The latest Steam Hardware Survey shows Linux market-share has declined again

Quoting: Mountain ManI've mentioned it before, but the choice is basically, "Do I use Windows and have access to all the games, or use Linux and have access to only a small fraction of them?" For anybody who wants to play games on the PC, Linux simply doesn't look like a viable option compared to Windows.

They use to say this about applications in general about linux. Windows has always had more software choices. However, at a certain point how many different web browsers do you need? I generally use 3, and I do a lot of web development. How many word processors do you need? I only need 1.

Obviously, you want the good pieces of software compared to shovelware. Look at the android and iphone markets... Does anyone care if one has more than the other... they both are filled with garbage and finding the good ones is the hardest part about getting software on these devices.

I have over 250 games on my steam account (232 are on Linux)... most I have not even played. Admittedly, I gained many through Humble Bundles and Humble monthly. However, even some that I bought I have not played or only played a few minutes. The number that I have played for over 1 hour is quite limited. Thousands of titles are not necessary. You only need a handful of good ones. And there are quite a few good ones on linux (hidden amongst the garbage) I would expect very few gamers to not be happy if limited to linux only. Probably only the ones that need to have the newest title and fad of the month will be disappointed. We have RTS, sims, FPS, strategy, visual novels, platformers, ... we do have quite a selection on linux now.

Quoting: Mountain ManThose of us who were already vested in Linux are thrilled with the improved game support we've seen over the past several years, but Valve has done an exceptionally poor job making the argument that anybody else should prefer Linux as a gaming platform.

This I agree with. I think the best force for marketing linux is Microsoft. They have the market and I think linux grows mostly with people getting annoyed with windows. But Valve does make money either way... Their investment in linux is solely to have a future if Microsoft tries to lock them out.

Another thing about linux gaining share... no one will come here just because of the games. I'm here because linux does everything... my web browsing, email, office suites, development, AND gaming. If I wanted a computer only for games, chances are that I would be on a console. Consequently, if linux didn't do everything I need done on a computer, and do it to my satisfaction, I would be on a different OS. Everyone has different needs and games alone will not bring everyone to any single platform.

Quoting: stretch611

Quoting: Mountain ManI've mentioned it before, but the choice is basically, "Do I use Windows and have access to all the games, or use Linux and have access to only a small fraction of them?" For anybody who wants to play games on the PC, Linux simply doesn't look like a viable option compared to Windows.

They use to say this about applications in general about linux. Windows has always had more software choices. However, at a certain point how many different web browsers do you need? I generally use 3, and I do a lot of web development. How many word processors do you need? I only need 1.

Obviously, you want the good pieces of software compared to shovelware. Look at the android and iphone markets... Does anyone care if one has more than the other... they both are filled with garbage and finding the good ones is the hardest part about getting software on these devices.

I have over 250 games on my steam account (232 are on Linux)... most I have not even played. Admittedly, I gained many through Humble Bundles and Humble monthly. However, even some that I bought I have not played or only played a few minutes. The number that I have played for over 1 hour is quite limited. Thousands of titles are not necessary. You only need a handful of good ones. And there are quite a few good ones on linux (hidden amongst the garbage) I would expect very few gamers to not be happy if limited to linux only. Probably only the ones that need to have the newest title and fad of the month will be disappointed. We have RTS, sims, FPS, strategy, visual novels, platformers, ... we do have quite a selection on linux now.

I don't dispute that, but how would you convince someone who isn't already vested in Linux that they should prefer Linux over Windows if their primary application is PC gaming? That's a tough argument to make, especially when the biggest argument against us is the fact that we're ignored by the vast majority of AAA developers. That may change in the future, but I'm looking at where things stand right now.

Quoting: Mountain Man

Quoting: VinceNardelliStill, Valve has done a pretty crappy job with steam machine and the whole idea of linux more optimised than windows.

This is really the problem. Valve was really excited about Linux gaming, got us excited about Linux gaming, got a few developers excited about Linux gaming, and then it's like they just sort of lost interest. I was really hoping they were more dedicated to this whole Linux thing than they have been.

They've never made anything but superficial changes. They've never eeven understood what makes the platform unique, otherwise they'd play to its strengths.

If they did know what the GNU/Linux ecosystem was good at, they'd

1) Create a native Linux client (good job)
2) Embed Wine, to run compatible games. (that way, developers of thee games would not have to venture capital, they'd get a different platform essentially for free).
3) If a game ran poorly, since it was Wine under the hood, game developers would be more likely to share source code with Wine, which will fix the problem for more than just one game. Users will be less forgiving because, for a change they actually expect for it to run badly.Even better, we're tinkeres. Making a game run well by tweaking the settings, is what we - GNU/Linux users can do better than Microsoft or Apple.
4) A company that definitely has Linux-compatible games, would be free to
4a. embrace the sales, and feel good about it
4b. F**k off. Bethesda in particular fits this category
5) WHEN, we had enough Linux marketshare, pitch the idea of Linux Native games, and SteamBox.
6) Position SteamBox as a console, not a PC gimmick:
6a. SteamBox exclusives, e.g. HL3. The fans are happy, they have a foot in an untapped market. Much better than being universally hated.
6b. Restricted hardware. It has to be cheap, and it has to give off the impression that at least someone will do optimisations for it.
6c. Guarantee of a hassle free experience. Which means active development.
7) Slowly move games over to Steam native engines, and encourage publishing SteamOS versions first.

