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The developer of the game 'Steam Marines' [Official Site, Steam] has been talking about sales of the game, and Linux represented 2% of the total.

Here's a reminder on what the game is:

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It's worth noting that Mac only hit 3%, considering their marketshare on Steam is a lot higher than ours, that's surprising.

Steam Marines 1 lifetime sales are (approximately) 3% Mac and 2% Linux.

So. It's generally not profitable for me to support them.

— Steamed Buns Bums (@Worthless_Bums) November 8, 2016


The developer did say that they will continue to support us, even if it's not financially sound for them to do so. That alone should be applauded.

The developer also noted that Linux users didn't generally need much help:

Linux users almost never contact me for tech support. And the 95% of Windows users represent less than 50% of my tech support issues.

— Steamed Buns Bums (@Worthless_Bums) November 8, 2016


One Tweet in particular caught my attention:

95% of the sales came from Windows users. This was despite Linux users arguing that lots would buy if a Linux version was made available.

— Steamed Buns Bums (@Worthless_Bums) November 8, 2016


I've said it before, and I will say it again, don't bug developers for a Linux version if you aren't personally interested and plan to buy it. It can create situations like this, but it's also worth noting that the developer may have overestimated how much they would make from Linux.

Linux only represents currently 0.89% of the Steam user-base, so 2% of your overall sales to have come from Linux is actually quite healthy. To me, that says the developer expected a little too much. That 2% figure is more than other developers have seen.

It's also worth noting that Steam Marines came to Linux around a year after the original Windows release. Games that don't get a day-1 Linux release often tend to see lower Linux sales as a result of many factors. The first being that Windows obviously had around a year extra to bring in sales, Linux as mentioned above is a smaller market, dual-booters often become impatient and buy a Windows copy, some people use Wine and so on. A day-1 Linux release is generally a must-do if you want to see good sales and support from Linux gamers.

Still, it's great to see developers speaking about this in the open and if you like the look of Steam Marines go pick up a copy and support an indie developer.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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psycho_driver Nov 9, 2016
I think I got this in a bundle, so I probably didn't even count as a linux sale :\

He sounds a little sore that "linux users claimed a bunch of people would buy it if I ported it" -- 2,000 is a good chunk of people. I doubt if that game had a "linux version?" forum thread with 2,000 +1's in it.
Colombo Nov 9, 2016
QuoteHate to have to say that but paying for a product nowadays is in no way helping you getting support.
Yeah. Never had a good experience with IT/software support. They usually told me to try different computer. Like I am buying a new computer $1000 for $20 game that I owe for half a year and it broke after update.
-Daniel-Palacio- Nov 9, 2016
WorthlessBums, thank you for all your clarifications. From time to time some people complain about the lack of transparency behind some of the developers' decisions, and seeing you here taking the time to address every single comment is something really remarkable. Besides, all the information you provide helps to bring some light about the main and current problems we have to address to finally become an accessible and profitable platform for game developers.

On a related note, by reading all the comments I had an idea (that I'll post here so that you can Like it if you agree): what about giving these communicative developers a special badge, like the "GOL Supporter" and the "Contributing Editor" ones? Not only it would be a gesture of respect for caring about our community, but also it would be easier to find the developers' responses among the huge number of comments in articles like this. It would only take a single mail to verify the identity and that should be enough.
Eike Nov 9, 2016
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Quoting: liamdaweI don't agree with the argument that Linux having less games, means each game will have more sales. We are still normal people with limited incomes, so we won't buy literally everything, we still have to pick and choose what games we are interested in to pick up. Just having less options, doesn't mean we are likely to buy more, it just means we have less to choose from (and in certain genres like this, we have tons), I don't see it any other way.

But the logic is correct. It's not like we buy more games, but it's more likely we buy game X.
Imagine everybody buys 2 games. There's 10 games for Windows and 4 for Linux. Distribution between games is even. Then every game get's 0.2 sells per Windows user in average, but 0.5 sells per Linux user in average. Let there be 1000 Windows users and 10 Linux (1%), each game available for both platforms sells 200 Windows copies and 5 Linux copies - not 2, as to be expected by the OS share.
Eike Nov 9, 2016
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Quoting: WorthlessBumsI admit I am curious if Linux builds would do better if launched on day one

There are reasons to think so. Whatever publicity your game gets, it gets it around release, not half a year later. A game doesn't even show up in the recent releases for Linux on Steam if the Windows release is older. (Something they should fix.)


