Here's an interesting way to look at how the amount of Linux users on Steam has changed over time, when looking at the amount of daily active users.
Using a similar method to the one made by user dmantione who submitted this article to us back in May of 2016, which looked at peak users. A user on reddit has taken a look at the Linux market share against Valve's reported daily active users, using data they gave out during a recent presentation.
Here's the image it references (credit):
So we have about 12 million in April 2014, 25 million in April 2016 and 42 million in April 2018. Using the figures for the Steam market share given out by the Hardware Survey then, we get:
- April 2014 - Linux 1.26% - 151,200
- April 2016 - Linux 0.90% - 225,000
- April 2018 - Linux 0.55% - 231,000
That's daily active Linux users, not overall Linux users.
While this should of course be taken with a pinch of salt, it's still quite interesting if it's even remotely close to what's happening. While it has increased going by that data, it does look like the Linux user base on Steam is close to stagnating as growth has slowed down quite a lot in more recent years.
The Hardware Survey from August 2017 up until April 2018 had a counting flaw, which had cyber cafes using Windows 7 in Asia being over-counted. Valve say they fixed it, so it should mean the April 2018 number is actually correct.
Note: We originally said the counting flaw might have affected it, this was wrong (since it's fixed and we're using the overall number) and we have corrected the text—blame a lack of coffee and hot weather.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
QuoteHowever, digging even a little deeper, we need to also take into account that the Hardware Survey from August 2017 up until April 2018 had a counting flaw, which had cyber cafes using Windows 7 in Asia being over-counted. So it's probable the Linux numbers between those dates were actually higher, which would partially explain why the increase is so much smaller in later years but it likely would still be a smaller increase compared to previous years.I wonder if Microsoft will extending the Windows 7 EOL date.
Quoting: tonRI wonder if Microsoft will extending the Windows 7 EOL date.
I think they will force people to Windows 10.
The last survey results published with that flaw were for March 2018. The results for April were published in early May along with the explanation that cyber cafe customers were overcounted. Going from the March to April survey results saw Linux jumping from 0.33% to 0.55% and Simplified Chinese dropping from 52.24% to 30.35%.
So that corrected data should also have been available for the presentation.
Last edited by anth on 9 July 2018 at 10:18 am UTC
Quoting: anthThat reddit user here. Unfortunately I don't think that counting flaw affected the data that was used for the periods used, so no extra probable Linux users got missed.Yup, I've adjusted the wording to make that clear. I will blame the lack of coffee :)
The last survey results published with that flaw were for March 2018. The results for April were published in early May along with the explanation that cyber cafe customers were overcounted. Going from the March to April survey results saw Linux jumping from 0.33% to 0.55% and Simplified Chinese dropping from 52.24% to 30.35%.
So that corrected data should also have been available for the presentation.
I really hope we can give Devs the feeling it is worth it, by supporting them, thanking them and spreading out the word of their games.
Luke_Nukem Jul 9, 2018
Unfortunately I will then be counted as a Windows user and not as a Linux user in a hardware survey.
Too bad. :(
Quoting: muellLiterally stagnation for two years and the headline is 'The amount of Linux users on Steam has increased when going by daily active users'. So you're really doing this on purpose, are you?It´s not literal stagnation. The absolute number of players has increased. Although the increase is not overwhelming.
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