As the end of Windows 10 support approaches, predictions indicate a notable decline in the entry-level PC gaming market. According to research from Jon Peddie Research, while the global PC gaming hardware market is expected to grow significantly, there is an anticipated drop in entry-level gamers, with projections indicating a decrease of around 13%, which amounts to over 10 million users potentially leaving the platform entirely.

Dr. Jon Peddie, president of JPR, noted, “We are forecasting a significant decrease in entry-level PC gaming over the next five years. Included in this drop are over 10 million people leaving the PC platform entirely. Consoles, handhelds, and mobile devices all provide compelling alternatives for budget-conscious gamers.”

A portion of those leaving may not be abandoning PC gaming altogether but rather shifting towards more robust midrange and high-end hardware, as Dr. Peddie described. The transition to Windows 11, with its stricter hardware requirements involving TPM 2.0, is forcing users to upgrade their entire systems instead of simply replacing components like graphics cards.

JPR underlines that the hardware migration mandated by Windows 11 represents a unique scenario, as it compels over 100 million gamers to upgrade their CPUs and associated components, inevitably leading to a noticeable decline in the entry-level segment.