After finally surpassing the previously elusive three‑percent threshold in October, the presence of Linux users on the Steam platform has once again climbed to a new peak according to the November edition of the Steam Hardware and Software Survey. The latest data reveals that Linux now represents 3.2 percent of all active Steam users. Although this figure may appear modest when set against the overwhelming dominance of Microsoft Windows—which still accounts for roughly 94.79 percent of the platform’s total user base—it nonetheless constitutes a meaningful and measurable increase from the previous month. More importantly, it establishes a fresh all‑time high for Linux adoption within the Steam gaming ecosystem, underscoring a continuing trend of gradual but noteworthy growth in open‑source operating system usage among PC gamers.
Within the diverse array of Linux distributions available to users, it is unsurprising that Valve’s own tailor‑made version of Linux holds the greatest share of popularity. Specifically, about 26.4 percent of all Linux‑based Steam users are running SteamOS Holo, the same distribution optimized for Valve’s handheld gaming hardware. Following behind in descending order of usage are well‑known distributions such as Arch Linux, Linux Mint, CachyOS, Bazzite, and Ubuntu, each of which commands a share typically ranging between five and ten percent. The variation in these numbers reflects the different priorities of Linux gamers—from those seeking extensive customization and performance tuning, as in Arch Linux, to those preferring the user‑friendly stability of Ubuntu or Mint.
One particularly remarkable development in November is the surge in popularity experienced by Bazzite, a Linux distribution specifically engineered with gaming as its central focus. Bazzite’s increase aligns closely with similar gains seen by Debian and by the Flatpak edition of the Steam client—an installation method that is tracked separately from traditional native Linux versions. Although Valve’s official SteamOS can be manually configured and installed on custom‑built gaming PCs, doing so requires substantial technical expertise. Consequently, Bazzite has emerged as the most frequently recommended alternative for users seeking a gaming experience comparable to SteamOS but on standard hardware. This reputation likely explains the strong growth in its user base observed during the reporting period. Likewise, the Flatpak version of Steam, known for its simplified installation and broad compatibility across distributions, may have attracted a fresh influx of new Linux enthusiasts exploring the platform for the first time.
While definitive causal relationships are difficult to confirm, it is plausible that this two‑month rise in Linux usage on Steam is partially connected to Microsoft’s decision to designate October 14th as the official end‑of‑life date for Windows 10. Although the majority of affected users predictably transitioned to Windows 11, a segment of the gaming community appears to have taken the opportunity to experiment with Linux instead, motivated perhaps by curiosity, cost considerations, or a desire for greater control over their gaming environments. Over the past several years, the overall experience of gaming on Linux has advanced substantially, driven in large part by the success of Valve’s own Steam Deck—a handheld gaming console operating on a customized Linux foundation. Core innovations such as Valve’s Proton compatibility layer have dramatically expanded the library of Windows‑based titles playable on Linux, breaking down one of the most persistent barriers to adoption. Although certain obstacles remain—most notably in the area of anti‑cheat software integration—the combined influence of the Steam Deck, SteamOS improvements, and Proton updates continues to elevate Linux from a niche experiment into a viable and increasingly appealing gaming platform for a growing global audience.
Sourse: https://www.theverge.com/news/837364/linux-usage-steam-hardware-survey-november-2025
