We knew Linux wouldn't suddenly climb the ladder in Steam's Hardware Survey, as it's going to take a lot of time. The latest is out, and we are holding steady.
Linux is holding out at 0.98% which is a change over last month of +0.03%. The numbers are still so small it's pretty much irrelevant, but hey change is change right.
What has irked me recently, is the amount of sites saying things like "despite Steam machines..." and "even with Steam Machines...". I don't know how many times I need to tell people, but it was never going to be an overnight success and jump for us in the statistics.
There's two issues, one being that Valve don't provide the survey on SteamOS or Steam Big Picture mode, and that this is a survey, not a full statistic they are reporting to people. Valve will have further and much more detailed statistics available to developers, of that I am certain. They know what you're connecting on as soon as you login, that's for certain.
It's not all doom and gloom, we are holding steady. Keep believing, and keep buying Linux games. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Linux is holding out at 0.98% which is a change over last month of +0.03%. The numbers are still so small it's pretty much irrelevant, but hey change is change right.
What has irked me recently, is the amount of sites saying things like "despite Steam machines..." and "even with Steam Machines...". I don't know how many times I need to tell people, but it was never going to be an overnight success and jump for us in the statistics.
There's two issues, one being that Valve don't provide the survey on SteamOS or Steam Big Picture mode, and that this is a survey, not a full statistic they are reporting to people. Valve will have further and much more detailed statistics available to developers, of that I am certain. They know what you're connecting on as soon as you login, that's for certain.
It's not all doom and gloom, we are holding steady. Keep believing, and keep buying Linux games. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
0 Likes
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
All posts need to follow our rules. For users logged in: please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Guest readers can email us for any issues.
Yasser 2 Dec 2015
Get Up Stand Up
4 Likes
oldrocker99 2 Dec 2015
I'd be interested in actual sales figures for Steam Linux games, given the well-known Humble Bundle average amounts paid by OS, which consistently showed Linux users in the lead. I always figured that as a major impetus toward developers looking harder at Linux, leading to Steam for Linux.
We may be few, but we do buy a lot of games...
We may be few, but we do buy a lot of games...
0 Likes
Orkultus 2 Dec 2015
Would be awesome if that steam hardware survey showed up more frequently, not just to random people, but everyone on the same day.
0 Likes
tastyjerk 2 Dec 2015
I wonder if we'll actually see a big push at some point in time by Valve for the Steam Machines. Needless to say the launch of the Machines was more of a whimper than a bang, but I think it's pretty common knowledge that SteamOS itself needs some more polish and support from developers. Will there be a point where Valve is satisfied with the state of SteamOS and Steam Machines that we'll actually see them push into the mainstream eye to try and get more consumers? I'd love to see it happen.
4 Likes
Eike 2 Dec 2015
I wonder if we'll actually see a big push at some point in time by Valve for the Steam Machines. Needless to say the launch of the Machines was more of a whimper than a bang, but I think it's pretty common knowledge that SteamOS itself needs some more polish and support from developers. Will there be a point where Valve is satisfied with the state of SteamOS and Steam Machines that we'll actually see them push into the mainstream eye to try and get more consumers? I'd love to see it happen.
I don't think so. It either grows solwly on people or it doesn't. No push, no bang.
1 Likes
Pinguino 2 Dec 2015
Not only it's a survey, it's apparently a non-random sample biased against Linux users (there are many testimonials of people never getting those surveys on their Linux partition but getting them frequently on their Windows one), so those OS percentages are probably underestimating the true percentage.
2 Likes
_J_30000 2 Dec 2015
Get Up Stand UpFor Your Rights
Not only it's a survey, it's apparently a non-random sample biased against Linux users (there are many testimonials of people never getting those surveys on their Linux partition but getting them frequently on their Windows one), so those OS percentages are probably underestimating the true percentage.Yes I was asked at least 20 times on Windows and have only been asked once on Linux (in 3 years)
1 Likes
tastyjerk 2 Dec 2015
I don't think so. It either grows solwly on people or it doesn't. No push, no bang.
That's kind of what I'm figuring. Tis a shame.
