A moment I've no doubt many Linux fans have been waiting to see. The Linux user share on Steam has smashed through the 2% barrier.
Not actually for the first time though, it did initially rise up above 2% in March 2013, shortly after the original Steam for Linux release when it left Beta. Part of the reason it had higher numbers at the start, was that Valve added a special Tux item into Team Fortress 2 only on Linux but it quickly dropped in the following months.
With the latest info though from the May 2024 survey, Linux has now hit 2.32%.
- Windows 96.21% -0.55%
- Linux 2.32% +0.42%
- macOS 1.47% +0.12%
If I have my historical data correct, we haven't seen Linux be over 2% since 2013. Take into account the explosive growth of Steam as a platform and that's quite a lot of people now. Mostly thanks to Steam Deck.
See it over time on our Steam Tracker page.
The Linux distribution breakdown:
- SteamOS Holo 64 bit 45.34% +3.01%
- Arch Linux 64 bit 7.90% -0.34%
- Freedesktop SDK 23.08 (Flatpak runtime) 64 bit 6.05% +0.04%
- Ubuntu 22.04.4 LTS 64 bit 4.76% -1.37%
- Linux Mint 21.3 64 bit 4.23% -0.16%
- Manjaro Linux 64 bit 3.18% -0.19%
- Ubuntu Core 22 64 bit 2.62% +2.62% (Steam Snap)
- Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS 64 bit 2.57% +2.57%
- Other 23.98% -5.55%
See more on the Steam Survey.
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
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.
StalePopcorn Jun 2
Noice! Now if macOS could get the HaikuOS treatment and have its userbase get wrestled from Apple.
5 Likes, Who?
`Ubuntu Core 22 64 bit` is probably the snap version of Steam - is the the default packaging on Ubuntu 24.04?
Ah, Ubuntu changed the default package type found in software centre to be snap, and Steam snap is out of beta.
Ah, Ubuntu changed the default package type found in software centre to be snap, and Steam snap is out of beta.
1 Likes, Who?
kaktuspalme Jun 2
I think another reason is Windows 11 sucks IMHO.
When looking through tech forums I feel like more people are interested in trying Linux.
But sure, Steam Deck is the biggest growth factor.
When looking through tech forums I feel like more people are interested in trying Linux.
But sure, Steam Deck is the biggest growth factor.
16 Likes, Who?
Dana Souly Jun 2
I think another reason is Windows 11 sucks IMHO.I switched to Linux because I didn't want to upgrade to Win11.
24 Likes, Who?
More than Mac... impressive!https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/08/linux-overtakes-macos-users-on-steam-thanks-to-steam-deck/
Linux has been higher than Mac since.
6 Likes, Who?
It's interesting to see the superposition of the slow growth of the Linux Desktop marketshare (1% at Steam Deck release, now 1.2 -1.3%) and the more rapid growth of steam deck (roughly half of Linux marketshare on steam).
3 Likes, Who?
gradyvuckovic Jun 2
Let the good times roll!
Next up, 3%! Lets go, lets do it!
8 Likes, Who?
StoneColdSpider Jun 2
8 Likes, Who?
preludelinux Jun 2
Well with Recall im sure that will increase quickly. Its interesting that devs still make mac ports before linux native ports though and says they make more money on mac when there are more gamers on linux.
5 Likes, Who?
pleasereadthemanual Jun 2
Interesting to see Pop!_OS break into the rankings given its presence has been diminishing on ProtonDB over the years: https://boilingsteam.com/distros-used-for-gaming-ubuntu-recovers-a-little-pop-os-sinks-further-down/
Which is not a good thing, because apparently the Steam Snap is rife with issues. In principle I like the idea but I wish Snaps were more distribution-agnostic. My understanding is they have root privileges on distributions without AppArmor like Fedora (which uses SELinux).
---
A few more months and Linux will have double the market share of macOS on Steam. Won't that be something?
Though it remains to be seen how many macOS users are running Steam through Wine/CrossOver/Whiskey and being counted as Windows users.
Also, why are some stats at 106% or even 112%?
`Ubuntu Core 22 64 bit` is probably the snap version of Steam - is the the default packaging on Ubuntu 24.04?The Steam Snap came out of beta for 23.10, I believe. The new 24.04 LTS came out at the end of April, so a lot of people upgraded (hence the 1.37% decrease in Ubuntu 22.04 LTS). The other 1% of the "Ubuntu Core" stat must have been people who were already using the Steam Snap, possibly those upgrading to every point release.
Ah, Ubuntu changed the default package type found in software centre to be snap, and Steam snap is out of beta.
Which is not a good thing, because apparently the Steam Snap is rife with issues. In principle I like the idea but I wish Snaps were more distribution-agnostic. My understanding is they have root privileges on distributions without AppArmor like Fedora (which uses SELinux).
---
A few more months and Linux will have double the market share of macOS on Steam. Won't that be something?
Though it remains to be seen how many macOS users are running Steam through Wine/CrossOver/Whiskey and being counted as Windows users.
Also, why are some stats at 106% or even 112%?
3 Likes, Who?
In light of the recent bot farm discoveries surrounding TF2, we might reconsider these numbers and try to understand how many *human* Steam users are using Limux…
Linked is an good hour long video that describes the problem, but tl;dw 75% of tf2 "players" are bot-farms using text-mode tf2 to drop crates and sell them on the market.
Linked is an good hour long video that describes the problem, but tl;dw 75% of tf2 "players" are bot-farms using text-mode tf2 to drop crates and sell them on the market.
0 Likes
In light of the recent bot farm discoveries surrounding TF2, we might reconsider these numbers and try to understand how many *human* Steam users are using Limux…I highly doubt bot farms are going to be manually opting into the survey when it appears, they won't want to be tracked at all. This is not an automatic thing remember, it's a manual entry survey Valve pops up in the Steam client.
Linked is an good hour long video that describes the problem, but tl;dw 75% of tf2 "players" are bot-farms using text-mode tf2 to drop crates and sell them on the market.
18 Likes, Who?
Go, Steam Deck, Go!
Such an awesome device and I'm glad it's getting more and more people into Linux. It's about time people start moving away from Windows and it's terrible changes they're doing lately with adding AI and ads in their OS.
Such an awesome device and I'm glad it's getting more and more people into Linux. It's about time people start moving away from Windows and it's terrible changes they're doing lately with adding AI and ads in their OS.
3 Likes, Who?
I don't think I've ever seen the survey pop up on Steam Deck. Does it appear in Big Picture mode or does it only show up if you switch to Desktop mode?In gaming mode it pops up a notification. You need to interact with that to send off your sample.
3 Likes, Who?
hardpenguin Jun 2
SteamOS Holo 64 bit 45.34% +3.01%Now how do we convince the game developers that the other 55% are people using regular Linux distros ☺️
(So they should support us too)
3 Likes, Who?
SteamOS Holo 64 bit 45.34% +3.01%Now how do we convince the game developers that the other 55% are people using regular Linux distros ☺️
(So they should support us too)
We're the same target audience. Nothing to worry about.
1 Likes, Who?
Patreon
PayPal
See more from me