Support us on Patreon
PayPalIt finally happened. Linux gamers on Steam as of the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for October 2025 have crossed over the elusive 3% mark. The trend has been clear for sometime, and with Windows 10 ending support, it was quite likely this was going to be the time for it to happen as more people try out Linux.
As of the October 2025 survey the operating system details:
- Windows 94.84% -0.75%
- Linux 3.05% +0.41%
- macOS 2.11% +0.34%
The snapshot chart from our dedicated Steam Tracker page shows the clear trend:
Overall, 3% might not seem like much to some, but again - that trend is very clear and equates to millions of people. The last time Valve officially gave a proper monthly active user count was in 2022, and we know Steam has grown a lot since then, but even going by that original number would put monthly active Linux users at well over 4 million. Sadly, Valve have not given out a more recent monthly active user number but it's likely a few million higher, especially with the Steam Deck selling millions.
And if we look at the distribution breakdown chart from our page:
The overall distribution numbers for October 2025:
- SteamOS Holo 64 bit - 27.18% (-0.47%)
- Arch Linux 64 bit - 10.32% (-0.66%)
- Linux Mint 22.2 64 bit - 6.65% (+6.65%)
- CachyOS 64 bit - 6.01% (+1.32%)
- Ubuntu Core 22 64 bit - 4.55% (+0.55%)
- Freedesktop SDK 25.08 (Flatpak runtime) 64 bit - 4.29% (+4.29%)
- Bazzite 64 bit - 4.24% (+4.24%)
- Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS 64 bit - 3.70% (+3.70%)
- Linux Mint 22.1 64 bit - 2.56% (-5.65%)
- EndeavourOS Linux 64 bit - 2.32% (-0.08%)
- Freedesktop SDK 24.08 (Flatpak runtime) 64 bit - 2.31% (-3.98%)
- Fedora Linux 42 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition) 64 bit - 2.12% (+0.19%)
- Manjaro Linux 64 bit - 2.04% (-0.31%)
- Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS 64 bit - 1.93% (-0.04%)
- Fedora Linux 42 (Workstation Edition) 64 bit - 1.75% (-0.43%)
- Other - 18.04% (-4.28%)
The numbers are still being massively pumped up by the Steam Deck with SteamOS Linux, which is not surprising considering that the Steam Deck is still in the top 10 of the global top sellers on Steam constantly. And with all the rumours and leaks surrounding the upcoming Steam Frame, which will hopefully be a SteamOS Linux powered VR kit, we could see the numbers just continue to jump higher.
Source: Valve
Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
About the author - Liam Dawe
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly checked 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.
See more from me
See more from me
Some you may have missed, popular articles from the last month:
You can also find comments for this article on social media: All posts need to follow our rules. Please hit the Report Flag icon on any post that breaks the rules or contains illegal / harmful content. Readers can also email us for any issues or concerns.
I guess Debian is pushed in to "other" category because Debian 13 is new and the userbase is now split between Debian 12 and Debian 13.
Also please split the linear approximation in pieces (Steam Deck release is a good mark)
Last edited by lucinos on 2 Nov 2025 at 1:18 pm UTC
Also please split the linear approximation in pieces (Steam Deck release is a good mark)
Last edited by lucinos on 2 Nov 2025 at 1:18 pm UTC
2 Likes
Interesting that MacOS usage went up as well, been a while since that's happened.
3 Likes
Interesting that MacOS usage went up as well, been a while since that's happened.It's been trending back up since around the start of the year.
https://i.ibb.co/tT3g0WT7/Combined.png [External Link]
It's a smidge behind non-Deck Linux.
A bigger non-Windows share (above 5% for the first time since 2013) is a good thing for encouraging multi-platform development and support, although Apple makes it harder than it needs to be with their refusal of Vulkan, and harder than it used to be when OpenGL would work on Windows, Linux and Mac.
5 Likes
I'm glad that the Steam Deck only makes up a fraction of the userbase.
Once marketshare is high enough for more multiplayer games, it makes limiting support just to the Steam Deck hardware much less viable. That is definitely a risk as seen with games like Delta Force.
But if the trend continues, they'll have to support a wide range of hardware and distros.
Let's keep climbing.
