this post was submitted on 21 Dec 2025
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With windows 11 not supporting 32 bit the librarys will slowly start become stale and more work would need to be done to upgrade or patch issues that arise. In theory any program should be forward compatible but steam is still active and needs to be a moving target. but what would be the point supporting an architecture that the os isn't even supporting.
That is not what i was asking. I'm not negative here (if it sounds like). Besides supporting legacy old 32 bit libraries, are there reasons why someone want to go 64-bit only?
https://helpdesk.microsurvey.com/article/1072-benefits-of-a-64-bit-application
But what part does apply to the Steam app itself? I am aware of benefits of 64-bit. If you guys don't know or don't want to answer, then why even bother with replies like these? What is the 64-bit executable worth for the Steam app specifically? Besides getting rid of old libraries. Does the steam app has any benefits from 64-bit?
You did not ask about steam specifically, I'll Google that for you as well. Why is Steam moving to full 64-bit and dropping 32-bit OS support?
Future versions of Steam will only support 64-bit OS’ moving forward. Why? The simple answer is that planned platform upgrades and core features of Steam rely on drivers and other libraries that only support 64-bit OS’. Future versions of Steam will only support 64-bit OS’. That means that users of 32-bit OS’ should upgrade their systems. Valve recommends that users do this “sooner rather than later”.
You can join the discussion on Steam’s 64-bit upgrade on the OC3D Forums. https://overclock3d.net/news/software/steam-has-finally-upgraded-to-64-bit/