Concept Imagines What Steam Would Have Looked Like on Windows 98

A PC gamer took to social media to share a concept of how current iterations of Steam would appear on Microsoft’s long-deprecated Windows 98 operating system. The concept artwork showed how the Steam user interface, icons, and art resolutions would look in Windows 98, and the artist was complimented by other users for their effort.

Originally launched in 2003, Valve’s digital storefront was originally packaged as a way to easily update its games. At the time, the Steam client was supported primarily on Windows XP and older operating systems, including Windows 98. In the ensuing years, support for older Windows PCs running Windows 98 and XP ended. Since then, Steam has evolved into the leading launcher and storefront for PC gamers worldwide. Following the success of Valve’s Steam Deck, the SteamOS used by the popular tablet will make its way to other devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S starting in May 2025.

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While some enthusiasts have managed to get Windows 98 running on consoles like the Xbox Series S, one PC gamer got creative with a recent project. On the r/Steam subreddit, a Redditor named Blu-s_Attempt shared some screenshots of their Steam client with the appearance of a Windows 98 application. The Taskbar was also altered to match how it looked on Windows 98, with programs like Firefox and Grand Theft Auto 4 pinned near the Start menu. One picture showed Steam in full-screen mode, with the Games and Soundtrack list placed on the left and a condensed game page on the right. The buttons for various UI actions were colored gray and blue to match the Windows 98 aesthetic, and the pictures of some games and icons were changed to match the limited color palette of the OS.

PC Gamer Shares Windows 98 Appearance For Steam Desktop Client

Other icons for features like Big Picture Mode were placed on the top right, and the Steam client was adjusted to fit a 4:3 resolution. Blu-s_Attempt responded that they used four programs for their Windows 98 Steam client build, called Milleniuum, RetroBar, OpenShell, and Window Blinds. Blu-s_Attempt did not recommend using Window Blinds on Windows 11 due to technical issues. The OP responded to a comment by recommending the first three apps as a way to get started instead. Other Steam users complimented Blu-s_Attempt for their handiwork and attention to detail.

In the meantime, the Steam Spring Sale is underway, and the zombie game Scheming Through the Zombie Apocalypse: The Beginning is free for a limited time. It remains to be seen how many PC gamers will try similar projects like the Windows 98 Steam client.

Steam

Brand

Valve

Original Release Date

September 12, 2003

Original MSRP (USD)

N/A

Weight

N/A