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Valve have put out another of their monthly Steam Hardware & Software Survey and it puts the Linux market share figure on Steam at 0.52%. In comparison the month before was at 0.57%.

I said before, I won't write about this every month, so I wanted to touch on it again today. To get this out the way first, as a reminder we're tracking the Linux share on Steam on a dedicated page right here. Obviously, it doesn't paint a very positive picture when you simply take the percentages at face value—which you simply shouldn't do.

However, this leads me onto an important point, Valve recently did a presentation where they showed quite a large amount of overall growth:


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Nearly 4 million first-time users each month, actually buying something on Steam. Their figures always blow me away, it's just an insane amount of people we're talking about overall here. This seems to be a constant too, every time Valve talk about it, they've grown tremendously.

Considering the constant growth rate of Steam, especially in markets where the primary language is Chinese, it's not surprising the Linux overall share drops. Valve's own survey shows that for Linux users, Simplified Chinese as a language option only makes up 0.95%, so when you think about how Steam is growing and in markets where it seems Linux isn't popular, it will bring down our overall market share. This is shown pretty clearly on our dedicated page, where you can pretty easily see the correlation between the Linux share dropping as the overall share of Simplified Chinese across the whole of Steam rises. 

Taking all that into account, while the Linux market share on Steam has dropped, we're always talking about a percentage based on an overall number that's constantly growing. I would imagine the overall number of Linux users has increased, but to know that for sure we would need Valve to be more forthcoming about their total active users more regularly.

There's still a lot of ways Linux gaming needs to improve of course. It seems pulling in users from Asia would probably help quite a lot, but for that we need the heavy-hitting titles they seem to love like PUBG. Virtual Reality is one of the big ones right now, which Valve have been investing in getting it to work well on Linux, so eventually that side of things should improve.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Editorial, Steam
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61 comments
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tonR Jul 5, 2018
Quoting: TheSHEEEPFully irrelevant.
This is about internet usage. If I was purely interested in internet usage, I also wouldn't bother to buy a PC.
It makes absolute sense that some of those who were primarily using their PC for things easily done on mobile nowadays switch to mobile.

But we're talking about gaming here.
If you can afford a proper big screen and a PC to go with it, you won't buy a tiny-screened mobile device for the purpose of gaming.
Depending on your needs, you'll go for a PC or subsidized PC with questionable input (aka console).
Totally disagree. Internet usage is prove where did people (in this case/report Malaysians and foreigners live in Malaysia) spending their time on to computing.

Look closely on rising internet usage of smart TV/Kodi box. Steve Jobs was partially right. Right now, most people considered PC as 'a truck'. Kodi box/smart TV are 'lightweight truck' that fullfilled most average people computing needs.

Not everyone need an full size desktop to most things that you can do it on smartphones, including gaming. PC gaming was started on decline especially post-Android where affordable, powerful and Chinese-branded smartphone flooding on market. Only PC gaming enthusiasts now staying on PC platform. Post-PC especially PC gaming booming right now won't last long. Well, it's not a bubble but saturated market cannot growing anymore.

And....., It's not coincidence with report on mobile gaming will hitting nearly $70 million of US$140 million this year Gameindustry.biz article

EDIT: $70 million, $140 Million are total global market. 50% mobile, 25% console, 24% PC.
(Note to self: Do not write comments on wee morning)

If I'm game developer, I know where's best futureproof platform to publish my games on (and making money). And do not underestimate ARM chipset power and portability of smartphone. People nowadays are always on the move for example, you have to go 'out-station work' away from home for 2-5 days. People do not give a damn on how small their screen as long they can 'gaming' on anywhere without a problem. That's a fact.

If you disagree then better for us to agree to disagree. I'm not looking for argument. Just to state the fact and reality about our future, mobile devices/smartphones. Microsoft looking to unite all their systems (Windows, XBox, W10 Mobile/ARM etc) on single ecosystem (read walled garden). Apple already 1/2 step closer.

Again, not looking for argument. Better we agree to disagree. Let the time tells if we are right or wrong.


Last edited by tonR on 6 July 2018 at 11:08 am UTC
Liam Dawe Jul 6, 2018
Remember to keep it cool and calm :)
TheSHEEEP Jul 6, 2018
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Quoting: tonRNot everyone need an full size desktop to most things that you can do it on smartphones, including gaming.
Really?
So I can just take my smartphone and play Europa Universalis IV? Oh wait, I can't, it couldn't handle the demands and I wouldn't be able to see a thing.
Well, then I could surely play some Spellforce 3 on it! Oh, seems like I can't. Because there is no physical way all that information could fit into one tiny screen without causing eye damage.
What strategy games can be played on mobile are some very simplistic or turn-based ones.
Okay, so maybe no complex strategy games that would require much information on the screen at the same time. What about shooters, then?!
Surely I can play Fortnite or PUBG and compete with PC gamers. Ooops, can't do that, not in solo at least - because the inferior input and smaller screen would put me at a serious disadvantage.
Well, what about games like the new Doom, then, or Shadow Warrior (the 2013/16 ones)? No? Well, damn...
What shooters can be played on mobile are rail shooters or simplified shooters with aim assist. Well, once I'm old and senile, I might be interested in that...