Once marketshare is high enough for more multiplayer games, it makes limiting support just to the Steam Deck hardware much less viable. That is definitely a risk as seen with games like Delta Force.
But if the trend continues, they'll have to support a wide range of hardware and distros.
Let's keep climbing.
4 Likes
I'm surprised in general that Linux Mint is ahead of Debian (testing / unstable).
1 Likes
GustyGhost 5 hours ago
Literally what I rejoined Steam for. Glad I could be part of the big 3.00% percent push.
2 Likes
Kimyrielle 4 hours ago
I'm surprised in general that Linux Mint is ahead of Debian (testing / unstable)
Mint user here. I think that's because for gaming, Mint is a great compromise. Debian's ultimate focus is stability, which makes it a fantastic choice for servers, but in gaming, you often want components that aren't quite that old. It still doesn't randomly break your stuff, unlike rolling release distros.
1 Likes
I'm surprised in general that Linux Mint is ahead of Debian (testing / unstable)I would be surprised if something that is explicitly unstable was significantly popular. Iirc every more or less official Debian related place tells you not to use those unless you really know what you're doing in a way that makes Arch or Fedora much more appealing if you want fresh packages
1 Likes
Valve needs to drop the GabeCube2. If you could buy the GC2 in the brick and mortar stores, especially now with the Windows debacle going on currently. It's a good time for Valve to grab some easy market share.
1 Likes
Mint user here. I think that's because for gaming, Mint is a great compromise. Debian's ultimate focus is stability, which makes it a fantastic choice for servers, but in gaming, you often want components that aren't quite that old. It still doesn't randomly break your stuff, unlike rolling release distros
That's why I said Debian testing / unstable, not Debian stable. Such kind of approach (whether in Mint or Debian stable itself) can cause problems too unless people understand its limitations.
I periodically see a bunch of people complaining that their hardware doesn't work, which ends up being them using Mint which doesn't ship recent kernel and Mesa.
Rolling flavors of Debian are a better fit in my opinion.
Also, I think KDE is a better fit for modern gaming features, due to Cinnamon being way slower in supporting Wayland. Having focus on its own DE and not keeping up with the times is a downside for Mint. Even Ubuntu stopped its own DE efforts for that reason.
irc every more or less official Debian related place tells you not to use those unless you really know what you're doing
You should know what you are doing no matter what you are using. That's my experience. I'd say Debian testing/unstable isn't any worse than a bunch of other rolling distros, like Arch or what not. If anything, it's more stable than Arch. Those who say not to use it are doing a disservice.
Last edited by Shmerl on 2 Nov 2025 at 5:05 pm UTC
0 Likes
Kimyrielle 3 hours ago
That's why I said Debian testing / unstable, not Debian stable.
My bad! :)
Mint which doesn't ship recent kernel
The version numbers might seem dated, by mind that Ubuntu based distros maintain these kernels for a longer time and backport newer features.
Also, I think KDE is a better fit for modern gaming features
I love KDE Plasma, really. Only reason why I didn't switch is because Cinnamon is "good enough" for the time being, and my requirements of DE features aren't all that high. Wayland is not required in any shape or fashion for gaming as of today. I'd notice if it were (still not using it). ;)
it's more stable than Arch
Anything is. ;)
0 Likes
https://files.catbox.moe/nogivi.png [External Link]
2 Likes
Linux_Rocks 3 hours ago
🥳🍾🐧💾
2 Likes
I'm surprised CachyOS and even Arch(?!) actually scores higher than Bazzite! You'd think that Bazzite being more user-friendly would score higher... seems like Linux gamers are more tech-savvy than I thought!
0 Likes
From what I gathered Bazzite is a very specific distro, it's not general purpose. So I'm not surprised it's more niche than general purpose Arch.
Not everyone uses computers only for gaming, I'd imagine majority actually uses them for everything, and gaming is just one use case among many.
Last edited by Shmerl on 2 Nov 2025 at 8:40 pm UTC
Not everyone uses computers only for gaming, I'd imagine majority actually uses them for everything, and gaming is just one use case among many.
Last edited by Shmerl on 2 Nov 2025 at 8:40 pm UTC
0 Likes
How to setup OpenMW for modern Morrowind on Linux / SteamOS and Steam Deck
How to install Hollow Knight: Silksong mods on Linux, SteamOS and Steam Deck