r/linux • u/Zodiak1011 • Aug 30 '26

Alternative OS Why does it feel like Linux is suddenly exploding in 2026?

I’ve been seeing more and more people switching to Linux this year, especially gamers. Bazzite, CachyOS, Linux Mint, etc. seem to be getting mentioned everywhere.

Why didn’t we see a massive shift like this earlier? What changed, or what finally pushed people to make the switch?

I know the Steam Deck was probably a big factor in showing people that Linux gaming is actually viable and that Linux isn’t as painful as it used to be.

But what else changed over the last few years that made Linux suddenly feel like a realistic alternative to Windows for so many people?

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u/[deleted] Aug 30 '26

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u/realmauer01 Aug 31 '26

And the infrastructure isnt even just american servers, its even european servers if its american software.

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u/Randommaggy Aug 31 '26

Or under American ownership

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u/Kazer67 Aug 31 '26

That's literally why OVH is split into to separate society: world and US.

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u/Bakoro Sep 02 '26

America has 99 problems and I'm not going to address that here.

Digital sovereignty is still an unsolved issue, and the EU has their own serious issues authoritarianism online, and potentially over-reach when it comes to trying to enforce EU law.

I don't have any good answers. I am an American and I don't think that I should have to be worrying about EU law if my business is entirely contained in the U.S, anymore than I should have to follow Missouri law when I'm in California.

The Internet is global though, and if a business is on the Internet, my customers could be anyone from anywhere. Whose laws am I supposed to follow? Now suddenly I have to follow EU and Iranian and Sudanese and Chinese and Brazilian laws all at the same time just because their people might be able to interact with my business?
What happens when laws conflict?

One might say "well then don't do business outside with people outside your country", but why should the onus be on me to track who you are and where you're connecting from?
And, if I have to try to suss out if you're from a particular country, or even a particular state or province in a particular country, then isn't that a privacy issue in and of itself?

This should all be sorted out via international trade agreements, but we keep running into issues that are not being sorted out.

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u/LucieGoosey__ Sep 04 '26

agreed. international trade agreements need to be put in place or repaired.