I could go on like this for weeks, but the point is:
You can not just play everything on mobile that you can on PC (and vice versa, though PC is way less limited). It is simply impossible.

Quoting: tonROnly PC gaming enthusiasts now staying on PC platform. Post-PC especially PC gaming booming right now won't last long. Well, it's not a bubble but saturated market cannot growing anymore.
It doesn't have to be growing like crazy, it just has to stay big enough for everyone who's interested to afford producing worthwhile games and hardware.
All the casuals leaving to mobile will only improve the games on PC, or at least thin the herd of terrible games.

Quoting: tonRIf I'm game developer, I know where's best futureproof platform to publish my games on (and making money).
If the only thing you as a game developer would be interested in is making money, then you would have lost your soul and nothing worthwhile would ever come of your work.
Just look at EA. One terrible game after another, with just enough gameplay to keep the mass of casuals hooked.
Not a single great game among them. Number of units sold is simply not connected to quality.

Quoting: tonRPeople do not give a damn on how small their screen as long they can 'gaming' on anywhere without a problem. That's a fact.
People who game just as a matter of passing the time don't give a damn about the screen size, that's for sure.
Just look at this:
https://www.statista.com/statistics/690150/leading-mobile-games-google-play-world-revenue/
Every single one of them a "game" that lives only by providing the most primal of reward mechanisms without any challenge to the player whatsoever.
Just some colourful effects, bling-bling and the illusion of challenge as you need to touch somewhere every now and then. Every PC gamer would fall asleep in less than five minutes.
This might be the future of "passing time", but it sure isn't the future of gaming as a serious hobby and activity. There is no challenge in those games, no world to get immersed in, nothing to learn, nothing to grow with.

I am sorry, but you just sound like those people in the West when the smartphone boom started there 15 years ago.
Or when consoles became a thing.
"PC gaming is dead, consoles/smartphones/whatever are the future!" Bla, bla, bla...
And here we are, 15 years later (which is an eternity in tech time), with more PC games releasing than ever and more of them being sold than ever.
Eh, PC gaming is doing great and will keep on doing so. I couldn't care less how much more well mobile does - it simply doesn't matter.

Quoting: tonRMicrosoft looking to unite all their systems (Windows, XBox, W10 Mobile/ARM etc) on single ecosystem (read walled garden). Apple already 1/2 step closer.
That would surely be wonderful - a common platform for everything, removing the need of ports for the most part -, but I don't see that happening soon.

Don't get me wrong, I do expect that all kind of PC/console/mobile will eventually unify into one thing that can fulfill all purposes. But that probably won't happen in my lifetime (which is hopefully at least 40-50 years still).


Last edited by TheSHEEEP on 6 July 2018 at 12:52 pm UTC
tonR Jul 6, 2018
Well, I'm agreed to partially agree/disagree with some of your opinions except two statement below.

Quoting: TheSHEEEP1. I am sorry, but you just sound like those people in the West when the smartphone boom started there 15 years ago.
Or when consoles became a thing.

2."PC gaming is dead, consoles/smartphones/whatever are the future!" Bla, bla, bla...
And here we are, 15 years later (which is an eternity in tech time), with more PC games releasing than ever and more of them being sold than ever.
Eh, PC gaming is doing great and will keep on doing so. I couldn't care less how much more well mobile does - it simply doesn't matter.
1. I am genuine believe that mobile devices/smartphone will continue to growth and not saturated yet because....
- portability, most smartphone not lightweight (nearly 200 gram) but it's definitely lighter than laptop.
- performance, some smartphone can outperform laptop that comes with.....
- price, ..... sometimes much cheaper price than laptop.
- tech, new battery tech, folding screen, physical keyboard comeback for some models, etc.
So, smartphones are just enough for most average people computing needs. But for gaming segment (including Linux gaming), I'm kinda have mixed opinion. That's why I partially agree and disagree with your opinion.

2. Yes, PC gaming currently doing excellently. I've never denied that. I'm never said PC gaming is dead.
I'm saying that PC market in general is saturated. Not oversaturated but it is hard for a new player (manufacturer) entering the market with many established brands already conquered PC segment for years. Even established one like IBM ran away years ago.

Again, let's we agree to partially agree/disagree. And again, Let the time again decide. I'm rest my case.

Quoting: liamdaweRemember to keep it cool and calm :)
Please don't lock this thread Liam. Pleaseee.... :(

EDIT: Spelling and grammar corrections.


