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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.
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Beta Version 14 hours ago
I'm surprised in general that Linux Mint is ahead of Debian (testing / unstable).Not surprising. Mint is better suited for new Linux users. Maybe some Mint users will switch to Debian later (like I did).
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.If you want it, install it. I'm on Debian with Mesa 25.2.6 and Kernel 6.17.6.
Last edited by Beta Version on 3 Nov 2025 at 12:39 am UTC
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Personally I recommend new users to start with Debian (rolling flavor) right away.
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@Shmerl
@Shmerl
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.Maybe I’m an outlier, but the DE is a large part of why I choose a distro in the first place. I left Ubuntu when they adopted Unity instead of Gnome, and if Mint dropped Cinnamon I would probably go distro-hopping again. I often see Mint + Cinnamon recommended specifically because it feels familiar to Windows users, and IMO that’s a major advantage when we’re talking about new users who just want a computer that works. Every time I use XFCE on an obsolete device because I need something lightweight, I get pissed at everything having different names and being managed by different programs/menus than I expect.
@Shmerl
My point is that I find it a bit counter productive to recommend such distros for newcomers from Windows, since it results in them having problems.Well, that depends. I imagine a lot of people switching from Windows are doing so precisely because they don’t want to renew their hardware just yet. For those, the odds of the kernel not supporting gear they’ve had for some time are significantly lower. (Then again, screen dimming has never worked on my laptop under Linux and probably never will, so who knows.) For REAL GAMERS who upgrade every year, yeah, that would be a concern.
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Beta Version 13 hours ago
Or simply recent enough, say latest generation of AMD GPUs that have minimum requirements that distros like Mint often don't supply by default. My point is that I find it a bit counter productive to recommend such distros for newcomers from Windows, since it results in them having problems.The RX 9000 series doesn't have a big enough market share to take this into account. And even if the user has a 9000 series GPU, just tell them how to update the kernel and drivers using the PPAs (it's a basic feature of Ubuntu-based ditros, you know). It's easier than downloading and installing drivers on Windows and it's something what any user should know anyway. I personally don't recommend Mint to users with the RX 9000 series (until 6.16 kernel and 25.2 Mesa will be pushed to Mint by default) and I'd rather recommend PikaOS, but most AMD users are on 500/5000/6000/7000 series anyway, so Mint is not a problem. And there is no Linux distro that is perfect for EVERY user anyway.
Last edited by Beta Version on 3 Nov 2025 at 1:24 am UTC
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amiablechief 13 hours ago
Certainly helps if more and more popular games (like Arc Raiders) embrace and allow playing with anti-chat on Linux.
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TheRiddick 12 hours ago
I think game-pass also loosing its value has contributed.
They have increased prices, changed tier value, and removed games that would use to qualify in the basic tier.
Kind of reminds me of moviepass situation, good at start, but by the end it was a bit meh.
They have increased prices, changed tier value, and removed games that would use to qualify in the basic tier.
Kind of reminds me of moviepass situation, good at start, but by the end it was a bit meh.
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Schmerl you turned the positive news inexplicably into a case against Linux Mint.
A Linux Mint vs Debian Testing/Unstable debate is aimless.
Linux Mint is based on the LTS model, is a good all-around desktop distro, is not a "gaming" distro par excellence but among stable and LTS offerings is a good contender even for that.
Debian Testing/Unstable should be discussed in the context of the "real" rolling, cutting-edge distros that target gaming.
Nobara, Bazzite, CachyOS and other. You should be wondering why Linux gamers use these distros instead of Debian Testing/Unstable...
A Linux Mint vs Debian Testing/Unstable debate is aimless.
Linux Mint is based on the LTS model, is a good all-around desktop distro, is not a "gaming" distro par excellence but among stable and LTS offerings is a good contender even for that.
Debian Testing/Unstable should be discussed in the context of the "real" rolling, cutting-edge distros that target gaming.
Nobara, Bazzite, CachyOS and other. You should be wondering why Linux gamers use these distros instead of Debian Testing/Unstable...
