Linux smashes past 5% on the Steam Survey for the first time

Quoting: Linuxwarper

Quoting: CaldathrasVery much so. And it's hard to find Windows equivalents of these tools that work just as well as the Linux-based ones. I'm thinking of Mangohud in particular.

There is someone developing a RadeonChill like feature called MangoChill: https://farnoy.dev/posts/mangochill. It seems promising.

Fascinating (and a highly technical read) but that's really the opposite of what I was talking about. My statement was that, these days, it seems like the Linux tools are better than the Windows tools, with features and compatibility you simply don't see in the their Windows counterparts.

Quoting: Linuxwarper[...] and look like yet another walled garden/corporate platform like Android and Windows.

That will never happen. I'm not naive enough to think "people that switch will all value free software". But Linux is already "owned" by big tech companies. Google is one of the biggest contributors to kernel, Canonical is also contributing a majority to Debian while the company has the reputation of "Microsoft of the Linux world" (at least what some people write about), but all the community projects as Debian, Arch and so on will not be destroyed, because otherwise the companies lose their own benefits in such a case.

But I am also aware that it is not a "no risk" thing. Let's face the mesa drivers for example and that they start to accept AI-written patches, which is at least an licensing issue in my opinion (if not more). AMD employees pushing AI code for example while other AMD employees assigning the change (looked into the commits myself). I see the potential issues, but I also see that it is not easy to take over a project while all other companies complaining without doing something against.

You are totally right about teaching people what free software actually is and why it matters. But I also think once they get Linux in their hand, seeing the positive differences and understand that they can communicate with developers just on forums or chats, they start to realize the benefits. Not everyone needs to know it, but as more as better. Personally I do a lot about it, even without Linux in particular, just speaking about free software or supporting it on the one way or another. Same for open hardware. My hope is a little bit: as more restrictive Big-Tech tech becomes and as more shiny free software and open hardware, as more people realize the benefits. It is much more effective than just talking to them (otherwise they understand it partly and do not care much about as long as their things keep running).

Quoting: whizseYou're a bit off, Proton was released in 2018.

Indeed😂 Anyways the point I made becomes more valid with Proton not have been released. I got confused with years because Valve mentioned that development started as early as late 2015, even though it was released to public in 2018.

Quoting: CaldathrasFascinating (and a highly technical read) but that's really the opposite of what I was talking about. My statement was that, these days, it seems like the Linux tools are better than the Windows tools, with features and compatibility you simply don't see in the their Windows counterparts.

It seems only logical for Linux tools to become better. If you take 1000 developers and spread them across three APIs or software projects (Metal, D3D12 and PS5 API) or unite the 1000 on a single one (e.g Vulkan) - it's obvious to me that Vulkan would likely be better if not by alot. Unless of course there is some super genius coders among the ecosystems of each of the three API projects.

Quoting: whizseThat will never happen. I'm not naive enough to think "people that switch will all value free software"

They are probably less likely to if people dont enlighten them about it. As a simple example, many distros have "Welcome to X Distro" program - a part about free spirit of Linux would be nice. Whether it be effective or not is not the point, the point is that 100% users wont understand or/and realize the importance of free software if they aren't informed of it. What will happen is that they may go many years, if they are youngsters, and learn from experience that they care about free software. Where as ideally you would want users to see value in FOSS/free software from first month of using Linux.

Quoting: whizseBut Linux is already "owned" by big tech companies. Google is one of the biggest contributors to kernel, Canonical is also contributing a majority to Debian while the company has the reputation of "Microsoft of the Linux world" (at least what some people write about), but all the community projects as Debian, Arch and so on will not be destroyed, because otherwise the companies lose their own benefits in such a case.

Yes. And that "ownership" can go down a worse path once user base grows. When Linux had 1% Steam market share it was insignificant and not worth paying attention to but at 10%-50% (France is adopting Linux for government), there will be more incentive to get involved and influence Linux ecosystem. Regardless of the actors being greedy and corrupt or benevolent free spirited companies. It may be difficult and take a long time but I am positive with growing popularity there will be (more) attempts at hijacking and controlling Linux projects and ecosystem. And I repeat what I said, forking a project does not bring with it the developers who revolve around the project.

Quoting: whizseBut I am also aware that it is not a "no risk" thing. Let's face the mesa drivers for example and that they start to accept AI-written patches, which is at least an licensing issue in my opinion (if not more). AMD employees pushing AI code for example while other AMD employees assigning the change (looked into the commits myself). I see the potential issues, but I also see that it is not easy to take over a project while all other companies complaining without doing something against.

Yes, but these companies interests sometimes align. Take Entertainment Software Association, games, they all would LOVE TO normalize 70$ pricing. And after 70$ they would love to normalize 80$. So these companies who rely on Linux may all see benefit for them all in something bad, e.g data logging (just as a pure example). They will then be able to use their collective influence to more easily get said thing injected into Linux kernel or whatever major project it is.

Quoting: whizseYou are totally right about teaching people what free software actually is and why it matters. But I also think once they get Linux in their hand, seeing the positive differences and understand that they can communicate with developers just on forums or chats, they start to realize the benefits. Not everyone needs to know it, but as more as better. Personally I do a lot about it, even without Linux in particular, just speaking about free software or supporting it on the one way or another. Same for open hardware. My hope is a little bit: as more restrictive Big-Tech tech becomes and as more shiny free software and open hardware, as more people realize the benefits. It is much more effective than just talking to them (otherwise they understand it partly and do not care much about as long as their things keep running).

