The latest Steam Hardware Survey and Linux has dropped down again, but the change is so small it's practically insignificant.
It shows that Linux dropped -0.04% to a total of 0.80%. Now I should remind you that does not mean there are less Linux players on Steam. It's likely that Windows has just grown quicker than Linux has.
SteamOS and Steam Big Picture are still not included in the survey and it's a manual survey, so you're not included in it unless you get the pop-up asking you to submit your details.
The problem is, this type of survey isn't all that good for measuring the operating system, it's more for the hardware side of things. Especially since you can trigger it by changing distro, changing to Windows, Linux or Mac, changing graphics card etc. You also only get it when you login, so if you're logged in for a long time over the period it's done, you will never see it.
So, basically, don't put too much thought into the OS side of it. And ignore anyone who uses that mark as a way of claiming Linux is at it's lowest ever level (no, I don't hate Phoronix, I just think that's an idiotic and uninformed headline from someone who should know better), or Linux gaming is dying or something.
Why do I still bother to cover this? Simple! To shout out the fact that we have our own statistics page you can visit any time, which I just updated so it's nice and fresh for you! Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
It shows that Linux dropped -0.04% to a total of 0.80%. Now I should remind you that does not mean there are less Linux players on Steam. It's likely that Windows has just grown quicker than Linux has.
SteamOS and Steam Big Picture are still not included in the survey and it's a manual survey, so you're not included in it unless you get the pop-up asking you to submit your details.
The problem is, this type of survey isn't all that good for measuring the operating system, it's more for the hardware side of things. Especially since you can trigger it by changing distro, changing to Windows, Linux or Mac, changing graphics card etc. You also only get it when you login, so if you're logged in for a long time over the period it's done, you will never see it.
So, basically, don't put too much thought into the OS side of it. And ignore anyone who uses that mark as a way of claiming Linux is at it's lowest ever level (no, I don't hate Phoronix, I just think that's an idiotic and uninformed headline from someone who should know better), or Linux gaming is dying or something.
Why do I still bother to cover this? Simple! To shout out the fact that we have our own statistics page you can visit any time, which I just updated so it's nice and fresh for you! Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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It's so funny to see the steady flow of poor excuses and illogical reasoning every. Single. Time. an article about the Steam survey results are published. Get over it guys, we're small. Tiny. Almost invisible on the radar.
That's status quo today.
And we are talking about a 0.04% change in a random sample. That's probably one less Linux user that got the questionaire. Or maybe two.
2 Likes, Who?
Kimyrielle 2 Jul 2016
That was ovious
20 Games Top Sellers, Only 5 Titles to Linux
Games like
DOOM,Rocket League,The Witcher 3,Dark Souls 3,Rise of The Tomb Raider etc
You think anyone who is a Pro GAMER etc,would switch to Linux?
What is a Pro GAMER? And I assume that they (whatever they are) account only for a miniscule amount of the overall Steam player base.
I have no idea what a Pro GAMER is either. Probably the poster was referring to hardcore gamers. And no, these people are not going to switch to Linux anytime soon. Got to admit that.
But I still don't share the poster's gloom. Gaming has not (yet) become a reason to use Linux, but it has stopped being a reason NOT to use Linux. As long as you don't insist on always getting the newest and greatest games right away and can accept tiny performance losses here and and there, there is not (too) much reason to keep Windows around (let's just disregard MMOs for a second). For the time being, that's a fairly good development, given that 3 years ago the number of commercially produced games for Linux was a good approximation to zero.
4 Likes, Who?
Here I am looking at the OS X numbers at 3.6%. Stuck at OpenGL 4.1 and most are using a Macbook Pro with a crappy old integrated graphics or old mobile.
For a bunch of games, these people don't even count.
For new games, I wonder if more people with Linux can play them than with OS X.
Looking at the numbers, I rather support Linux than OS X. I wouldn't want to support an ancient OpenGL version on under performing hardware.
Know what would be useful to developers? If I put in the minimum requirements for the game I am making and then see the percentages. I bet Linux would look more significant in that context.
