Valve owns up to inaccurate Steam hardware survey findings, saying 'VRAM on some graphics cards was not reported correctly'
PC Gamer
by Jess Kinghorn February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Valve has acknowledged inaccuracies in its Steam hardware survey due to incorrect reporting of VRAM on some graphics cards. The company revealed that a bug caused underreporting of VRAM, which has now been fixed. Additionally, Steam's system information collection process has been updated to select the display adapter with the most VRAM for reporting, aiming to provide a more accurate representation of hardware usage.
The latest survey data shows that 29.57% of systems report 8GB of VRAM, but it remains unclear how much the previous reporting issue impacted this figure. Similarly, while 40.24% of participating PCs reported 16GB of system RAM—a slight decrease from last year—the ongoing memory supply crisis makes it difficult to determine whether this reflects upgrades or hardware adjustments.
The survey also highlights Windows 11's steady adoption, with a 66.71% share of the operating system pie. Despite concerns about outdated systems, Windows 10 continues to hold a significant 27.79% market share. This data underscores the importance of understanding hardware diversity and compatibility, especially for gamers on older or less powerful machines.
For gamers and developers, Steam's updated survey methodology offers valuable insights into hardware trends. It emphasizes that gaming performance can remain satisfactory with older hardware, even as newer technologies like high-end GPUs and 16GB RAM systems gain traction. This information is particularly relevant for those considering upgrades or evaluating the feasibility of upgrading their systems.
Overall, while the inaccuracies in Steam's survey data underscore the need for caution
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Originally published on PC Gamer on 2/25/2026