I didn't expect Linux to be above macOS despite Wine's awesomeness.
- Windows 94.84%
- Linux 3.05%
- macOS 2.11%
Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
31–40 of 560 posts
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#32I made the switch more than a year ago and it's been basically problem free.
Almost all modern games work flawlessly through proton and I get better compatibility for really old stuff through lutris than I ever did on windows (I used to have to run a win 3.1/95/98 vm to play certain older games, now I just use lutris/wine).
The only stuff that doesn't work is multiplayer games with unsupported anticheat - it's always a crapshoot when something new and multiplayer launches. My backup plan for those if I really want to play them is to just get them on PS5.
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#33Earlier quoted context omitted.
Look at the most played games, half of them won't work under Linux because of the online components / anti cheat system. BF6, PUBG, Rust, GTAV Online etc.
https://www.protondb.com/explore?sort=playerCount only 6 out of the 50 most played right now aren't working 10 millions players ingame, 90% of players are not playing these titles
Some of those ratings are generous to say the least. Apex Legends is probably the worst example, it's still clinging to its Silver rating despite being completely unplayable on Linux since last November.
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#34I didn't expect Linux to be above macOS despite Wine's awesomeness. - Windows 94.84% - Linux 3.05% - macOS 2.11%
There is wide spread disrespect against people who play games on mac. It is a running meme.
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#35I am considering making the switch to Linux for my software + data science (primary) and gaming (secondary) setup.
I use a LG OLED TV as screen, so no displayport inputs. Only HDMI 2.1.
How is the support for Linux + HDR + HDMI 2.1 + 120 Hz + VRR + Nvidia (5000 series)?
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#36I honestly can’t believe it’s not much higher. It’s so easy these days with SteamOS and Bazzite.
You over estimate the will/knowledge of everyday people to do anything else than buy a branded PC, install Steam and be done with it.
When I decided to get back into PC gaming during covid, I built a PC put Windows on it and installed GOG, Steam and Epic to turn it into a glorified console. It has been like that ever since. For anything other than gaming I use a Macbook.
If you got the means and space, I think it's the easiest solution. I do play some games on the Mac, but the experience has been rather poor outside of indie games which usually work very well.
That said, the controller support on windows constantly sucks. On macOS though, it's really easy to set up. Go figure.
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#37I didn't expect Linux to be above macOS despite Wine's awesomeness. - Windows 94.84% - Linux 3.05% - macOS 2.11%
So few games support macOS that it is a real pain to find games to play on it.
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#38It's weird how Steam doesn't automatically set the toggle that lets you play most Windows games through Proton instead of having that be an opt-in you need to know about. It really is extremely stable and polished these days.
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#39I didn't expect Linux to be above macOS despite Wine's awesomeness. - Windows 94.84% - Linux 3.05% - macOS 2.11%
Wonder what will happen with that percentage once they sunset Rosetta. I think steam has a native client, but the Mac support for most/all games is x86 based AFAIK.
Re: Linux gamers on Steam cross over the 3% mark
#40Earlier quoted context omitted.
> 27% of that 3% is the Steam Deck / Lenovo Legion Go S. So most Linux players are in fact not on the Steam Deck. If that is true then one of those other two claims has to be false: 1. Using the latest months recorded share (Oct-2025 - 3.05%): 4,026,000 estimated "monthly active users" for Linux+Steam. 2. Market research firm International Data Corporation estimated that between 3.7 and 4 million Steam Decks had been…
Alternative options: - International Data Corporation is overestimating the amount of shipped Steam Decks. - Modified Steam Decks (i.e. running Bazzite) don't report themselves to be Steam Decks - Most likely: most Steam Deck users opt out of participating in the Steam Hardware survey/analytics. Last year, I didn't participate in the Steam Hardware survey on my Deck, only on my PC. This year, I participated on my Dec…
I’m Linux gaming bazzite on my tower. Sees at least as many of us as steam decks.