Users of Windows 8 will no longer receive support and updates if they don't move to Windows 8.1 two years after now. On the Microsoft support site the software company states that while Windows 8 support ends in January 2023 you'll need to update to Windows 8.1 to actually get that support.
The mainstream support for Windows 8 ends on January 9, 2018, followed by the extended support end date on January 10, 2023. This schedule also applies to other Windows 8 versions like, Windows 8 Enterprise, Windows 8 Enterprise N, Windows 8 N, Windows 8 Pro and Windows 8 Pro N.
This way Microsoft pretty much forces users to update to Windows 8.1 . For home users that's usually not an issue however for enterprises updating can be troublesome. Users that aren't on Windows 8.1 by October 2015 (two years from now) will no longer receive critical security patches, bug fixes, and new features and improvements. The only way to stay up to date and secure is to update to Windows 8.1
Microsoft released the Windows 8.1 update last Thursday to the Windows Store, new devices and retail customers were able to get Windows 8.1 the day after.