Last edited by Eike on 9 November 2016 at 8:06 am UTC
Colombo Nov 9, 2016
Quoting: Eike
Quoting: liamdaweI don't agree with the argument that Linux having less games, means each game will have more sales. We are still normal people with limited incomes, so we won't buy literally everything, we still have to pick and choose what games we are interested in to pick up. Just having less options, doesn't mean we are likely to buy more, it just means we have less to choose from (and in certain genres like this, we have tons), I don't see it any other way.

But the logic is correct. It's not like we buy more games, but it's more likely we buy game X.
Imagine everybody buys 2 games. There's 10 games for Windows and 4 for Linux. Distribution between games is even. Then every game get's 0.2 sells per Windows user in average, but 0.5 sells per Linux user in average. Let there be 1000 Windows users and 10 Linux (1%), each game available for both platforms sells 200 Windows copies and 5 Linux copies - not 2, as to be expected by the OS share.

Or you might not buy anything and invest your money somewhere else, like go to cinema.

This is not closed competition between games themselves, they must compete next to other form of entertainment as well. I don't have 50$ budget for half year to spend on games and only games, so I would have to divide it amongst existing games.
mayo Nov 9, 2016
Hey guys,

im the new one that is reading comments and articles about a year or so.

b2t:

i think its cool when somebody supports a plattform that isnt exactly a cash cow. But to be honest that game is not my cup of tea or coffee. and i think a lot of players will think the same. then again the game isnt exactly cheap. for 20€ i can go and grap the f1 2015 for steam at our local shops. thats an triple aaa title from the last generation vs and indie title.
mayo Nov 9, 2016
Quoting: WorthlessBumsI admit I am curious if Linux builds would do better if launched on day one

i think so BUT i dont think it would be huge difference. i for myself never believed in a Deus Ex: Mankind divided Linux Version. So i picked up a Windows Version. Yes i love linux but my main rig has windows and linux on it. I need a few Adobe Tools and as long as they dont be ported i cant switch... so thats why my steamlibary fills from time to time with a windows only game. Same happened to me with Alien and Grid: Autosport.

So i have a bad conscience because feral ported the games to my favorite os. But i supported a lot of games with a linux buy as a excuse. :D
Sgt.Romeo9 Nov 9, 2016
The biggest issue with this is the fact that Linux users are almost always not 100% Linux users. Even if you don't dual boot. For example for a very long time I almost always bought my games on Steam or GOG or Humble on a Windows work laptop my work gave me, and since it was just always there when I saw a sale or bundle. I used it purely for the convenience of it.

Now I generally only buy Linux supported games and play them on my Linux machine, however those sales more than likely counted as a sale for Windows not Linux.

Now this is only my scenario however I'm sure there are tons of these scenarios where Linux sales get counted as Windows sales, and these types of developers need to realise this.
Eike Nov 9, 2016
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Quoting: Colombo
Quoting: EikeBut the logic is correct. It's not like we buy more games, but it's more likely we buy game X.
Imagine everybody buys 2 games. There's 10 games for Windows and 4 for Linux. Distribution between games is even. Then every game get's 0.2 sells per Windows user in average, but 0.5 sells per Linux user in average. Let there be 1000 Windows users and 10 Linux (1%), each game available for both platforms sells 200 Windows copies and 5 Linux copies - not 2, as to be expected by the OS share.

Or you might not buy anything and invest your money somewhere else, like go to cinema.

This is not closed competition between games themselves, they must compete next to other form of entertainment as well. I don't have 50$ budget for half year to spend on games and only games, so I would have to divide it amongst existing games.

Of course, there's a thousand other variables and unknowns. But when you take just these two, OS share on Steam and Linux game share on Steam, the expected result of sales is higher than the OS share due to less choice for Linux gamers.
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