Linux users on Steam have crossed the 3% mark for the first time, driven by the Steam Deck and growing Windows migration.
For years, Linux gaming felt like a niche pursuit on Steam, hovering just below 3% market share. That changed in October 2025. According to Valve's latest Hardware and Software Survey, Linux finally broke through to 3.05% of the platform, marking a symbolic and practical turning point for an operating system that has long struggled for gaming relevance. The milestone comes as Windows 10 reaches end-of-life, prompting some users to explore alternatives, while the Steam Deck continues to reshape the landscape of portable gaming.
The numbers tell a compelling story. While 3% might seem modest, it translates to millions of active players. Even using Valve's 2022 monthly active user count as a baseline, Linux gaming on Steam likely exceeds 4 million people, with the actual figure probably higher given the platform's growth and the Steam Deck's commercial success. The distribution breakdown reveals that SteamOS Holo, the operating system powering the Steam Deck, dominates at 27% of Linux users, but traditional distributions like Linux Mint, Arch, and Ubuntu are also gaining ground. The trend line is unmistakably upward, with Linux gaining 0.41% year-over-year. There are several ways to learn Linux, as shared by the community here at Hackr.
Observers and commenters have greeted the milestone with genuine enthusiasm. Many noted that the achievement feels like vindication after decades of waiting. Some reflected on how far gaming on Linux has come since the Wine era, crediting projects like Proton with making the transition seamless for newcomers. The community also discussed what this means practically: with Linux now representing a meaningful slice of Steam's user base, game developers may finally have economic incentive to ensure broader compatibility rather than treating Linux support as an afterthought. Others pointed out that reaching around 5% market share would likely trigger a tipping point where hardware manufacturers and peripheral makers begin treating Linux as a standard platform rather than an exception.
Experts and engaged commenters also highlighted the nuance behind the numbers. The Steam Deck's dominance in the Linux share means that while overall Linux adoption is growing, much of it remains concentrated on Valve's own hardware. However, this concentration is itself significant: it demonstrates that a well-designed Linux experience can drive mainstream adoption. Meanwhile, the diversity of distributions in the top rankings, from user-friendly options like Linux Mint to more technical choices like Arch, suggests that Linux gaming is attracting both newcomers and experienced users. Rumors about an upcoming Steam Frame, a potential VR device running SteamOS, hint that Valve may continue pushing Linux gaming forward.
The crossing of 3% feels less like an endpoint and more like a beginning. For a platform that spent two decades fighting for relevance in gaming, reaching this milestone represents real progress. Whether Linux can sustain this momentum and push toward 5% or beyond depends partly on continued hardware innovation from Valve, partly on how welcoming the community remains to newcomers, and partly on whether the broader gaming industry recognizes that Linux users now represent a market worth supporting seriously.
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