Linux user share on Steam continues rising — highest for years again

Quoting: Purple Library GuyWhich makes me wonder . . . I knew the Chinese essentially didn't use Linux, like, at all. For desktops/gaming, anyway. But what about all the other non-English speakers? For the overall percentage to be less than half the English-speaking percentage, no-Linux has to be very common out there. Why is Linux so terrible at penetrating beyond the English speaking (gaming) world?

Probably the Linux gamers in foreign countries have set their OS language to English because of missing or broken translations. Also there is the point that Linux is rarely preinstalled so we get to choose language on our own, unlike Win and Mac. This includes me.
Also there are German and Russian are popular among Linux users, so not only English.

Quoting: Purple Library GuyBut what about all the other non-English speakers? For the overall percentage to be less than half the English-speaking percentage, no-Linux has to be very common out there. Why is Linux so terrible at penetrating beyond the English speaking (gaming) world?

Quoting: EikeSome people here said they are using Linux not in their native language, but in English. So 3.35% versus the 2.97% might be off. (I'm using my Linux in German, though.

Which would be me, for example.
I'm not a native English speaker, but I have been accustomed to using English hardware and software right from the beginning, which was with a Sinclair ZX81 in my earliest teens, followed up closely by Pen-and-Paper RPGs. While you could get the basics in translation, the really good stuff, as well as the really bad stuff I guess, was only available in English. And so much more of it, too. Even decades later, I don't think that has changed much.

Another part of the equation may be that usually software comes with a complete and fairly decent English localization, if it wasn't translated from there to begin with.
In contrast, more often than not, localizations are incomplete, clunky, or dubious. It doesn't take much to feel out of place, when everything else appears to be consistent.

That being as it is, I simply don't bother looking at any translations; if and when curiosity gets the better part of me, it almost always feels like a waste of my time, and as such, a wasted effort from the translators' side as well.
I do consider that part of my impression of English localizations being more consistent may come in part from English only being my second language – but on the other hand, I think I have learned so much more than just school vocabulary no small part exactly because of that.



With that as a preamble, shouldn't the article's title be "highest in years again", with room to grow, as opposed to "highest for years again", with only a downward path possible for the foreseeable future? :)

Quoting: ValckAnother part of the equation may be that usually software comes with a complete and fairly decent English localization, if it wasn't translated from there to begin with.

Is that true, though? I remember Debian making an effort to translate its texts into proper English, as large parts had been written by non-native speakers... Opinions from native speakers on this?

Regarding the "market share" when all it really ought to be a survey of what hardware is out there and in use - not everyone submits their data when asked for.

I guess that goes for both Linux and non-Linux, and of course I may be completely wrong, but I think there's a slight possibility that people using Linux are generally a bit more conscious about privacy and big data, and as such might appear to make up a smaller portion of the sample than they actually are.


PS.:
Kudos to Valve for asking in the first place, and not simply collecting straight away. Sadly, that seems to be the rare exception, and as such I feel it merits specific mention.


Last edited by Valck on 2 August 2022 at 6:26 pm UTC

Quoting: DoctorJunglistI'm curious how long would it take for us to reach 5% market share on Steam If the growth was to continue at the current pace.

Linear growth like the last two months would be over 6 years for a goal of 5%. But as Valve reported to have increased their output... :)

Quoting: ValckRegarding the "market share" when all it really ought to be a survey of what hardware is out there and in use - not everyone submits their data when asked for.

I guess that goes for both Linux and non-Linux, and of course I may be completely wrong, but I think there's a slight possibility that people using Linux are generally a bit more conscious about privacy and big data, and as such might appear to make up a smaller portion of the sample than they actually are.

Maybe. On the other hand, I felt very motivated to send my data in this special case.

Quoting: Eike

Quoting: ValckAnother part of the equation may be that usually software comes with a complete and fairly decent English localization, if it wasn't translated from there to begin with.

Is that true, though? I remember Debian making an effort to translate its texts into proper English, as large parts had been written by non-native speakers... Opinions from native speakers on this?

I don't doubt that, but I stand by what I said: even if large portions are fine, it only takes one bad egg. The easiest way to avoid the smell is avoiding translations altogether.

Well, it helps to read first, then post...
I think I have to agree with Debian on that. I always wonder how cringeworthy it has to be to read just what I am posting :D


Last edited by Valck on 2 August 2022 at 6:13 pm UTC

I’m french from France, my Linux is in french, but my Steam is in English. Not sure how do i count in statistics ?

I also almost always play in english, as french translations are often poorly done. Some AI machines doing always the same obvious and terrible mistakes and nonsenses and counter-meanings... Like, Close = "fermer" when it should be "proche", or the opposite. Or, Character being "Caractère" when it should be "Personnage". Or some shortcuts like, End for Endurance, becomes "Fin". It was like this 20 years ago already... Sometimes even after several reports, have to wait several months to get a fix. Not fun.

Also, how can check how many french users are on Linux according to Steam ?

Quoting: TcheyI’m french from France, my Linux is in french, but my Steam is in English. Not sure how do i count in statistics ?

IIRC, you can see the data when it's sent. And there's an entry, no, two :D, under Steam=>Help=>System information:

    UI-Sprache: Deutsch (Deutsch)
    SPRACHE: de_DE.UTF-8
Don't know if (one of) these are sent.

Quoting: TcheyI also almost always play in english, as french translations are often poorly done.

I'm usually using English when there's English voice-overs but none for German.

Quoting: TcheyAlso, how can check how many french users are on Linux according to Steam ?

Linux only filter and then language: 2% of the Linux users.

I've seen our numbers rise and fall many times over the years. It's hard to get hyped about this anymore, especially celebrating how large a percentage of Linux belongs to Steam Decks - many users of which likely don't know or care that it uses Linux under the hood.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad Steam Decks are selling, I just wish they made up a teeny tiny percentage of Linux overall, as that'd mean our numbers overall are increasing greatly.

In any case, I think I'm too old to care much about any of this anymore. Valve has made gaming on Linux work significantly better than it ever was, though I don't forget the early days when I was actually buying Loki titles at EB Games every chance I could get... After many years of resistance, I've given up on any hope of native ports becoming the norm. I've embraced Proton, as it's clear this is Valve's path forward. Whatever happens now, so be it - it is what it is. I'm just enjoying the games when I have the free time for them. And I'm doing it on Linux, without having to resort to booting into an OS that hasn't existed in my house for 20 years.

Well, it'll be 20 years on the 18th of this month, but who's counting? ;)