Quoting: Areso

Quoting: Comandante ÑoñardoA Linux exclusive AAA game with super amazing graphics and gameplay is the only thing that can revert this trend...

You see.. Most PC gamers install an illegal windows distro just for to play (legally or illegally) the game of the moment..

If there is an Ultra AAA game and is Linux exclusive, they will come to Linux just for to play this game.

I admit, there are tiny chance, to develop a multiplatfor AAA title and make this title Linux exclusive for a limited time (alpha, beta test, 30..60 or even 365 days after release).
Like people were pushed to buy a console to play GTA V after release instead getting the game immediatly on Windows PC.

That was my point. I just forgot to put Timed before the word exclusive

Quoting: Mountain ManThey might come, but will they stay? That's the important question.

When they find that they can surf porn sites and download illegal seriez and moviez without getting viruses, I'm sure they will think about it... Is an slow process.

In my case, I was a 100% illegal Windows XP user, until the release of the Linux version on Metro 2033 Redux in 2015 that I decided to try SteamOS on a test machine... It was like magic to be able to play a Big game without having to install Windows 7... Then I removed the SSD with SteamOS and installed another SSD with Ubuntu 14.04 because I wanted a machine for safe average everyday computing, including gaming, for Me and my mother (yes, she like to play hidden objects Bigfish games and casino facebook games).

About a year ago I built another test machine with a legit Windows 7 (the OS cost me about 200U$D) just for to play those big Windows games (Steam, Origin and Uplay) that will never be ported to Linux.

That's me.. living in two worlds; Windows 7 and Ubuntu

If You look carefully, you will see some games in my Linux steam account that are not present in my Windows Steam account, because I take every opportunity when I can avoid the use of Windows.

Quoting: Mountain ManI don't dispute that, but how would you convince someone who isn't already vested in Linux that they should prefer Linux over Windows if their primary application is PC gaming? That's a tough argument to make, especially when the biggest argument against us is the fact that we're ignored by the vast majority of AAA developers. That may change in the future, but I'm looking at where things stand right now.

Personally, if your primary purpose for having a pc is gaming, I would push them to a console, not linux. I want linux to grow, but it is not right for everyone.

While I am happy with linux gaming, Gaming is not linux's draw. I am drawn to customizing things to my desire. No "analytics" feedback to Microsoft's marketing department. Not being subjected to major attack from worms and viruses just by being connected to the internet. No forced obsolescence and the ability to change my OS when I want to. If I was only interested in gaming, I would be on a console, not linux.

Aspyr said ages ago, when they did the Civ5 port, that they get paid pretty much based on how much the port is used during the first couple of weeks.

After Civ5, I waited until the Linux port came out then bought it, played in linux for quite a while before ever loading up the game on the windows side.

Wine of course, won't count if you're running steam in there. (That's the whole point of wine, to convince whatever, that it's really windows)

I prefer linux, but DO still use windows as some games just don't work well at all (yeah, bethesda, I'm looking at you) under wine and of course ALL the development tools are windows only, even for games that are ported.
(Civ series). So modding has no choice but to be done in windows. (mind you, for Civ5/6 you can run Firetuner on a windows machine, and connect it to your linux game)

I got the latest survey about a week ago, which is kind of odd. It used to be on the first of the month.
I've had about half a dozen over the years. If it pops up when I'm in windows, I just ignore it, and fire up the other box right away in linux and do the survey then. (I've lucked out twice, and gotten it on both machines at the same time in linux) :D

I dont trust these numbers. However, Linux as a gaming platform has improved, but it's still a mess overall. Mesa still not supporting Vulkan and closed source drivers (especially AMD) are low performers (I am not excited by the Nvidia closed source performance either). Then add compatibility issues and frequent bugs. Worst of all: There are a lot of often crappy small titles released for Linux on Steam, but big titles have been getting rare recently. Someone who wants to get the best gaming platform therefore would probably choose Windows. I own 60+ linux games on steam and do use Linux exclusively for gaming - with all the pain included. In extreme cases I use Wine but I will never return back to Windows.

Quoting: ALinuxGamerMesa still not supporting Vulkan and closed source drivers (especially AMD) are low performers (I am not excited by the Nvidia closed source performance either).

What do you mean? Mesa has anv for Intel and for AMD there's radv. Both should support all the Vulkan features and extensions in Vulkan 1.0.

It'd be nice if games would actually work on Linux. Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition no longer works because of an OpenSSL update which isn't backwards compatible, and Civ V just doesn't start without any helpful error message.

I have a PS3, but rather than getting a PS4 for newer titles I think I'll just set up a decent Win10 gaming rig, at least that'll last me a longer time with better performance.

For the games that no longer work on a decent up-to-date distro I could try a Debian derivative, but I'd rather chew my arm off. The .deb package format is a crime against humanity and should be outlawed under the Geneva Convention.

What I always ask myself concerning linux: I have used it for many years now and I'm really satisfied, since it's very customizable and I like open-source software very much. But why is it actually said to be more safe and privacy focussed than for example windows? An argument that often comes up is that there are fewer viruses for linux going around than for windows since we have much less users. I mean, yeah that's true but as I have heard the majority of servers run GNU/Linux distros and to me they seem as much a juicy target for a hacker as a personal computer.

So what is it that makes linux distros actually more safe than windows and if it is the case that the answer is: 'there are much fewer linux users than windows users', shouldn't we be happy about being unpopular? :D