For a bunch of games, these people don't even count.
For new games, I wonder if more people with Linux can play them than with OS X.
Looking at the numbers, I rather support Linux than OS X. I wouldn't want to support an ancient OpenGL version on under performing hardware.
Know what would be useful to developers? If I put in the minimum requirements for the game I am making and then see the percentages. I bet Linux would look more significant in that context.
1 Likes, Who?
TBH I don't think it's that Windows has just grown quicker than Linux has. That would mean MacOS would have grown exactly the same as Windows.
I still think the survey is flawed. I don't have the survey on my Linux machine which I start Steam everyday in over a year but 3x during the same period at my office win-pc where I log into Steam like not more than a few times per month (all after upgrading to win10).
I still think the survey is flawed. I don't have the survey on my Linux machine which I start Steam everyday in over a year but 3x during the same period at my office win-pc where I log into Steam like not more than a few times per month (all after upgrading to win10).
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Comandante Ñoñardo 2 Jul 2016
That was ovious
20 Games Top Sellers, Only 5 Titles to Linux
Games like
DOOM,Rocket League,The Witcher 3,Dark Souls 3,Rise of The Tomb Raider etc
You think anyone who is a Pro GAMER etc,would switch to Linux?
For what? To play 2+ years old games and even with lower performance?
Like it or not thats the harsh true .
Linux still has a long road ahead and hopefully one day would be treated equaly in both new game releases and performance.
Those games are not available for Linux, not because of the small market share, is because the devs lack of the proper programming skills...
Is a simple fact: Is necessary to have a powerfull brain for to develop AAA games for Linux, and those devs don't have it. The only team of devs with the skills for that is Croteam. That's why The Talos Principle is the only AAA game available for Windows, Mac and Linux from day 1.
What happens with cheaters? New account, +1 Windows account.
That's me. I have my [old Steam account from my Windows era](http://steamcommunity.com/id/Digital_CHE), and [the new Steam account 100% Linux](http://steamcommunity.com/id/DigitalCHE_Reloaded)...
I am buying a lot of games again for to support the Linux ports...And I am buying new games only for the Linux account, like Dying Light, Alien isolation, Shadow of Mordor, Dead Island Definitive (and Riptide Definitive)
0 Likes
slaapliedje 2 Jul 2016
That was ovious
20 Games Top Sellers, Only 5 Titles to Linux
Games like
DOOM,Rocket League,The Witcher 3,Dark Souls 3,Rise of The Tomb Raider etc
You think anyone who is a Pro GAMER etc,would switch to Linux?
For what? To play 2+ years old games and even with lower performance?
Like it or not thats the harsh true .
Linux still has a long road ahead and hopefully one day would be treated equaly in both new game releases and performance.
Those games are not available for Linux, not because of the small market share, is because the devs lack of the proper programming skills...
Is a simple fact: Is necessary to have a powerfull brain for to develop AAA games for Linux, and those devs don't have it. The only team of devs with the skills for that is Croteam. That's why The Talos Principle is the only AAA game available for Windows, Mac and Linux from day 1.
What happens with cheaters? New account, +1 Windows account.
That's me. I have my [old Steam account from my Windows era](http://steamcommunity.com/id/Digital_CHE), and [the new Steam account 100% Linux](http://steamcommunity.com/id/DigitalCHE_Reloaded)...
I am buying a lot of games again for to support the Linux ports...And I am buying new games only for the Linux account, like Dying Light, Alien isolation, Shadow of Mordor, Dead Island Definitive (and Riptide Definitive)
Croteam are awesome. They even turned down the Facebook money to make the new Serious Sam VR game Oculus exclusive. Hopefully HTC/Valve get SteamVR working under Linux soon and I'll be able to play that under Linux.
2 Likes, Who?
I just got the survey as I was downloading/installing the atari library from steam on this weak laptop using NEON KDE. I answered it. My Zotac Nen will arrive here on Wednesday so I'll be playing on Steam OS from now on starting next week. I've got the survey many times on both windows and linux.