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So at current pace it looks like 4% in a bit less than 2 years, maybe 5% in 3 years and a bit. But, a bit of acceleration is looking quite possible. In a world where I'm pessimistic about a whole lot of stuff, Linux progress is a welcome spot of optimism. Let's go!
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a case against Linux Mint.
Not so much Mint, as the LTS (more exactly long term fixed release) model you mention. I see it as a bad fit for gaming in general, yes. Mint just has additional issues due to its DE not having timely Wayland support as I mentioned above, which I think is more important for gaming than it might appear.
So yes, I recommend rolling distros for gaming as having better overall benefits than fixed releases distros. Plus the distro should have modern and sufficient Wayland support.
We are talking about recommendations anyway. No one stops anyone from using any distro they want.
Nobara, Bazzite, CachyOS and other. You should be wondering why Linux gamers use these distros instead of Debian Testing/Unstable...
Hype. Same reason many used Ubuntu vs Debian in the first place. I don't personally see a point in hype distros. If you want more rolling than Debian rolling flavors, regular Arch will do. CachyOS is especially problematic to recommend to newcomers due to them having a tendency to use all kind of non upstream and experimental / unreleased stuff out of the box. It results in such newcomers being unable to report bugs upstream and a ton of related confusion.
Bazzite is a special case, as I mentioned above, it's not really in the same category as the rest since it's an immutable distro. It's more suitable as an alternative to something like SteamOS for console like set ups.
Last edited by Shmerl on 3 Nov 2025 at 6:04 am UTC
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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.
@Shmerl: I think you missed the bit where this was a Steam survey - and Steam is primarily used by gamers, so unfortunately your argument isn't relevant here.
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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.
@Shmerl: I think you missed the bit where this was a Steam survey - and Steam is primarily used by gamers, so unfortunately your argument isn't relevant here.
I'm using Steam and I'm using my (Linux) PC for many other things, and I bet that's the case for most of us. So yes, I think their point is valid.
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I'm using Steam and I'm using my (Linux) PC for many other things, and I bet that's the case for most of us. So yes, I think their point is valid.
No it's not, because Bazzite is far more newbie friendly than Arch/CachyOS, and can be used for pretty much everything besides gaming (unless you're into running custom kernels and messing around the system internals, but those would be niche use cases). In fact I've got Bazzite installed on my WFH/productivity laptop not for gaming but exactly because it gets out of the way and it "just works". What I want first and foremost from a productivity machine, is something that I can count on to always work, and that's why I chose an immutable distro like Bazzite.
With the Windows 10 EoL and the flood of newbie users switching to Linux, it's only logical to assume users would prefer to go for a reliable, newbie-friendly distro like Bazzite, instead of Arch and CachyOS which are catered to the more tech-savvy/geeky users. So it's surprising to see Arch and CachyOS report higher figures than Bazzite.
Last edited by d3Xt3r on 3 Nov 2025 at 9:48 am UTC
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Peripheral and hardware manufacturers will take notice and start supporting Linux as the rule rather than the exception, you'll be really able to buy stuff and just expect it to work.
Exactly!
And when that finally happens, more users will start using Linux
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This is cool. I'm glad more and more people are starting to give Linux a chance. The more people that use Linux, the better. As it allows funding towards open source programs to flourish more.
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StalePopcorn 4 hours ago
Yes! Yes! Yesssssss! Bwahahahahahaaa! Freedom for everyone!
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I hope many new users will appreciate the freedom to be the admin on their own systems again. Instead of giving away everything to Microsoft in exchange for some extra convenience. 
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Any ideas why SteamOS is at 27% while Custom GPU 0405 is at 14%?
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@bara there's 2 Steam Deck models, 0405 is the LCD and the OLED has a different codename. I believe AMD Radeon Graphics (RADV VANGOGH)
12.64% is the OLED
12.64% is the OLED
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robertosf92 2 hours ago
Let's see if the trend continues and hopefully some day we can get rid of winbugs
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