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I still can't quite believe it but the Linux user share on Steam has not only remained above 1% for three months, it's actually risen again. We continue to track it each month on our dedicated page but I think it deserves a mention again.

This has been relatively big news for a few months now as we covered when it initially hit 1% again, and last month where it actually stuck. As of September 2021, Linux has managed to hit 1.05% on the Steam Hardware Survey.

Want to see what systems our readers are running? Check out our statistics page.

Going by the last time Valve told us what their monthly active user count was, we can guesstimate that there's around 1,264,200 monthly active users for Linux on Steam.

According to the Valve survey when filtered to just Linux, here's what people are using:

  • Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS 64 bit 15.38% +15.38%
  • "Manjaro Linux" 64 bit 13.15% +0.43%
  • "Arch Linux" 64 bit 11.49% +0.35%
  • Pop!_OS 21.04 64 bit 7.57% +0.21%
  • Ubuntu 21.04 64 bit 6.42% -0.18%
  • Linux Mint 20.2 64 bit 6.01% +0.51%
  • Other 39.99% +4.67%

Still not really clear why we are seeing this surge in users. It's quite likely it's as a result of the Steam Deck, which has given Steam Play Proton and Linux more advertising direct from Valve and the wider media. We've seen a lot more posts about people trying out Linux across various social networks, Reddit and more. Regardless of the reason though, it is of course a really great thing to see more people trying out Linux for gaming, work and more. Hopefully this will continue!

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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einherjar Oct 3, 2021
In my Steam name is mentioned, that I use Linux.
Since the Deck is announced, there are more people asking about that and are interested in a positive way.

So there are people interested and that alone is a good thing.

So perhaps we gain more desktop users and in addition with the deck users we might smash MacOS and get Number 2 after Windows - that would be nice...
hardpenguin Oct 3, 2021
QuoteOther 39.99% +4.67%
Doing my part!
Purple Library Guy Oct 3, 2021
So does anyone else wonder what's up with Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS 64 bit? The stat says it's at 15.38% and went up +15.38%. So, like, it just came into existence?
Eike Oct 3, 2021
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Quoting: Purple Library GuySo does anyone else wonder what's up with Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS 64 bit? The stat says it's at 15.38% and went up +15.38%. So, like, it just came into existence?

It did, if you take into account all version digits (which they shouldn't):
https://wiki.ubuntu.com/Releases


Last edited by Eike on 3 October 2021 at 7:20 pm UTC
CatKiller Oct 3, 2021
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Quoting: Purple Library GuySo does anyone else wonder what's up with Ubuntu 20.04.3 LTS 64 bit? The stat says it's at 15.38% and went up +15.38%. So, like, it just came into existence?
It did. The previous entry in that slot was Ubuntu 20.04.2. 20.04.3 was released at the end of August.
sarmad Oct 4, 2021
If only we have any decent Linux gaming laptops. The numbers could've been higher.
nlborlcl Oct 5, 2021
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May Linus' and Luke's competition starting as a bet on the WAN show of who can only game on Linux longer do a lot to encourage more adoption.
finaldest Oct 5, 2021
If the following is true we may soon be getting a big marketshare boost as this news would significantly affect PC Gamers !!

Quote from pc gamer on 1st Oct.
"Microsoft 'will be enabling VBS on most new PCs over this next year' and that can tank PC gaming performance by around 25%"

In the article SOTTR show a 30fps drop in performance with VBS Enabled. I have not seen any mention of this news anywhere and only saw it mentioned in the LMG Linux challenge thread on reddit.
player_two Oct 5, 2021
Hi I am one of the Fedora users in the "others" section but on x11 (you not pick a color of another window in wayland). Every native steam game i tested runs oob and proton games as described on protondb. i also play wesnoth or openttd but currently its mostly cities skylines and grid autosport (both native).
Purple Library Guy Oct 5, 2021
Quoting: finaldestIf the following is true we may soon be getting a big marketshare boost as this news would significantly affect PC Gamers !!

Quote from pc gamer on 1st Oct.
"Microsoft 'will be enabling VBS on most new PCs over this next year' and that can tank PC gaming performance by around 25%"

In the article SOTTR show a 30fps drop in performance with VBS Enabled. I have not seen any mention of this news anywhere and only saw it mentioned in the LMG Linux challenge thread on reddit.
This does seem interesting. What's VBS?
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