1 Likes
Kallestofeles 2 Dec 2015
I've got no idea what Valve is trying to accomplish, but I'm still with my stupid conspiracy theory that Linux Steam Client just does not get as many surveys as the Windows Client.
The ONLY time I've ever gotten one was back 3 years ago when Steam was still in beta for linux with 2-5 games? (might be overreacting a bit)
But over the years, the survey pops up always when I either boot to windows for a sec or use wine to play windows games... so I don't know. Seems to me that the whole system is messed up.
What they should do is to make a "checkbox" for "If you wish to be survey'd by Valve for statistics". And to avoid scheming with the results much, make those surveys in a wave. Like one at a random point in spring, one in summer, etc. So that everyone who has opted-in for the survey would get one. (but only once per Steam account)
The ONLY time I've ever gotten one was back 3 years ago when Steam was still in beta for linux with 2-5 games? (might be overreacting a bit)
But over the years, the survey pops up always when I either boot to windows for a sec or use wine to play windows games... so I don't know. Seems to me that the whole system is messed up.
What they should do is to make a "checkbox" for "If you wish to be survey'd by Valve for statistics". And to avoid scheming with the results much, make those surveys in a wave. Like one at a random point in spring, one in summer, etc. So that everyone who has opted-in for the survey would get one. (but only once per Steam account)
1 Likes
Nyap 2 Dec 2015
I am proud to be in that 1%
Last edited by Nyap on 2 Dec 2015 at 8:30 pm UTC
Last edited by Nyap on 2 Dec 2015 at 8:30 pm UTC
6 Likes
SketchStick 2 Dec 2015
The ONLY time I've ever gotten one was back 3 years ago when Steam was still in beta for linux with 2-5 games? (might be overreacting a bit)
I've always been under the impression that users only get selected for the survey when they actually login into the steam client with a username and password, it never seems to pop up when the client is reusing your credentials. That would also explain why when ever I test out Wine (and have to enter my password) it'll all of a sudden prompt me for the survey.
1 Likes
I'm not so sure about that.The ONLY time I've ever gotten one was back 3 years ago when Steam was still in beta for linux with 2-5 games? (might be overreacting a bit)
I've always been under the impression that users only get selected for the survey when they actually login into the steam client with a username and password, it never seems to pop up when the client is reusing your credentials. That would also explain why when ever I test out Wine (and have to enter my password) it'll all of a sudden prompt me for the survey.
I booted up my wine steam today to install my new free Hitman 2 game and got a survey. I didn't enter login details as they were already saved. So yup prompted on auto login :-).
Oddly however I also installed a steam update today to my Linux client and restarted it. That one never got the survey and that was booted/logged in before the wine version.
0 Likes
nocri 2 Dec 2015
I've got no idea what Valve is trying to accomplish, but I'm still with my stupid conspiracy theory that Linux Steam Client just does not get as many surveys as the Windows Client.
The ONLY time I've ever gotten one was back 3 years ago when Steam was still in beta for linux with 2-5 games? (might be overreacting a bit)
But over the years, the survey pops up always when I either boot to windows for a sec or use wine to play windows games... so I don't know. Seems to me that the whole system is messed up.
What they should do is to make a "checkbox" for "If you wish to be survey'd by Valve for statistics". And to avoid scheming with the results much, make those surveys in a wave. Like one at a random point in spring, one in summer, etc. So that everyone who has opted-in for the survey would get one. (but only once per Steam account)
If they would put a checkbox then it wouldn't be statistics, coz respondents have to be chosen randomly. And I am quite sure that it would create large bias towards Linux coz "normal people" would opt out so they would not be bugged with stupid surveys :)
1 Likes
Liam Dawe 2 Dec 2015
Not only it's a survey, it's apparently a non-random sample biased against Linux users (there are many testimonials of people never getting those surveys on their Linux partition but getting them frequently on their Windows one), so those OS percentages are probably underestimating the true percentage.
The reasoning is simple, to Valve they changed their setup, and need to be re-checked. It's actually perfectly normal, and it's funny when I see people who don't get it.
