Well the latest Steam hardware survey is out for April and it isn't looking good again for Linux.
Here are the statistics just for Linux
Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit 0.35% -0.12%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 64 bit 0.23% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.10 0.14% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 0.14% -0.02%
Ubuntu 13.04 64 bit 0.11% +0.11%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 64 bit 0.11% -0.02%
Linux 64 bit 0.10% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 64 bit 0.06% +0.02%
"Arch Linux" 64 bit 0.04% 0.00%
Ubuntu 13.04 0.04% +0.04%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 0.03% -0.01%
"Fedora release 18 (Spherical Cow)" 64 bit 0.03% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.3 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.02% 0.00%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 0.02% +0.01%
Linux 0.01% 0.00%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 0.01% 0.00%
"Manjaro Linux" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"NAME=Gentoo" 64 bit 0.01% +0.01%
"Fedora release 17 (Beefy Miracle)" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 0.01% 0.00%
elementary OS Luna 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.1" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.2 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.01% -0.01%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 0.00% -0.01%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.2" 64 bit 0.00% -0.01%
This Month: 1.56%
Last Month: 1.69%
So we lose another 0.13%, this is after a loss the previous month as well (see our post on last month here).
Well I was hoping we would see a rise this month but nope, another fall.
Could this be the sign of a continued trend across this year or will some high profile Valve launches like Left 4 Dead 2, DOTA2, Counter Strike:GO lift up our share? I seriously hope this doesn't continue as it won't paint a pretty picture for developers looking to Steam for Linux viability for ports.
What I really hope though is that people aren't looking too much into the survey, especially developers, the results are from a random set of users and as with all surveys it will only be a small % of users that will be asked so it could actually be missing out a vast amount of Linux users.
Update: As pointed out, you should allow for a margin of error on the Steam stats since they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the total stats to make it smaller.
Lastly Linux users typically shy away from any form of DRM, so you can bet there is a large bunch of Linux users who just simply refuse to use Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Here are the statistics just for Linux
Ubuntu 12.10 64 bit 0.35% -0.12%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 64 bit 0.23% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.10 0.14% -0.05%
Ubuntu 12.04.2 LTS 0.14% -0.02%
Ubuntu 13.04 64 bit 0.11% +0.11%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 64 bit 0.11% -0.02%
Linux 64 bit 0.10% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 64 bit 0.06% +0.02%
"Arch Linux" 64 bit 0.04% 0.00%
Ubuntu 13.04 0.04% +0.04%
Linux Mint 14 Nadia 0.03% -0.01%
"Fedora release 18 (Spherical Cow)" 64 bit 0.03% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.3 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.02% 0.00%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 64 bit 0.02% -0.01%
Ubuntu Raring Ringtail (development branch) 0.02% +0.01%
Linux 0.01% 0.00%
Linux Mint 13 Maya 0.01% 0.00%
"Manjaro Linux" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"NAME=Gentoo" 64 bit 0.01% +0.01%
"Fedora release 17 (Beefy Miracle)" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
Ubuntu 12.04.1 LTS 0.01% 0.00%
elementary OS Luna 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.1" 64 bit 0.01% 0.00%
"openSUSE 12.2 (x86_64)" 64 bit 0.01% -0.01%
Debian GNU/Linux 7.0 (wheezy) 0.00% -0.01%
"Gentoo Base System release 2.2" 64 bit 0.00% -0.01%
This Month: 1.56%
Last Month: 1.69%
So we lose another 0.13%, this is after a loss the previous month as well (see our post on last month here).
Well I was hoping we would see a rise this month but nope, another fall.
Could this be the sign of a continued trend across this year or will some high profile Valve launches like Left 4 Dead 2, DOTA2, Counter Strike:GO lift up our share? I seriously hope this doesn't continue as it won't paint a pretty picture for developers looking to Steam for Linux viability for ports.
What I really hope though is that people aren't looking too much into the survey, especially developers, the results are from a random set of users and as with all surveys it will only be a small % of users that will be asked so it could actually be missing out a vast amount of Linux users.
Update: As pointed out, you should allow for a margin of error on the Steam stats since they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the total stats to make it smaller.
Lastly Linux users typically shy away from any form of DRM, so you can bet there is a large bunch of Linux users who just simply refuse to use Steam. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Kurremkarmerruk May 2, 2013
Think about it, if you are a gamer and (let's say) you probably have windows installed. What real reason do you have to go to Linux? Not many will be truly motivated to make the move based on ethical values or some such reason. As others have stated, all these games and more are available already on their current platform.
Those who use Linux for their OS for the Freedom will actually be put off by the non-Free values of Steam. On top of that, those who use (or dual-boot) to Linux for development reasons either already have a Windows box/boot for gaming or they probably don't do much gaming. I see this crowd as the initial spike in usage that has worn off.
Honestly, as more games are added, I see Steam for Linux being viable for someone buying a brand new computer. I think this is why there is so much interest in making a "steam box" because ultimately, you're just not going to get people to install (or instead use) linux over their current OS which already has what they need.
Those who use Linux for their OS for the Freedom will actually be put off by the non-Free values of Steam. On top of that, those who use (or dual-boot) to Linux for development reasons either already have a Windows box/boot for gaming or they probably don't do much gaming. I see this crowd as the initial spike in usage that has worn off.
Honestly, as more games are added, I see Steam for Linux being viable for someone buying a brand new computer. I think this is why there is so much interest in making a "steam box" because ultimately, you're just not going to get people to install (or instead use) linux over their current OS which already has what they need.
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I used Linux (again) since Winter 2012.
