this post was submitted on 02 Aug 2023
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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.

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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

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[–] brihuang95@sopuli.xyz 135 points 1 year ago (23 children)

Thank god for Valve and how awesome they've been to Linux users

[–] Cyv_@kbin.social 38 points 1 year ago (5 children)

I really hope they release Steam OS for everyone soon. I'd love to install it on my laptop, currently running ChimeraOS which is functionally very similar, but would love to have the stuff like tdp control working in the overlays too without needing third party tools or workarounds.

[–] rbits@lemm.ee 9 points 1 year ago

It would be especially cool for the other handhelds out there like the ROG Ally

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[–] crow@beehaw.org 20 points 1 year ago (3 children)

They’ve done such amazing work for Linux. Linux gaming wouldn’t be the same without them.

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[–] jsnc@lemmy.blahaj.zone 15 points 1 year ago

Now we just need an open source steam client and they will be the literal proof that companies can contribute to GNU/Linux and still stay on top.

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[–] Stillhart@lemm.ee 65 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Count me as one of those new Linux users. I've been trying to switch since the 90's and Linux gaming is finally viable. I know this is in large part thanks to Valve, so thanks, Valve!

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[–] Metaright@kbin.social 51 points 1 year ago (6 children)

I bet the Deck has a lot to do with this.

[–] floofloof@lemmy.ca 23 points 1 year ago

It does, but as a result we can now set up Linux on other machines and play a huge range of games. This removes one of the main obstacles for many people with Linux.

[–] NightOwl@lemmy.one 13 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Love the Deck. I actually finish games with retro or pixel art aesthics with the deck compared to my PC or consoles. The pick up and go aspect and the smaller screen helps me keep coming back to it instead of abandoning it.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 10 points 1 year ago (1 children)

The deck has a lot to do with it whether people are playing on it or not. It's the thing that's made them make the big push into supporting games on Linux, which applies to other distros than just the Steam one.

[–] erwan@lemmy.ml 9 points 1 year ago

It also pushes developers to ensure their games run on Linux, even if it's through Proton

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[–] MaxPower@feddit.de 44 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Linux FTW. Number 1 on servers, now number 2 on Steam! Watch out, Microsoft /s

[–] 1984@lemmy.today 39 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Not surprised. Steam on Linux just works. Click a checkbox in settings to use Proton. Then only way it would be easier is if it would automatically detect Proton and use it. I don't think it does yet?

[–] turdas@suppo.fi 17 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It automatically uses Proton for titles that Valve has whitelisted as compatible. To play anything else you need to check a box in the settings. Honestly, it should probably just be checked by default.

[–] RogueBanana@lemmy.zip 12 points 1 year ago

Probaby just to deter non tech savy people to blame all the problems on steam without realising it wasn't made for linux in first place. There may not be a lot but with how popular steam deck is, I won't be surprised if a lot of people are trying out linux for the first time.

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[–] Vuipes@kbin.social 32 points 1 year ago (4 children)

Good, now we need devs to officially support Linux.

I noticed that wine/dxvk/proton works better than many native Linux versions. This is usually because the game studio does not think Linux is a priority and ships a half-assed implementation. Better to use the optimized version through wine/proton/dxvk.

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[–] cipherlab@lemmy.ml 30 points 1 year ago (7 children)

I'm sure 99% of it is Steam Decks

[–] MaxPower@feddit.de 41 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

The post says ~42 % is Steam OS

[–] ezahn@mastodon.uno 20 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.

[–] shirro@aussie.zone 8 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.

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[–] Pollux@beehaw.org 23 points 1 year ago (10 children)

It's awesome that Linux is becoming almost a mainstream desktop operating system. The year of Linux is here just another year or 2 and gaming on Linux will be near perfect. But sadly we will not able to play any kernel anticheat games like valorant but who gives a fuck about that game anyways lmao

[–] Freeman@feddit.de 8 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (9 children)

Yes, I'll switch from Windows to Linux but at the moment I dont trust myself to be able to use Linux as I cannot code and havent any deep knowledge about cpmputers. So I hope that in the next few years there will be the compatibility and ease of use on Linux like there is on windows now.


Edit: ok, thanks everyone.

I am very pro open source and very pro linux (obiously)

With "coding" i ment doing stuff with the terminal. I am mostly concerned with stuff not working when it should and then that the fix is only doable in the terminal and requires trial and error and knowledge and so on...

I was mostly discouraged by the LTT videos about Linux as a daily driver, haming and working on linux and so on. And they made it look that you have problems significantly more frequent than on a windows machine.

And yes, i need to use full office suite, most other programms can be FOSS or linux alternatives tho.

[–] Hexarei@programming.dev 7 points 1 year ago

You definitely don't need to know anything about writing code to use Linux! The closest thing to it is the terminal, which is something you basically never need to use on a standard setup like Pop!OS or Mint. I've gotten plenty of my friends using Linux, many of them have never even had to look at a terminal.

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[–] circuitfarmer@lemmy.sdf.org 21 points 1 year ago

I've never looked back to Windows since switching my gaming rig to Linux about a year ago.

One of my favorite things is when a game launches with a DX12 option that says "Windows 10/11 only". Au contraire, game option. You're about to run on a penguin.

[–] littlecolt@lemm.ee 20 points 1 year ago

Yes! Not only do I have a Deck, but I've switched my main PC to Linux. Sick of Micro$oft's shit!

[–] thatsTheCatch@lemmy.nz 17 points 1 year ago (17 children)

I have a steam deck but I also recently changed from Windows to Pop!_OS on my gaming rig. I'm very much enjoying it so far

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[–] Auster@kbin.social 15 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (5 children)

Previous 12 months:

June 2023: -0.03%
May 2023: +0.15%
April 2023: +0.48%
March 2023: -0.43%
February 2023: -0.11%
January 2023: no difference
December 2023: -0.06%
November 2022: +0.16%
October 2022: +0.05%
September 2022: -0.04%
August 2022: +0.04%
July 2022: +0.05%

It would seem Linux among Steam users shows a growth tendency.
Hopefully this tendency keeps going strong!

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[–] grimaferve@kglitch.social 14 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I did my first Linux Steam hardware survey yesterday so I'm doing my part!

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[–] Kaped@lemmy.ml 13 points 1 year ago

Let s fucking go

[–] timkenhan@sopuli.xyz 8 points 1 year ago

Hardly surprising, especially with SteamDeck's popularity. Great news regardless! Steam is really making a difference here.

[–] XEAL@lemm.ee 8 points 1 year ago

I'm doing my part, I have installed Steam on two new Ubuntu installs recently, lol.

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