After 7 months of seeing the Linux user share on Steam continue to grow, December saw 2021 end with it dropping slightly. The results can be seen on our Steam Tracker, which shows some trends over time, taken from the official opt-in Steam Hardware Survey.
December 2021 saw the Linux user share at 1.11%.
Something we've seen a few times, is that when the number of Simplified Chinese language users rises on Steam, the Linux numbers drop and it appears to be what has happened once again this time. It's not always the case, as we have seen times where Linux has risen regardless but it is often the cause.
This year we do have the Steam Deck releasing, with the first batch of orders going live next month so we're very keen to see how this will affect the numbers. Hopefully they will be included in the survey, although it's possible Valve will separate them somehow.
According to Steam these are the most popular distributions with gamers on their platform:
- Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS 64 bit 17.90% +1.48%
- "Manjaro Linux" 64 bit 11.96% -0.98%
- "Arch Linux" 64 bit 11.42% -0.69%
- Linux Mint 20.2 64 bit 7.50% +0.46%
- Ubuntu 21.10 64 bit 6.31% +0.89%
- Pop!_OS 21.04 64 bit 5.54% -1.77%
- Other 39.38% +9.31%
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.
13 comments
Linux Steam market share dropping? That's it we're doomed might as well pack our bags now and move over to Windows and forget all about Linux.
It was fun while it lasted I guys!
/s
Honestly, I've never been overly worried about the whole market share of Linux, so long as it works for the people that use it and that it works well
It was fun while it lasted I guys!
/s
Honestly, I've never been overly worried about the whole market share of Linux, so long as it works for the people that use it and that it works well
9 Likes, Who?
mr-victory Jan 3, 2022
@BlackBloodRum I wouldn’t lose hope that quickly...
0 Likes
@BlackBloodRum I wouldn’t lose hope that quickly...I know.. that's why I used "/s" (sarcasm), sorry for the confusion!
3 Likes, Who?
It was fun while it lasted I guys!
What you and I call fun are two very different things
0 Likes
gradyvuckovic Jan 3, 2022
Hardly surprising. Statistics generally 'bounce around', it was highly unusual to have such a long run of continuous growth. Was very nice though! What's most important of course is 'the trend', and the trend right now is looking GREAT.
1 Likes, Who?
Linux is always funIt was fun while it lasted I guys!
What you and I call fun are two very different things
I love doing updates to find something busted my nvidia driver, then switching over to an amd gpu to avoid nvidia problems only to meet a whole new set of epic problems like kernel bugs where drive cache status isn't detected properly, ssd controller problems etc.
Or when you change the configuration of your bootloader and poof it's busted (early grub2 days).
Such fun always*
... I actually do find it fun to fix and work with Linux, I haven't used Windows in so many years now I actually can't use it, I found this out the other day, when a relative gave me a Windows laptop to fix.. I was completely confused as to what to do, couldn't find my way around... it was also so slooowwww I ended up just holding the power button to immediately switch it off in anger, then stuck it back in their laptop bag. Because for the first time in so many years.. I got angry with a computer because it just kept going so slow and was difficult to use. I just gave it back to them unfixed, unless they wanted Linux (they didn't).
* Not hating on Linux, I love it!
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 3 January 2022 at 3:51 pm UTC
3 Likes, Who?
Can be fun at times, Though I've not had an issue on Nix for a lot of years hardware wise. (x11 with vrr aside)
Nor software, Decent support for my new logitech KB/Mouse is the only thing that I can state. Guess I was spoiled with the roccat stuff
Not heard of that before if am honest, I ditched NV during my gtx1080 days. Finally got fed up with them.
Nor software, Decent support for my new logitech KB/Mouse is the only thing that I can state. Guess I was spoiled with the roccat stuff
whole new set of epic problems like kernel bugs where drive cache status isn't detected properly, ssd controller problems etc
Not heard of that before if am honest, I ditched NV during my gtx1080 days. Finally got fed up with them.
2 Likes, Who?
It is known that the Chinese gamers tend to pick Windows and more often than not, stick with an older release due to not caring or pirating it. If money is an issue, they can always get Ubuntu Kylin since it is tailored to them and should offer a decent gaming experience out of the box. Of course multiplayer games with anti cheat DRM are probably holding many back.
1 Likes, Who?
Can be fun at times, Though I've not had an issue on Nix for a lot of years hardware wise. (x11 with vrr aside)Yeah.. I ditched nvidia just over a year ago now.
Nor software, Decent support for my new logitech KB/Mouse is the only thing that I can state. Guess I was spoiled with the roccat stuff
whole new set of epic problems like kernel bugs where drive cache status isn't detected properly, ssd controller problems etc
Not heard of that before if am honest, I ditched NV during my gtx1080 days. Finally got fed up with them.
With regards to the cache thing, I was referring to this:
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=215137
Little bugs like this :D
I tend to notice them more since I currently run the latest of everything (newest kernels, drivers etc) with all updated daily.
0 Likes
from last December 0.78 to 1.11 it is +42%
Last edited by lucinos on 3 January 2022 at 7:01 pm UTC
Last edited by lucinos on 3 January 2022 at 7:01 pm UTC
1 Likes, Who?
With regards to the cache thing, I was referring to this:
https://bugzilla.kernel.org/show_bug.cgi?id=215137
Little bugs like this :D
I tend to notice them more since I currently run the latest of everything (newest kernels, drivers etc) with all updated daily.
Must have been luck for me to have had that bug, On 5.15.12 atm
I've not bothered with RC kernels for a while.
0 Likes
Yup the bug is fixed now as I'm also on 5.15.12, the problem only affected 5.15.5 and was fixed in 5.15.6. For the most part it would be unnoticeable for the average user if you don't watch for boot warnings.
The affect was also minimal, worst case the bug makes you lose a little data under a very specific condition, namely a power loss/instant power off when writing data since the cache has not been setup properly. Generally if there's no power loss, there would be no problem even with this bug in place.
But it's long fixed now and only made it into distros which use latest kernels, so no big deal
The affect was also minimal, worst case the bug makes you lose a little data under a very specific condition, namely a power loss/instant power off when writing data since the cache has not been setup properly. Generally if there's no power loss, there would be no problem even with this bug in place.
But it's long fixed now and only made it into distros which use latest kernels, so no big deal
1 Likes, Who?
It isn't as bad as it seems. As I was reading this article I was also listening to this video from Bellular News. Steam was banned/blocked in China on purpose/by accident (all depends on who you talk to). If you pop over to the Steam Tracker and scroll down to the English/Non-English stats you'll see that English Steam usage had a slight dip while they Non-English Steam usage had a larger dip. IE, people who would have been counted in the last week of December from China were prevented from being counted, causing a drop.
0 Likes
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me