r/linux • u/langot • Nov 03 '25
Alternative OS Linux Hits 3% On Steam's October 2025 Hardware Survey - Steam Deck HQ
Every month, Valve sends out a survey to some of its users to gauge what the most popular operating systems and configurations are from accounts on Steam. It's interesting to see it as well, showing the most popular CPUs, GPUs, operating systems, and even VR headsets and resolutions. This also appears on the Steam Deck, allowing them to include our handhelds in the survey. Now that it's October, we have a brand new survey edition to check out, and to my surprise, Linux has passed the 3% mark!
Linux Hits 3% On Steam's October 2025 Hardware Survey - Steam Deck HQ
114
u/SiegeRewards Nov 03 '25
Loss of support on Windows 10 and the ai getting shoved down people’s throats certainly are a big driver in that
2
u/Own_Phrase9068 Nov 04 '25
No, I think it was me, Ive heard Arc Raiders run on Linux so I had to test it
-57
Nov 03 '25
I mean if all you do is gaming there is no reason not to go with linux, makes sense for it to go up for steam, but for work / productivity it’s a huge no go
67
u/Independent_Cat_5481 Nov 03 '25
It's just highly dependent on what programs you use, both for gaming and work. Lots run perfectly fine and you'll never have any issues, some don't work at all, and everything in-between.
-12
Nov 03 '25
in my case there isn’t a singular BIM worth using on linux
19
u/ggppjj Nov 03 '25 edited Nov 03 '25
Neat! Glad you specified that was your use-case, helps keep the scope of the discussion grounded.
For myself, I tried to switch away from Windows for work and had tools unique to my industry that historically I had not had good luck getting running correctly in Linux. Some of those tools improved to the point that they could be run technically, but a fair number of them started having critical issues that stopped me from being able to respond to emergencies, so I ended up caving in and buying a windows 11 license to virtualize it.
This works for me, but for gaming and anti-cheat with nonsense that kicks you off of your game of choice for being on a different OS, that won't work. Things are getting better thanks to the existence and popularity of the steam deck, I believe, but I don't actually play the kinds of games affected by that kind of multiplayer/competitive multiplayer game that benefits from stricter anti-cheat/grief measures.
I hope that things continue to improve and that solutions are found that allow these games to stop being actively hostile to running on Linux, and until then can only accept the reality that for a fair number of gamers specifically, Linux isn't a choice they can make currently.
2
14
u/NotMyThrowaway6991 Nov 03 '25
It's nearly impossible for me to work not on Linux - software engineer
1
u/Reddit_is_fascist69 Nov 04 '25
Even on Windows, i insist on using WSL
3
u/NotMyThrowaway6991 Nov 04 '25
And even on WSL, I run sway so I don't need to interact with Windows
2
Nov 04 '25
all you do is gaming there is no reason not to go with linux,
.... except for all the games using kernel-level anti-cheat that don't work on Linux.
4
u/langot Nov 03 '25
if only linux had league of legends and I stop having mess with dual boot
13
2
Nov 03 '25
Why can't league of legends run? Anti-cheat? Wine incompatibility? Is it forbidden?
12
u/Spinnerbowl Nov 03 '25
Riot put the vanguard anti cheat (the one they use for valorant) on LoL a few years ago I think
8
u/langot Nov 03 '25
kernel anticheat
2
u/ariZon_a Nov 04 '25
thats the thing though. an addictive game that seems to make everybody i knew who played it become a pentakill-lusting demon from 5 to 11 pm, now has kernel level anticheat meaning they have access to everything (and as a bonus, only works on a spying os)
is the thrill really worth the privacy loss?
3
u/Indolent_Bard Nov 04 '25
The privacy loss has no immediate effect on them, so yeah.
1
u/ariZon_a Nov 04 '25
not the answer i wanted but the one i needed to hear
2
u/Indolent_Bard Nov 05 '25
Yeah, we can say it's a risk all we want, but until something actually happens, nobody's gonna care as long as they can play their games. It's not like they want to use the kernel either, they've expressed interest in doing it outside of the kernel.
0
u/Yupsec Nov 05 '25
Oh yeah, 100%. All of us Cloud Engineers and Software Engineers should use WSL on Windows 11...that's still Linux with extra steps? But for work and productivity it's a huge no go...
What are you smoking?
2
-14
Nov 03 '25
People downvoted you but i agree that Linux for work is a no. If you are a normal person with a normal job then most of the software will not work. Most people will not be able to cooperate with you if you use Linux. Unless you're in a situation where you can use Linux for work but that's not most of the case.
For gaming i disagree since you can't even run most of the top games that most normal people play.
13
u/KnowZeroX Nov 03 '25
Work varies from person to person, for most people linux would do fine for work. Even more so since more and more work software are moving to the cloud and many of the basic software is there.
