Valve has now released the latest Steam Hardware & Software Survey for April 2023, and it shows that things have calmed down again.
I reported earlier last month, that the details they had for March 2023 looked really off. It showed a massive surge in Simplified Chinese as a language on Steam with it becoming top, along with Windows 10 surging up over Windows 11 as well. It was all a bit odd. Valve never issued any corrections though, or announced any issues with it at all.
For April 2023, things have settled down again with Linux back to 1.32% (+0.48%), macOS back to 2.30% (+0.89%) and Windows at 96.38% (-1.37%). Languages changed dramatically again too with Simplified Chinese dropping back down to 25.03% (26.60%) so English being once again the top language used on Steam.
When filtering the April 2023 survey over to Linux here's the current most popular ways to game:
- SteamOS Holo 64 bit 22.77% +1.57%
- Ubuntu 22.04.2 LTS 64 bit 10.84% +1.23%
- Arch Linux 64 bit 9.79% -0.57%
- Freedesktop.org SDK 22.08 (Flatpak runtime) 64 bit 7.61% +0.51%
- Manjaro Linux 64 bit 6.25% -0.70%
- Linux Mint 21.1 64 bit 4.97% +4.97%
- Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS 64 bit 3.86% +3.86%
- Other 33.90% -10.89%
So it's clear the Steam Deck is currently beating all other ways on Steam for playing games on Linux.
You can view the data over time on the GOL Steam Tracker.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
The comments on this article are closed.
I haven’t gotten a Steam survey in over 2 years. Maybe Valve should use the actual login and playtime data vs some random survey.
I say this because every month these stats come out and gaming sites use them as gospel in the state of Linux gaming.
I say this because every month these stats come out and gaming sites use them as gospel in the state of Linux gaming.
4 Likes, Who?
BlackBloodRum May 2, 2023
I'm glad to see this, though I expected it as it appears this time around the actually gave the survey to Linux users! I actually saw it and was able to submit mine, it makes a change because it's so rare for me to get it. It must have been a good couple of years since I last saw it. 
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 2 May 2023 at 4:53 pm UTC
Last edited by BlackBloodRum on 2 May 2023 at 4:53 pm UTC
2 Likes, Who?
I got my Steam survey sunday when came back home. I have not seen it for over a year I think popping up.
3 Likes, Who?
Quoting: t3gI haven’t gotten a Steam survey in over 2 years. Maybe Valve should use the actual login and playtime data vs some random survey.
I say this because every month these stats come out and gaming sites use them as gospel in the state of Linux gaming.
If you close steam
run this command
sed -i -e '/SurveyDate/ s/"[0-9].*"/"'$(date +%Y-%m-%d -d "1 year ago")'"/' ~/.steam/steam/config/config.vdfThen reopen steam
You will get a steam survey.
I would prefer the login and playtime data as well. Hit me up Valve; I can make this happen for you.
1 Likes, Who?
I've never once had the survey, and have had steam since October 2003 ( and over 900 games so I use it regularly on multiple pcs), it doesn't seem like it is likely to be that accurate, they have to be polling very small numbers one would assume.
1 Likes, Who?
Philadelphus May 2, 2023
Quoting: t3gI haven’t gotten a Steam survey in over 2 years. Maybe Valve should use the actual login and playtime data vs some random survey.I got it last month or so, which made me realize I hadn't seen it like two years either. I used to get it fairly often several years ago.
I say this because every month these stats come out and gaming sites use them as gospel in the state of Linux gaming.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: t3gI haven’t gotten a Steam survey in over 2 years.
Quoting: BlackBloodRumIt must have been a good couple of years since I last saw it.
Quoting: LomkeyI have not seen it for over a year I think popping up.
Quoting: PhiladelphusI got it last month or so, which made me realize I hadn't seen it like two years either. I used to get it fairly often several years ago.I've only ever had the survey once. Mind you, my account's only about a year-and-a-half old, but it did take about six or so months for me to ever get one at all (at which point I got it on two of my main three machines), and I didn't get it this time, unfortunately.
0 Likes
Quoting: GuestThat's it, the Steam survey is definitely skewed against Linux users: out of the ~120 million monthly active users on Steam, 7 (seven) of them commented on gamingonlinux.com lamenting they never, or very rarely, received a survey.
Clearly, this should be a priority for Valve and fixed ASAP!
6 of them. I gave instructions for making sure a survey would occur. No need for "lamenting" when you are the one finding the solution.
1 Likes, Who?
Quoting: HighballQuoting: GuestThat's it, the Steam survey is definitely skewed against Linux users: out of the ~120 million monthly active users on Steam, 7 (seven) of them commented on gamingonlinux.com lamenting they never, or very rarely, received a survey.
Clearly, this should be a priority for Valve and fixed ASAP!
6 of them. I gave instructions for making sure a survey would occur. No need for "lamenting" when you are the one finding the solution.
I don't know if you're solving anything or just messing with the system.
I got the survey yesterday by the way, if that's relevant to someone.
2 Likes, Who?
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me