I think a friendly prompt of "This is what makes Linux great! - Click here to read", or something similar, can't hurt. I dont think we should annoy anyone but enlightenment and informing others is something I believe will help in making users more resilient and aware of harmful practices and tactics and what it can lead to.

Last edited by Linuxwarper on 11 Apr 2026 at 8:43 pm UTC

Quoting: PlayingOnLinuxphone

Quoting: CatKillerThe way I interpret the data is something like this:

You forgot 2025, the year of Linux and Proton.

Proton released in 2018. I haven't forgotten.

Nothing has fundamentally changed about Linux gaming since then - there have been incremental improvements, sure.

But the perception of Linux gaming sure has changed a ton with the coverage of Valve's high-profile Linux gaming demonstration device. So people are more willing to try it. Hence the growth.

Quoting: LinuxwarperYes, but these companies interests sometimes align. Take Entertainment Software Association, games, they all would LOVE TO normalize 70$ pricing. And after 70$ they would love to normalize 80$. So these companies who rely on Linux may all see benefit for them all in something bad, e.g data logging (just as a pure example). They will then be able to use their collective influence to more easily get said thing injected into Linux kernel or whatever major project it is.

First of all, please fix your quotations. The wrong name is quoted.

And what I tried to say was more like these companies are users by themselves. For example Debian. What do you think happens when companies try to enshittificate it? Other companies that rely on it (because great server software) would stop it. Arch on the other hand is so deep in control of the community, I don't think there is a high risk. Ubuntu, POP!OS and Fedora? Another story. To destroy Linux you need to attack more central infrastructure and that is not easy. Attacking Mesa would be a huge issue, but if hardware works not great any longer, other companies would also complain about it. At least it is much harder than destroying Windows, Mac, iOS or Android.

Quoting: CatKillerNothing has fundamentally changed about Linux gaming since then - there have been incremental improvements, sure.

That is half right and half wrong. Linux itself just improved, nothing fundamental new. That is correct. But the society started to fundamentally change and that is the core point. That many people switched to Linux shortly before W10 EOL and all the months after is a direct result of the society change in 2025 (which is the result of all what you wrote).

Let's explain it in another way: what would have been if 2025 would just be a year as every other one? Nobody outside the Linux bubble is speaking about Linux beside Steam Deck. Linux would just die again over time, because Steam Deck is no topic any longer at some point. Some people may switched and that's it. The few people still switching would not make a huge difference.
But all the things happened in 2025 (nothing fundamental new, but all together seen) made Linux a topic to speak about. Even my dad who was never interested in Linux told me he wants to try it (I did not even ask). That is the core of 2025. It is not just the speech itself, what I value here. It broke through a wall that cannot be closed again. Even if Windows 11 becomes "fixed", they cannot return the time and people know about Linux now and a lot of them are still interested to at least try it out.

Quoting: PlayingOnLinuxphone

Quoting: CatKillerNothing has fundamentally changed about Linux gaming since then - there have been incremental improvements, sure.

That is half right and half wrong. Linux itself just improved, nothing fundamental new. That is correct. But the society started to fundamentally change and that is the core point. That many people switched to Linux shortly before W10 EOL and all the months after is a direct result of the society change in 2025 (which is the result of all what you wrote).

Let's explain it in another way: what would have been if 2025 would just be a year as every other one? Nobody outside the Linux bubble is speaking about Linux beside Steam Deck. Linux would just die again over time, because Steam Deck is no topic any longer at some point. Some people may switched and that's it. The few people still switching would not make a huge difference.
But all the things happened in 2025 (nothing fundamental new, but all together seen) made Linux a topic to speak about. Even my dad who was never interested in Linux told me he wants to try it (I did not even ask). That is the core of 2025. It is not just the speech itself, what I value here. It broke through a wall that cannot be closed again. Even if Windows 11 becomes "fixed", they cannot return the time and people know about Linux now and a lot of them are still interested to at least try it out.

That is also my point. To quote myself from earlier in the thread:

Quoting: CatKillerThere's been such a difference in the conversation about Linux gaming from the gaming press, YouTubers, and general tech people since Valve released their high-profile Linux gaming demonstration device. Even if you've never held a Deck in your hands you know that Linux gaming is awesome - something that we've known for ages, but the wider population needed to be shown.

I agree with you that things have changed - to borrow gradyvuckovic's metaphor, the snowball is gaining momentum now. If Windows were marginally less terrible, that change would still be happening. You can see it in the data. There are certainly some people that are contemplating switching now because of the change in mood about Linux gaming that potentially wouldn't be if Windows were more comfortable for them than it is - I don't doubt that Microsoft's choices are an amplifier for Linux gaming growth. But Windows has always been pretty bad, and we didn't have that growth before the mainstream conversation changed.

I'm glad you decided to join us in 2025, though.

Quoting: CatKillerI'm glad you decided to join us in 2025, though.

😊 Oh my story is actually going back to 2015 trying Linux via dual boot. My story is little bit more complex than just calling a year. The actual decision was made in 2019 and had not even anything to do with Proton. I am just super lucky that my plan was starting in parallel with all these improvements. 2025 was indeed my final step, but I was already using Linux on daily basis on my phone.

Quoting: PlayingOnLinuxphoneBut Linux is already "owned" by big tech companies. Google is one of the biggest contributors to kernel, Canonical is also contributing a majority to Debian while the company has the reputation of "Microsoft of the Linux world" (at least what some people write about),

You forgot Red Hat (IBM), Oracle Corporation and, technically, even System76 and Tuxedo Computers ...

😃