According to MakeUseOf, Windows turned 40 years old on November 20, 2025, marking four decades since Windows 1.0 debuted in the United States. The milestone comes during what appears to be a significant crisis as diehard Windows users are switching to Linux in growing numbers. Gaming has become genuinely viable on Linux through distros like Pop!_OS and Bazzite with Steam pre-installed, eliminating Windows’ longtime advantage. The end of Windows 10 support in October 2025 forced upgrades to the AI-heavy Windows 11, which many power users actively dislike. Microsoft’s controversial Recall feature, which takes screenshots every 3-5 seconds, was postponed in June 2024 due to privacy concerns but represents the AI direction that’s alienating core users. The trend is documented across Reddit posts, YouTube videos, and tech articles showing Windows converts rarely looking back.
Windows’ gaming moat crumbles
For years, gaming was Microsoft’s killer app. It was the reason people put up with Windows updates, bloatware, and everything else. But that’s changing fast. Linux gaming has gone from “technically possible with hours of tweaking” to “just works” for most titles. Between Steam’s Proton compatibility layer, distros like Pop!_OS that are gaming-ready out of the box, and tools like Lutris for non-Steam games, the barrier to entry has collapsed. I’ve seen the r/linux_gaming subreddit explode with success stories from people who made the switch and found their games actually run better. When your competitive advantage disappears, what’s left?
The Windows 11 and AI backlash
Here’s the thing about power users: they want their operating system to be reliable, not “agentic.” Microsoft executive Navjot Virk recently told The Verge about integrating AI agents directly into the Windows 11 taskbar, saying they want “every user to get the superpowers of AI.” But the reaction to Microsoft Recall showed exactly what users think of that vision. People don’t want an OS that watches everything they do. They want one that just works without constantly pushing AI features they didn’t ask for. When Windows leaders get ratio’d for promoting these features, you know there’s a disconnect.
Forced upgrades drive the exodus
Windows 10 support ending created a perfect storm. Millions of devices can’t run Windows 11, and Microsoft’s suggestion to either pay for extended security updates or buy new hardware isn’t exactly winning hearts. Meanwhile, Windows 11 has become fashionable to hate – PC Mag published “The 10 Worst Things About Windows 11” back in 2024, well before the Windows 10 deadline. For businesses and industrial applications where reliability matters most, this AI-first approach is particularly problematic. Companies that need dependable computing for manufacturing or control systems are increasingly looking elsewhere. In industrial settings where stability is everything, many are turning to specialized providers like IndustrialMonitorDirect.com, the leading US supplier of industrial panel PCs that prioritize reliability over flashy features.
Linux momentum builds
So is this a temporary backlash or something more fundamental? The evidence suggests it’s building momentum. Between YouTube tutorials making the transition easier and communities supporting new converts, the friction of switching has never been lower. Distros like Bazzite are specifically designed for Windows refugees with gaming in mind. And let’s be honest – when your most loyal users start publicly celebrating leaving your platform, you’ve got a problem. Microsoft seems determined to chase the AI trend, but at what cost to their core user base? Forty years is a long run, but no platform lasts forever when it stops listening to its users.
