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PayPalValve have released the details for the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for September 2025, so here's the usual GamingOnLinux run over the details. As per usual our own dedicated Steam Tracker with interactive charts has been updated with the latest information.
For September 2025 the most popular operating systems were:
- Windows 95.40% -0.19%
- Linux 2.68% +0.04%
- macOS 1.91% +0.14%
On the Linux side, the most popular distributions were:
- SteamOS Holo 64 bit 28.04% +0.39%
- Arch Linux 64 bit 10.69% -0.29%
- Freedesktop SDK 24.08 (Flatpak runtime) 64 bit 6.23% -0.06%
- Linux Mint 22.1 64 bit 5.50% -2.71%
- CachyOS 64 bit 5.27% +0.58%
- Ubuntu Core 22 64 bit 4.18% +0.18%
- Ubuntu 24.04.3 LTS 64 bit 3.50% +3.50%
- Linux Mint 22.2 64 bit 3.34% +3.34%
- Bazzite 64 bit 3.33% +3.33%
Note: Bazzite had the reported OS name changed, it was 2.21% last month. - EndeavourOS Linux 64 bit 2.25% -0.15%
- Manjaro Linux 64 bit 2.12% -0.23%
- Pop!_OS 22.04 LTS 64 bit 2.04% +0.07%
- Fedora Linux 42 (KDE Plasma Desktop Edition) 64 bit 2.03% +0.10%
- Fedora Linux 42 (Workstation Edition) 64 bit 1.95% -0.23%
- Other 19.53% -2.79%
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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simplyseven 9 hours ago
I don't have anything more substantial to add to this other than 
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R Daneel Olivaw 9 hours ago
As expected, for Steam it continues to basically be two distros: arch (and derivatives) or ubuntu (and derivatives). Fedora gets in a couple percentage points but nothing huge.
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As expected, for Steam it continues to basically be two distros: arch (and derivatives) or ubuntu (and derivatives). Fedora gets in a couple percentage points but nothing huge.@R Daneel Olivaw
Bazzite is Fedora based and has a 3.33% share but yeah, it's not anywhere close to the others.
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I know this data is collected with developers in mind, but I think grouping all release versions of a single distribution would be more interesting to gamers. So we'd only have one Ubuntu, Fedora, Mint etc. Or one for each CPU architecture, I suppose. That would make the changes and percentages more meaningful next to rolling release distros.
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Liam Dawe 8 hours ago
We have that on our steam tracker page.
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It looks CachyOS is continuing to rise on steam survey. I haven’t tested that distro yet, is it stable and noob friendly?
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Beta Version 6 hours ago
It looks CachyOS is continuing to rise on steam survey. I haven’t tested that distro yet, is it stable and noob friendly?As stable as Arch can be (so, not really stable). More noob friendly than Arch.
But anyway, if you want stable and noob friendly, Mint/Pop!_OS/Kubuntu is still are better choices. And if you want a "gaming distro" with the latest drivers and gaming stuff preinstalled, PikaOS (which is based on Debian) is probably a better choice. Debian/Mint/Ubuntu package base is always a solid choice.
Last edited by Beta Version on 2 Oct 2025 at 7:20 pm UTC
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It looks CachyOS is continuing to rise on steam survey. I haven’t tested that distro yet, is it stable and noob friendly?In my experience testing CachyOS on another PC it was unstable but I had good luck with the same exact setup on EndeavourOS (BTRFS with snapshots, KDE, AUR enabled and used a bunch for ease of use) for 3+ years now on the same install.
Only had to use a snapshot once, because I did something dumb, but it worked and saved me :)
Last edited by SlayerTheChikken on 2 Oct 2025 at 6:09 pm UTC
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@Liam Dawe
I was looking for grouping at the distro level. You bundle all Ubuntu derivatives, including Mint, into one big group, even though they're distinct distributions. Might as well throw Ubuntu into Debian based while you're at it.
Just kidding. I guess your grouping makes sense, even if it bundles more than I'd like.
We have that on our steam tracker page.Not quite.
I was looking for grouping at the distro level. You bundle all Ubuntu derivatives, including Mint, into one big group, even though they're distinct distributions. Might as well throw Ubuntu into Debian based while you're at it.
Just kidding. I guess your grouping makes sense, even if it bundles more than I'd like.
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R Daneel Olivaw 3 hours ago
I've been running cachy on my main desktop for probably close to 6 months now with zero issues, so I can say from personal experience: it is very stable.
I just love how simple and easy it is. And cutting edge for my hardware is also nice. Highly recommended!
I just love how simple and easy it is. And cutting edge for my hardware is also nice. Highly recommended!
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> As stable as Arch can be (so, not really stable).
Is anyone else here running Arch and if so, how is your stability? My current PC is 5 years old and I am on the same Arch install from day 1. There have been maybe 2-3 times where it required manual intervention, but it is exceedingly rare. I simply don't understand the whole "Arch unstable". Is it just a meme?
Heck I have Arch on an old thinkpad that I only update maybe once a year and that hasn't even given me any problems. That has probably been running longer than 5 years.
Is anyone else here running Arch and if so, how is your stability? My current PC is 5 years old and I am on the same Arch install from day 1. There have been maybe 2-3 times where it required manual intervention, but it is exceedingly rare. I simply don't understand the whole "Arch unstable". Is it just a meme?
Heck I have Arch on an old thinkpad that I only update maybe once a year and that hasn't even given me any problems. That has probably been running longer than 5 years.
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