If you searched for gaming on Windows 10 after end of support, the short answer is that nothing shuts off.
Microsoft ended Windows 10 support on October 14, 2025, which means no more feature updates, security fixes or technical support, but the operating system keeps working and your games keep launching. The catch is security.
A gaming PC runs launchers, voice chat and a browser all day, and every vulnerability found after that date stays open unless you act.
For most players there are two ways forward: enroll in consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU), which Microsoft's official page says runs until October 12, 2027, or upgrade to Windows 11 if your hardware qualifies.
Some older articles still quote an October 2026 end date for consumer ESU, so go by the date on Microsoft's current page.
Below you will find what ESU covers and how to confirm you are enrolled, the Windows 10 requirements for League of Legends, VALORANT and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4, and a short routine to run before you move to Windows 11. Everything here is as of November 10, 2026.
What to check when gaming on Windows 10 (as of November 10, 2026)
| Item | Status on Windows 10 | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10 support | Ended October 14, 2025. The PC still works, but feature updates, security fixes and technical support stopped | Without ESU, no security patch released after that date reaches your PC |
| Consumer ESU | Critical and important security updates only, until October 12, 2027. No new features | Needs 22H2, the latest updates and an admin Microsoft account. Enroll by syncing settings, 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points or a one time purchase of US$30 plus tax |
| League of Legends | Minimum includes Windows 10 build 19041 or later (x64). Recommended is Windows 11 with TPM 2.0 enabled | Older builds show error VAN 9004 and ask you to update the OS |
| VALORANT | Windows 10 build 19041 or later, or Windows 11, 64 bit | On Windows 11, TPM 2.0 and UEFI Secure Boot are also required |
| Modern Warfare 4 and Warzone | Windows 10 version 22H2 or later, or Windows 11 | Both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot required. Without them, all online modes are restricted |
| Black Ops 7 | TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot both required | Players who do not meet them can be restricted from some modes, including Ranked Play |
| Free Windows 11 upgrade | Free for Windows 10 22H2 PCs that meet the minimum specs | TPM 2.0, UEFI with Secure Boot capability, DirectX 12 graphics with a WDDM 2.0 driver, 4 GB RAM, 64 GB storage |
Can you keep gaming on Windows 10? Your three options
You have three realistic choices, and the right one depends on your hardware and your time. First, stay on Windows 10 and enroll in ESU. This fits a PC that does not meet the Windows 11 requirements, or a setup you do not want to rebuild right now.
ESU buys time until October 12, 2027, but it only delivers critical and important security updates, so games will not run better and no new features arrive. Second, upgrade to Windows 11.
If your PC runs Windows 10 version 22H2 and meets the minimum hardware specs, the upgrade is free, and it is where things are heading anyway: League of Legends already lists Windows 11 with TPM 2.0 enabled as its recommended OS. Third, keep using Windows 10 without ESU.
Games will still launch, but security fixes stop, and Microsoft itself says antivirus alone is not enough on an unpatched system. On a PC that holds your game accounts, payment details and Discord login, that is the option to avoid. Two more points.
Devices joined to a company or school domain, or enrolled in device management, cannot use consumer ESU. And if you play Call of Duty, TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are more likely to stop you than the Windows version. TPM 2.0 works on Windows 10 too, so that requirement alone does not force you onto Windows 11.
How to check a Windows 10 gaming PC
- 1Check your version and buildPress Windows key + R, type winver and press Enter. If the window shows version 22H2 and an OS build starting with 19045, you meet the starting condition for both ESU and the free Windows 11 upgrade. If you are on an older version, update to 22H2 first, since ESU requires it. To note down your CPU, RAM and graphics card at the same time, follow how to check your PC specs.
- 2Confirm or start ESU enrollmentOpen Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. An eligible PC shows an ESU enrollment link (Enroll now), and an enrolled PC shows its status on the same screen. There are three ways to enroll: at no extra cost if you sync your PC settings, by redeeming 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, or with a one time purchase. As of November 10, 2026, Microsoft lists that purchase at US$30, or the local currency equivalent, plus applicable tax. On a local account you will be asked to sign in with a Microsoft account, and one ESU license covers up to 10 devices. Options and timing can differ by region, for example in the European Economic Area.
- 3Check TPM 2.0 and Secure BootPress Windows key + R and open tpm.msc. The status should say the TPM is ready for use, and the specification version should read 2.0. If it says no compatible TPM can be found, TPM is either disabled in the BIOS or not supported. Then open msinfo32 and check that BIOS Mode reads UEFI and Secure Boot State reads On. Off means your PC supports Secure Boot but it is turned off. According to Activision, Intel 8th Gen or newer (PTT) and AMD Ryzen 2000 series or newer (fTPM) support TPM 2.0.
- 4See if your PC can run Windows 11Run Microsoft's PC Health Check app to see whether your PC meets the Windows 11 minimum requirements. To confirm your graphics card supports DirectX 12, use dxdiag as shown in how to check your DirectX version. If everything passes, the free upgrade shows up in Windows Update.
- 5Record a baseline before you switchTo tell whether games run better or worse after upgrading, you need something to compare against. Note the frame rate at the same spot in a game you play often using how to show FPS in games, and record one match as well. Back up important files and any recordings you want to keep to an external drive or cloud storage before you start.
- 6Recheck game settings after upgradingOnce you are on Windows 11, check your graphics driver and Game Mode first. Whether to leave Game Mode on is covered in Windows 11 Game Mode. Then replay the spot you noted and compare frame rate and image.
If you are staying on Windows 10 for now
- winver shows version 22H2 (OS build 19045).
- Windows Update shows your ESU enrollment status. Enrolling later still ends on October 12, 2027.
- If you play Call of Duty, both TPM 2.0 and Secure Boot are turned on.
- You are not relying on antivirus alone. Microsoft says it is not enough on an OS without security updates.
- Your PC is not managed by a company or school (domain joined or MDM enrolled), since those devices cannot use consumer ESU.
Record the same game before and after you switch, with DOR
DOR is a free Windows game recorder, and its download page lists Windows 10 and 11 (64 bit). Launch a supported game and DOR detects it and records the whole match, and recordings land in the app's My Clips.
League of Legends gets automatic clips for kills, multikills and objectives, VALORANT gets kill clips with ace and clutch tags, and Modern Warfare 4 is recorded as a full session from launch to exit, so you trim the moments you want yourself.
Record one match of your usual game before moving to Windows 11, then record the same map or scene after the upgrade and watch them side by side to spot stutter or visual differences.
Trim segments in the app at 16:9, 9:16 or 1:1, or merge both videos in DOR Studio (dor.gg/studio), add a before and after caption and share it as a dor.gg link. How DOR compares with the built in Windows 11 tools is in how to record gameplay on Windows 11, and per game features are on the League of Legends, VALORANT and Modern Warfare 4 game pages.