The only gap is in certain fields or old niche software that can't run on wine.
But either way, blanket statements about be it gaming or work is just wrong, depends on your use case.
13
u/PsyOmega Nov 03 '25
If you are a normal person with a normal job then most of the software will not work
Hard disagree. Normie corpo software is MOSTLY all browser based now, or with browser alternatives. The entire O365 suite can run in chrome tabs or in PWA mode, and it's as good or sometimes better than the 'native' windows versions (which are web wrappers now).
Where linux fails is extremely specialized software that was designed for windows/mac.
2
-7
Nov 03 '25
At least, that's the case for my location.
Even if they are web wrappers they still can't run on a browser.
Again the average person isn't using office. Even then, not everyone is using the most up to date suite, many are using older versions which do not run on a browser.
Workplaces sometimes demand you use a specific program or a specific OS. That way everyone can coordinate with each other.
2
u/Reddit_is_fascist69 Nov 04 '25
So glad you speak for the average person.
My average experience is office 365 with current version of Windows. Or Google apps for the lower tier users because it is cheaper. Large Fortune 500 company with 1000s is employees.
1
u/PsyOmega Nov 03 '25
All O365 apps run in web browser, and in browser PWA mode.
Most Office shops are on 365 these days. Very very few are that behind, We can call them outliers, at best.
Workplaces sometimes demand you use a specific program or a specific OS. That way everyone can coordinate with each other.
See work places DO this, but it's a crusty behavior that has no valid role in the modern day, outside of a few outliers where stuff hasn't been webized yet.
And, sure, you can find cherry picked cases where some shop is stuck using (win95 era app), or some shit, but they deserve what they get at this point.
0
Nov 03 '25 edited Nov 05 '25
You will be surprised that in my location many workplaces use old versions of office, and even old versions of Windows (most use Windows 10 but especially in government jobs, you may see Windows 7 or older).
I haven't worked in any place where they demand you use some ancient technology but i know people who do. I have worked in a place where i was forced to use Windows 10 even though i had MacOS. While we did use office that could run on my mac, we used specialised software that was built for Windows only (a custom built software that would manage the website). And the workplace didn't like that i used something they couldn't use.
Anyway, i don't think that most workers who use a computer use Office. Many use software like CADs, video editors, photoshop, etc. The popular ones don't run on Linux.
6
u/bankroll5441 Nov 03 '25
There are tens of thousands of different types of jobs. "Normal person with a normal job" not being able to work on Linux is ridiculous. I have a very normal job (not sure about normal person) and can work just fine on Linux as most everything can be done through a browser.
As always it depends on the software your job uses and whether your company allows you to use Linux.
-3
Nov 03 '25
As always it depends on the software your job uses and whether your company allows you to use Linux.
That's my point. Most software for your average job won't work. And many companies don't allow you to use it.
I have a very normal job (not sure about normal person) and can work just fine on Linux as most everything can be done through a browser.
You didn't say what your job is. Most of everything doesn't run on the browser, and if it does then it's not the best one, or the one that the company forces you to use.
5
u/bankroll5441 Nov 03 '25
Junior sysadmin. Normal job. Everything can be done through a browser.
I would say more specialized jobs have a harder time on Linux than "normal" jobs. A lot of "normal" jobs dont require specialized software. Most everything not running on the browser in 2025 is just flat out false.
3
Nov 03 '25
they clearly dont understand “work” goes beyond using msoffice, if you are doing anything that requires CAD you unfortunately simply are better off not using linux
4
Nov 03 '25
In many workplaces there are specialised programs that most people aren't aware of. Software for restaurants, warehouses, supermarkets, etc.
For example i know someone who would run a shop, and they used a software for the carrier/shipping company that they relied on. I tried to run it on Linux because i wanted them to switch to it but found out that the whole thing was specifically built for Windows.
This is why i said "normal" because most of this community isn't normal (as in norm). They are either unemployed, work somewhere where they don't need a computer, or work in IT where what OS and tools you use is extremely flexible.
2
u/Helmic Nov 04 '25
correct, but then you're stretching the definition of a "normal job" as that is very much white collar work that is pretty well paid. your typical service worker often is using linux at work, as those machines are very cheap and are just used to open a browser to use a suite of webapps to handle things like ordering or writing schedules or submitting vacation requests. if you're doing manual labor for most of your work day your job probably isn't stopping you from using linux.
2
Nov 04 '25
I used to bartend, we had an app we had to use for billing people and it was Windows and iOS only
1
1
u/Helmic Nov 04 '25
I mean, "normal job" meaning what? My job doesn't use my computer at all, hell they use Linux workstations as do a lot of businesses because it's extremely cheap and all their stuff is just accessed via a web browser.