I've seen it happen plenty of times when I used to distro-hop.
Also, for people who get the survey when they go in wine or windows, then log back into their normal Linux client and wonder why they don't get it - you already declined it.
There's really no mystery.
Last edited by Liam Dawe on 2 Dec 2015 at 9:39 pm UTC
2 Likes
nocri 2 Dec 2015
Not only it's a survey, it's apparently a non-random sample biased against Linux users (there are many testimonials of people never getting those surveys on their Linux partition but getting them frequently on their Windows one), so those OS percentages are probably underestimating the true percentage.
The reasoning is simple, to Valve they changed their setup, and need to be re-checked. It's actually perfectly normal, and it's funny when I see people who don't get it.
I've seen it happen plenty of times when I used to distro-hop.
Maybe it would put people at ease if you would introduce the kind of question "have you been surveyed by last month valve?" to the GOL survey ? 1000 ppl takes part in GOL survey so 5-6 should be surveyed by steam every month :)
Last edited by nocri on 2 Dec 2015 at 9:45 pm UTC
2 Likes
edve98 2 Dec 2015
well, I just updated to Ubuntu 15.10 and the first time I booted up steam I've got a survey! I'm now 99% sure that you get the survey if you change something in your system.
6 Likes
Beamboom 2 Dec 2015
For whatever it may be worth to the conspiracy theorists: I've had the survey multiple times over these couple of years on my Linux rig.
1 Likes
neowiz73 2 Dec 2015
just like the PS1, Sega Master System and Xbox (original) were not overnight successes either. there's a lot of growing pains to happen. there's a number of issues that haven't been fully worked out with the Steam Machines to really make theme a viable alternative. Which most of which can be fixed with a few software updates.
Another major factor is how Vulkan and Android will help push the development standpoint on Vulkan being a Standard. The main thing Valve has to do is polish up the user experience on SteamOS and keep moving forward with development software for Linux.
It's going to be a bumpy road but I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel for all Linux users as long as Valve is willing to stick this out and make it right.
I think Valve will have to get a more steady partner as far as hardware manufacturing goes and make sure the overall design of the Steam Machines remain modular and to give a "standard" for Steam Machines in general.
Last edited by neowiz73 on 2 Dec 2015 at 10:57 pm UTC
Another major factor is how Vulkan and Android will help push the development standpoint on Vulkan being a Standard. The main thing Valve has to do is polish up the user experience on SteamOS and keep moving forward with development software for Linux.
It's going to be a bumpy road but I feel there is light at the end of the tunnel for all Linux users as long as Valve is willing to stick this out and make it right.
I think Valve will have to get a more steady partner as far as hardware manufacturing goes and make sure the overall design of the Steam Machines remain modular and to give a "standard" for Steam Machines in general.
Last edited by neowiz73 on 2 Dec 2015 at 10:57 pm UTC
3 Likes
Seegras 3 Dec 2015
...and there's the question how wine users are counted; because they sure as hell are NOT windows gamers. In principle Valve could see this in their statistics (and also the platform its running on, Linux, MacOS X or one of the *BSDs), but since they're not discerning, I guess they just count this as windows.
1 Likes
Linas 3 Dec 2015
It is way too early to judge Steam Machines. Here in Denmark you can buy a Steam Controller and a Steam Link at your local GameStop. Although you have to ask for one, because they are not exhibited anywhere in the shop. Also, most shops are either sold out or have a "limited availability", whatever that means. No actual Steam Machine is available anywhere in the country, as far as I know. So the thing is hardly even launched yet...
I actually demoed a Steam Controller and SteamOS to my colleagues, and the reception was very positive. Especially considering that most of them are Mac users and have an XBox or a PlayStation.
So I am not losing hope just yet.
I actually demoed a Steam Controller and SteamOS to my colleagues, and the reception was very positive. Especially considering that most of them are Mac users and have an XBox or a PlayStation.
So I am not losing hope just yet.
5 Likes
Patreon
PayPal
How to set, change and reset your SteamOS / Steam Deck desktop sudo password
How to set up Decky Loader on Steam Deck / SteamOS for easy plugins
See more from me