password more times than I’ve actually played the game. Miss a character? You’re done. Reset. Every. Time.
Its Not Just the Software—Its the Hardware Too
Windows laptops should be killer gaming devices, especially with the power you can pack into modern builds. My own laptop runs a 4070 GPU and can handle Psychonauts 2 like a champ. But try gaming on a flight? Good luck adjusting screen brightness if you’re not plugged into the right profile. My screen was glowing like the Eye of Sauron in a dark cabin, and I couldn’t dim it unless I unplugged the GPU.
And don’t even think about screen auto-lock “privacy” features. If I look away for two seconds, boom—locked out. No warning, no prompt, no clue. Lenovo, Microsoft, whoever—fix your weird webcam software. You're scaring people off your laptops.
Where Does This Leave Us?
Honestly? I'm tired. Not of gaming—but of having to fight my OS to play the games I love. Whether it’s bloat, login hell, poor battery performance, or just plain UX fails, Windows is losing me.
I don’t want a SteamOS monopoly either. But competition only works if Microsoft shows up to the fight.
Right now? It feels like they’re phoning it in—and gamers are noticing.
It might be time to dust off Mint or install SteamOS on my desktop. I want to root for Microsoft... but they’ve got to give me something worth rooting for.
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#Windows11 #SteamOS #PCGaming #MicrosoftFail #LinuxGaming