If you're in an industry where your job requires you to use specialized software that isnt' ran through a web page, though, then yeah it can be a lot harder or not possible at all. The medical field is very tied to Windows for example. The many, many service workers in the US don't get a work computer nor do they use their computer for work, Windows-based applications being mandatory is much more of a white collar thing.
25
21
Nov 03 '25
[removed] — view removed comment
6
u/AmarildoJr Nov 03 '25
I remember in the first years of Steam For Linux we hit 1%, then after a while 1.5%, but we really never reached more than that. Heck, I'm sure that we were in the 0.98% not so long ago! (think a few months back).
It seemed like we were really destined to stay in the 1 to 1.5% forever.So 3% truly is amazing for us.
3
u/Helmic Nov 04 '25
anecodotally i've had friends and coworkers ask me about getting linux installed. so far they've been fine on bazzite for the less techy people and cachyOS for the ones i figure can handle reading a wiki. win 11 has been the primary driver, people really don't like how updates keep adding stuff they don't like, which of course makes me concerned they'll come in and then never update their linux install but so far i've convinced all the bazzite users to enable automatic updates and believe me that it's not the same awful experience as on windows. i'm not even mentioning cachyOS to people unless i'm certain they'd be willing to run those updates regularly.
1
u/iCapn Nov 04 '25
Somewhat relevant: https://xkcd.com/1102/
1
u/albertowtf Nov 04 '25
This is total % not % of growth tho, so a few hundred users wont budge it
This is the reason growth has been so slow. It is real growth
10
u/DrKeksimus Nov 03 '25
road to 10%
road to year of Linux !
2
u/Ok-Winner-6589 Nov 04 '25
Maybe if we got a 10% they would start giving proper Support for us
2
u/DrKeksimus Nov 04 '25
yeah that's what ppl in the tech industry say, around 10% of user-base for your platform (be it browser, OS, console, .. ) to start being supported by others
it's not impossible anymore, especially since the Linux elevator is not just merely going up, it's also still accelerating
1
u/kansetsupanikku Nov 06 '25
It's a bullshit estimation. Decision process involves more than that, including difficulty of making a port and maintaining QA and support. Which is remarkably high, considering how messed up the GNU/Linux ecosystem is. Awareness that even if they make it, many users will have issues (they have them anyway), and it will affect image of the studio... It's only numbers like 60% that would make it a necessity. Otherwise, sticking to your platforms and supporting them well remains a reasonable decision.
10
23
u/capitan_turtle Nov 03 '25
We should thank microsoft for pushing the stupid cloud/browser office versions, It's almost like they want you to use linux now.
4
Nov 04 '25
They don't care as much because Windows is becoming a smaller % of their profit with every passing year. Most of their money is made in Azure Cloud or services that run on top of it.
1
u/Ok-Winner-6589 Nov 04 '25
Even Xbox produces more money than Windows nowadays (not sure if also generates more benefits) and they are the less selled console, I really think that in 2 gens even Valve would beat MS on sells
1
u/Yupsec Nov 05 '25
Fact. And Azure Cloud relies on..Linux. Microsoft keeps pouring more money into..Linux.
I don't believe in the Year of the Linux Desktop, or whatever. If I'm being honest, I could care less what OS people use: be it Fedora, Debian, Arch, or Windows. Linux to me thrives in the data center. I'm just glad that, finally, Linus can say he won the war.
"If Microsoft ever does applications for Linux it means I've won." - Linus
5
u/Enzymatic67 Nov 04 '25
I was dual-booting for a long time to try linux out, and admittedly stayed logged in to Windows 98% of the time. Over the weekend I've committed fully, ditched Windows.
2
u/ammar_sadaoui Nov 03 '25
the only survey that i think it should automatically be collected give users on random time that can be missed because some people like me who don't like steam be open 24/24 on my system
for better game development and give more information about what popular hardware and brand
4
Nov 03 '25
There sure are a lot of news pieces headlining what in reality amounts to nothing more than statistical 'noise' in these numbers.
24
6
u/Journeyj012 Nov 03 '25
one month is an interesting jump, but if we have 3% 6 months later (and windows stays <95%), then that can't be ignored.
2
u/albertowtf Nov 04 '25
We suspect noise, but theres no way to tell the real number and 3% is a round number
I expect the same headlines for 4% if we ever cross them
38
u/InfiniteSheepherder1 Nov 03 '25
There I am "Freedesktop SDK 25.08 (Flatpak runtime) 64 bit"
What field or environment variable does Steam pull for that it seems like it would be reasonable to condense the KDE/GNOME versions of Fedora into a single thing and have another field just pull the DE in use.
Anyway go team Flatpak