Last edited by tonR on 6 July 2018 at 1:42 pm UTC
Sudo_halt Jul 7, 2018
Since some of you mentioned Linux usage in asia, i have to say, you have no idea how market is like in here. Windows is like 'THE' computer for many people. Many dont even know other OSs exist, and they wouldnt use it. Lets say, as an example, my own mother language is Persian (Farsi dialect) and sometime linux feels way behind in terms of support. We have a couple of font, a trash calendar support (dont even get me started) and so on. Many people here who DO give linux a chance will throw it out of the windows (pun?) because of app or language support.

Besides, PUBG.
qptain Nemo Jul 7, 2018
Quoting: Sudo_halttrash calendar support (dont even get me started)
Well now I'm curious.
tuubi Jul 7, 2018
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Quoting: qptain Nemo
Quoting: Sudo_halttrash calendar support (dont even get me started)
Well now I'm curious.
I assume he means that support for the persian calendar used in Iran and Afganistan is lacking under Linux. I see a couple of dedicated calendar applications like Gahshomar but I wouldn't know how well they integrate into the OS. I also see a Thunderbird persian calendar plugin and apparently Google calendar has support as well. But again, no first-hand experience.
Purple Library Guy Jul 8, 2018
Quoting: tuubi
Quoting: qptain Nemo
Quoting: Sudo_halttrash calendar support (dont even get me started)
Well now I'm curious.
I assume he means that support for the persian calendar used in Iran and Afganistan is lacking under Linux. I see a couple of dedicated calendar applications like Gahshomar but I wouldn't know how well they integrate into the OS. I also see a Thunderbird persian calendar plugin and apparently Google calendar has support as well. But again, no first-hand experience.
Thing is, whenever I hear something like this, I wonder, how to put it . . . like, not so many years ago it was like that in English. But it's open source. People, starting mainly in universities and such, built up a software ecosystem and now an awful lot of stuff is pretty dashed good. All this, starting from when Linux was completely a hobbyist OS, not even used in servers, not relevant to anyone's employment really, not capable of doing very much.
All a place like China has to do is take existing desktops and software and man pages and whatnot, and localize 'em; with Chinese writing that's a bigger challenge than its seems, sure, but still, the compilers and spreadsheets and kernel and desktop environments and blah and blah and blah are all already done. And China has masses of high tech university campuses full of students, and they're gonna be using some Linux because it's the OS for servers and the cloud and supercomputers and robotics and often science. So why the hell aren't they fixing it up? Same goes for a place like Iran--educated population, plenty good reasons not to be dependent on US software, source is open, what's the problem?
In short, I understand that Linux is in many places not that polished for the desktop, but why not?!


Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 8 July 2018 at 1:23 am UTC
tonR Jul 8, 2018
Quoting: Purple Library GuyAnd China has masses of high tech university campuses full of students, and they're gonna be using some Linux because it's the OS for servers and the cloud and supercomputers and robotics and often science. So why the hell aren't they fixing it up?

Same goes for a place like Iran--educated population, plenty good reasons not to be dependent on US software, source is open, what's the problem?

In short, I understand that Linux is in many places not that polished for the desktop, but why not?!
Two simple questions I can tell a very simple answers and a example.

Most governments and corporations in Asia (regardless what style of governance, dictactors or democratics) wanted "eunuchs" graduates not "inventors" graduates because the inventors graduates can and will "take you down" as they are smarter than you. So, they are paranoid.

The example, "big and VIP" persons, politicians (almost every politicians here are rich) and millionaires/billionaires always not sending their children to "local public universities", instead they send their children to overseas (mostly the west) as "local public universities" are their source of eunuchs. They don't want their children to "fucked up" like other kids that they "fucking" with.

I cannot going deeper answer than that.

Also, please do not forcing me or other non or partial - free citizens here to tell more deeper answer than that, as it will never come out good. I (or anyone here) doesn't want go "on vacation" for years because of our comments. I hope you'll understand and be sensible of this "super sensitive" matter (for us). Thank you.

EDIT: Too early pressing send button and my internet connection...... :><:


Last edited by tonR on 8 July 2018 at 3:18 am UTC
tuubi Jul 8, 2018
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Quoting: Purple Library GuySo why the hell aren't they fixing it up? Same goes for a place like Iran--educated population, plenty good reasons not to be dependent on US software, source is open, what's the problem?
In short, I understand that Linux is in many places not that polished for the desktop, but why not?!
Good old chicken and egg. Their community isn't big enough to ease the way for a local community to form. It takes the blood and sweat of enthusiastic hobbyists to get things to the point where the larger public might feel comfortable joining in. Often these hobbyists might be university students with time on their hands, but that requires a cultural, political and social atmosphere that is not downright hostile.

EDIT: This isn't about Iran specifically. I actually saw a small but healthy Farsi localization community years ago, back when I was active in the i18n efforts of a few FOSS projects. The Middle East has changed a lot since then of course.


Last edited by tuubi on 8 July 2018 at 11:09 am UTC
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