this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2023
950 points (98.8% liked)

Linux

48376 readers
1741 users here now

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

Rules

Related Communities

Community icon by Alpár-Etele Méder, licensed under CC BY 3.0

founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
 

According to these new numbers from Valve, the Linux customer base is up to 1.96%, or a 0.52% jump over June! That's a huge jump with normally just moving 0.1% or so in either direction most months... It's also near an all-time high on a percentage basis going back to the early days of Steam on Linux when it had around a 2% marketshare but at that time the Steam customer size in absolute numbers was much smaller a decade ago than it is now. So if the percentage numbers are accurate, this is likely the largest in absolute terms that the Linux gaming marketshare has ever been.

Data from Valve: https://store.steampowered.com/hwsurvey/Steam-Hardware-Software-Survey-Welcome-to-Steam?platform=combined

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] [email protected] 37 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I'm sure 99% of it is Steam Decks

[–] [email protected] 50 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The post says ~42 % is Steam OS

[–] [email protected] 29 points 1 year ago

Actually its only 44% steam decks!

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago

@cipherlab @pnutzh4x0r Nonetheless, it's quite the achievement. That's exactly what Linux needs: visible, tangible and reputable hardware that's ostensibly better than the competition. It's great to be flexible, but you still need to have a face.

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

Less than that though they are a large slice.

Most Windows and practically all Mac instances are preinstalled by the hardware vendor. There are very few companies selling preinstalled Linux gaming machines other than the Steam Deck. I expect they might be a majority of new Linux steam users for some time as they are by far the lowest entry cost in terms of hardware, prerequisite technical knowledge and time.

Many gamers who dabble with Linux are still taking the path of least resistance and dual booting for gaming. Linux first people like myself will continue to grow in number but as long as it is a DIY thing realistically we will always be a few percent at best as most people want a simpler out of box gaming experience.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Due to the steam summer sale perhaps?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

This is what finally got me to buy one.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

I found way to many Linux gamers in the wild. So no, they are not Steam Decks.