The latest Steam Hardware & Software Survey is out for June 2023, and it shows just how much the Linux share is now influenced by the Steam Deck.
Valve really needs to push for Linux compatibility adoption for anti-cheat software.
Once Linux gets adopted by these companies, there’s really no other feature Linux gaming can’t one-up Windows gaming.
A few of them did. The problem is also implementation in the games.
In the past few months, I’ve been able to play more multiplayer games in Linux than before (notably Insurgency and Squad now work).
I tend to mostly play single player, but all in all, I don’t even remember when I last booted my Windows partition. If it wasn’t for a last glimmer of hope of reviving my Oculus CV1, I’d probably wipe it.
That’s the last of the big walls, but unfortunately there is still work to be done.
The main problem I see is that most of the support is through proton, and often almost all the work is done by valve. Without native games (well ported) the performance is inferior.
Oh, and nvidia, damn nvidia.
I’m surprised the number isn’t higher than that tbh.
With Linux still being 1.4% that’s actually a lot less steam decks bought than I thought there’d be. Or I guess something fucky could be going on with what i assume is the majority of people with a steamdeck, those with Windows and a Steamdeck
I am honestly shocked that it’s not higher than that.
The Steam Deck has no doubt dramatically increased the number of Linux gamers, but at the same time the market has just grown at an even faster pace. It would be amazing if they gave us some absolute numbers one day, but I doubt they will. It’s a great start though, Valve have done so much for gaming on Linux!