32GB dethrones 16GB as top RAM capacity in gaming rigs despite memory shortage

What happened

The September 2026 Steam Survey results show that 42.22% of the surveyed units now have 32GB of system RAM — a 4.77% increase compared to the previous month — while 16GB configurations have shrunk by 3.38%, falling to just 37.82%. It should be noted, though, that the company quietly erased this suggestion after it released 8GB base models for its Surface laptops a few months later.

Because of that, the memory shortage may have merely postponed the inevitable reign of 32GB RAM on gaming PCs. The September 2026 Steam Survey showed a surprising result despite extreme RAM pricing.

It’s quite possible that memory capacities were always destined to increase for gamers, especially as titles become more demanding. Minecraft, which hasn’t updated its system requirements for 17 years and is known for being potato-PC-friendly, even increased its recommended memory to 16GB earlier this year, forcing players on older systems to switch to the Java Edition or play retro games instead.

Key facts

• It should be noted, though, that the company quietly erased this suggestion after it — released: 8GB base models for its Surface laptops a few months later