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GustyGhost 2 Jul 2016
Those games are not available for Linux, not because of the small market share, is because the devs lack of the proper programming skills...
Is a simple fact: Is necessary to have a powerfull brain for to develop AAA games for Linux, and those devs don't have it. The only team of devs with the skills for that is Croteam. That's why The Talos Principle is the only AAA game available for Windows, Mac and Linux from day 1.
While I don't agree wholeheartedly that devs who don't build for Linux are simply "too stupid", it must be said that a game like The Talos Principle certainly has the qualities and a theme that "powerful brained" individuals might find themselves developing.
Things that may spoil The Talos Principle if you haven't played it yet, tread cautiously:
Spoiler, click me
There are a ton of Yahoo answers type questions along the lines of "What is the ending of Talos Principle supposed to be about?". It is clear that Croteam had built a story around evolutionary computing (which is fascinating!) and it was such a refreshing change of pace from most other games being "Here, soldier. Take this gun and kill the bad guys."
1 Likes, Who?
I've been using steam since steam's inception. I've never once seen one of these surveys on windows or on linux.
I had no idea that such a thing existed until I saw it mentioned on this site.
I've always wondered what triggers it and if that could affect the numbers.
I had no idea that such a thing existed until I saw it mentioned on this site.
I've always wondered what triggers it and if that could affect the numbers.
1 Likes, Who?
Whether the userbase is stagnant right now or not, things are still moving forward for Linux gaming(albeit slowly). If it reaches the point where people find that they can play their favorite and anticipated games on a free platform such as Linux, a big change will happen(and not just in terms of amount of Linux gamers), but that day is not today.
Last edited by Aimela on 3 Jul 2016 at 4:21 am UTC
Last edited by Aimela on 3 Jul 2016 at 4:21 am UTC
2 Likes, Who?
Mountain Man 3 Jul 2016
Good to know you understand the concept of proportional mathematics, Liam. Too many people put too much faith or value on numbers, not considering the bigger picture or the context.I think Valve needs to remove the OS count from their hardware survey since it confuses too many people.
0 Likes
I use video card from AMD. And after upgrading to Ubuntu version 04.16 LTS no more proprietary drivers for this version.
It would only change the driver for the MESA opensource version (should be so) happens that many games can not be ok if behaving the opensource driver MESA. beeping whenever I'm not using the proprietary driver.
Another thing, in my case I have two plates of integrated videos (one for energy saving in the Intel case and one for video rendering if AMD) and Linux can not force the use of video rendering via AMD is not using AMD's proprietary software that forces the use of this. No support will this on Ubuntu.
It would only change the driver for the MESA opensource version (should be so) happens that many games can not be ok if behaving the opensource driver MESA. beeping whenever I'm not using the proprietary driver.
Another thing, in my case I have two plates of integrated videos (one for energy saving in the Intel case and one for video rendering if AMD) and Linux can not force the use of video rendering via AMD is not using AMD's proprietary software that forces the use of this. No support will this on Ubuntu.
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1) Send one survey in 3-4 years for GNU/Linux users
2) Have 0,8%
3) ?????
4) PROFIT!
2) Have 0,8%
3) ?????
4) PROFIT!
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As long as Windows is preinstalled on almost every new PC or laptop, it stays an uphill battle for Linux.
Equip the children with Linux boxes.
Equip the children with Linux boxes.
2 Likes, Who?
I really hope people see the significance of Linux and start to embrace it. It truly is a better OS. Gaming, when supported, is better. I have been Windows free for some time now and I feel good without it. Thanks to the developers who care about gaming. Thanks Liam and co :D
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Mountain Man 5 Jul 2016
I miss some of my Windows-only games, but I don't miss Windows.
2 Likes, Who?
Really Valve needs to do a full userbase survey at least once a year and their shown stats need to also include logged play time per user per month month by OS and average gross purchase value per user per month by OS at the very least (both stats we know they already track per user).
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