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Steam Hardware Survey For October 2014, Linux Rises Again (UPDATED)

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UPDATE: It seems Valve adjusted the survey after both we and Phoronix covered it, the actual percentage is 1.12%, so we actually dropped by a few % this month.

Here is the latest instalment of Steam's Hardware Survey, as usual we do our monthly thing and compare it and talk about it and make sure you know not to use it as a hard figure.

Linux results for October 2014
Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS 64 bit 0.52% +0.09%
Linux Mint 17 Qiana 64 bit 0.13% +0.03%
Linux 3.10 64 bit 0.10% +0.02%
Ubuntu 14.04.1 LTS 0.08% +0.02%

Total: 1.18% + 0.02%
Last Month: 1.16%

My thoughts on it

It seems that - although small - Linux usage has been seeing an increase among Steam users. This could be attributed to a number of factors, including the much bigger and better range in games we're seeing.

Just for comparison, the figure for overall Linux usage this time last year was 1.06%.

Things to note

Just be aware these results will probably not be that accurate as we don't know how they do their percentage results, they could be rounding up, rounding down or truncating the percentages. So a 0.5% could actually be nearly 0.6% as it could be 0.59% but they could do no rounding and simply truncate it.

Also remember it is a survey, so it won't ask every single one of you to do it. It would only be truly accurate if it did it behind the scenes, but that's not what a survey is for this is just to get a general idea.

The stats are also quite different to our own survey. For example, Steam states that around 20% of Linux users use AMD CPUs, while our own survey puts that number closer to 30%. You can compare these stats yourself to see some discrepancies and take into account that neither survey is perfect.

Final Note: Look at it this way, Steam has around 100 million active users, 1% of 100 million is about 1,000,000 (1 million) people. What developer wouldn't want to hook into a market that big?

Final, Final Note

This monthly article used to be done by Liam. It's a pretty important thing to have because it gives us an idea of the growth of Linux gaming. Unfortunately, I have a few other articles which I take care of here so it would be nice to get a volunteer from the GOL community to do this. It is just once a month and very quick to do. Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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About the author -
After many years of floating through space on the back of a missile, following a successful career in beating people up for not playing Sega Saturn, the missile returned to earth. Upon returning, I discovered to my dismay that the once great console had been discontinued and Sega had abandoned the fight to dominate the world through 32-bit graphical capabilities.

After spending some years breaking breeze blocks with my head for money and being mocked by strangers, I have found a new purpose: to beat up people for not playing on Linux.
See more from me
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23 comments
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DrMcCoy Nov 1, 2014
QuoteTotal: 1.18% + 0.12%
Last Month: 1.16%

That should be 1.06% for last month, not 1.16%.
(Also, the increase is 0.12% points, if you want to be pedantic :P)
DrMcCoy Nov 1, 2014
Oh, no, wait, it isn't even 1.06% for last month, that's the month before last month. Instead, the increase is not 0.12% points, but 0.02% points.
Liam Dawe Nov 1, 2014
Thanks I've cleared that tiny mistake up.

The increase over last year is good.
Segata Sanshiro Nov 1, 2014
Sorry, all the numbers are confusing me... On Steam it says "1.18% +0.12%" so that's what I put, but that's clearly not the increase over last month... Maybe it's referring to one year ago, because in that case the number is correct.
minj Nov 1, 2014
Actually when I think about these changes are probably not even statistically significant. We have no idea of Valve's methodology for selecting people or for working the numbers they get.

You might as well stop posting the 'news' about it until the difference is a point or more.
Teodosio Nov 1, 2014
Quoting: liamdaweThanks I've cleared that tiny mistake up.

The increase over last year is good.

Thanks Liam, great to see you back.
edo Nov 1, 2014
I use Manjaro 64 bits kernel 3.17. Where do I fit? Does that survey count people outside ubuntu based distros? I mean, we need the "Other" category again.
masteredu Nov 1, 2014
Quoting: edoI use Manjaro 64 bits kernel 3.17. Where do I fit? Does that survey count people outside ubuntu based distros? I mean, we need the "Other" category again.

Manjaro is Arch. As Linux Mint is Ubuntu. And NO, Ubuntu is NOT Debian.
Segata Sanshiro Nov 1, 2014
QuoteI use Manjaro 64 bits kernel 3.17. Where do I fit? Does that survey count people outside ubuntu based distros? I mean, we need the "Other" category again.

If you add together the distros they list, it comes to 0.83%, so the remaining 0.35% must be "other". That seems to fit our own results as well.

QuoteManjaro is Arch. As Linux Mint is Ubuntu. And NO, Ubuntu is NOT Debian.

Manjoro is Arch-BASED, and Ubuntu is Debian-BASED.
Metallinatus Nov 1, 2014
Well, I am really trying to help at least a little bit with the articles here.... so I can try to make the next ones if you want me :)
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