Then i logged into Windows, just because i need a some Photoshopfiles. My Brother asked me to go online in steam to help him with some mathproblems... that was the first time after more then 6 month that i logged into steam from windows.. and BAM.. Hardware Survey... lol... !
Then i logged into Windows, just because i need a some Photoshopfiles. My Brother asked me to go online in steam to help him with some mathproblems... that was the first time after more then 6 month that i logged into steam from windows.. and BAM.. Hardware Survey... lol... !
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I did not log into Steam at all in April. Life and busy things kept me from even firing up any game at all (except the Akaneiro beta, which was only a couple days ago, and worked perfectly). I was sick for a week, had U.S. tax paperwork deadline on the 15th, moved furniture in our house... all that in addition to spending each weekend last month helping friends in dire need of assistance. It was not a month for gaming.
Add to that the fact that I only own The Cave on Steam to support Double Fine Productions (I don't count the Humble Indie Bundle #1 steam key I redeemed just to be able to vote on Greenlight), and it just wasn't going to happen. I need to have a good block of time set aside to truly enjoy an adventure game, even one shrouded in the trappings of a platformer.
Perhaps others had a similarly stifling April. I promise to play The Cave a bunch in May; perhaps that will make up for the shortfall, all on my own ;)
Add to that the fact that I only own The Cave on Steam to support Double Fine Productions (I don't count the Humble Indie Bundle #1 steam key I redeemed just to be able to vote on Greenlight), and it just wasn't going to happen. I need to have a good block of time set aside to truly enjoy an adventure game, even one shrouded in the trappings of a platformer.
Perhaps others had a similarly stifling April. I promise to play The Cave a bunch in May; perhaps that will make up for the shortfall, all on my own ;)
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Cheeseness May 2, 2013
Quoting: tweakedenigmaI too have noticed this with the survey, I received it once and then never again. So there might be a glitch in it somewhere.
Only a (presumably random) portion of the Steam user community is prompted to participate in the survey. It's not unusual to go a number of months in a row without being selected to participate.
Additionally, I imagine that there are others who were prompted whilst not using the native Linux client (I was prompted whilst on a Mac laptop which I keep the client open on to use Steam chat, and Mim was prompted when she fired up Steam in Wine to play some Orcs Must Die 2). I've spoken to at least three of four Linux users who were in a similar situation.
All that said, last time I spoke to Steam support about sampling issues, they pretty much said that the survey was so anonymous that they wouldn't know if something was wrong - six or so months later they identified the sampling bug for which there is currently a notice on the survey results page. I wouldn't be surprised if there were ongoing sampling problems.
This article seems pretty sensationalist. A 0.13% drop is not significant enough to be considered negative or positive. At worst, it could be described as "stagnant" or "holding steady", but since we barely have enough data to even think about establishing a proper baseline, I'd advise against interpreting it that way as well.
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As usual i disagree cheese, since we are talking single digit percantages here a .13% decline and a decline two months in a row is a negative.
Nothing sensationalist about it.
How can anything be "holding steady" when in decline two months in a row?!
Nothing sensationalist about it.
How can anything be "holding steady" when in decline two months in a row?!
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Irrespective of if people are willing to switch to a Linux based OS (which I recall cropping up before), Valve are still putting the value in getting a port out if not just for their Steam box.
I've yet to get a Linux client hardware survey though, probably because I keep getting them when I'm logging in to the Windows version in Wine.
I've yet to get a Linux client hardware survey though, probably because I keep getting them when I'm logging in to the Windows version in Wine.
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Cheeseness May 2, 2013
Quoting: liamdaweAs usual i disagree cheese, since we are talking single digit percantages here a .13% decline and a decline two months in a row is a negative.
Nothing sensationalist about it.
How can anything be "holding steady" when in decline two months in a row?!
I'll have a SteamLUG post with some alternative interpretations up in a moment, but in the meantime, consider that since this month's drop is much less than last month's, things could be interpreted as levelling out. The kinds of numbers we are talking about aren't worth making a fuss over though - we're talking about a number that is just over 1/1000th of survey respondents. It's statistically insignificant, and it's more than appropriate to call these minor fluctuations "holding steady".
Calling them "poor" is most definitely an overreaction.
Edit: Here we go.
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The first month was 'high' because of people trying the beta. Now the number will stay around this, until the Steambox comes out or another huge event like this incites people to buy hardware with Linux installed. Meanwhile, as long as the majority of games are on Windows, there are no more reasons for people to switch to Linux.
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Cheeseness May 2, 2013
It's come to my attention that some have taken offence from my comments in this thread. Apologies to anybody who did - that was certainly not my intention :)
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1) Seeing as the desktop linux user base is quoted at 1% or thereabouts, having 1.4% of steam usage in Linux suggest that proportionately more linux users are likely to get steam than windows users..
2) Statistics with these numbers are likely to be error prone due to the small numbers and failure ot get all users to respond to survey. People who have completed a survey once are less like to repeat the same survey again any way. Buggy surveys as another reader has commented do not help accuracy. Annual surveys
3) Just a guess but I suspect she Linux user base awareness of Steam is amongst older non-gaming, Linux developers and enthusiasts, the non-geeky younger Linux users are likely to be less aware the new developments in this front yet...
2) Statistics with these numbers are likely to be error prone due to the small numbers and failure ot get all users to respond to survey. People who have completed a survey once are less like to repeat the same survey again any way. Buggy surveys as another reader has commented do not help accuracy. Annual surveys
3) Just a guess but I suspect she Linux user base awareness of Steam is amongst older non-gaming, Linux developers and enthusiasts, the non-geeky younger Linux users are likely to be less aware the new developments in this front yet...
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