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Linux surpasses the Mac among Steam gamers

(arstechnica.com)
433 points Sporktacular | 2 comments | 04 Aug 23 00:36 UTC | HN request time: 0.412s | source
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015a ◴[04 Aug 23 05:12 UTC] No.36995730[source]▶
> But before you declare this a triumphant moment for desktop Linux, it's important to note that some of these Linux users are not, in fact, using Steam on a desktop. The Linux version "SteamOS Holo" 64-bit is the most popular reported, at just over 42 percent of the Linux slice of pie. That indicates that a huge portion of these Linux users are actually playing on Valve's Steam Deck portable, which runs Linux.

There's such a deep seeded, systemic bias against linux that it actually can never win, to any degree or magnitude, because the moment it starts winning we just move the goal-posts for the flimsiest of reasons to ensure it can't quite claim that victory.

Linux is obviously and clearly the most popular operating system kernel on the planet. Oh, no, that's no good a measure, servers are messy, let's refine it to most popular consumer operating system kernel? Oh... it, could also reasonably claim that title? No no, no Android, that doesn't count. Nope, No Chrome OS either, you can't have that, that's, well, that is linux, but its not. Just nice, pure, desktop linux, yes, perfect, arch linux, kde desktop, that'll never trend up and thus is the perfect new-new definition of desktop linu--wait hold up, I'm getting word this is, not possible, its actually SteamOS? Nope, kill it, that's not desktop linux either, kill it.

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johnnyanmac ◴[04 Aug 23 05:26 UTC] No.36995802[source]▶
I guess it really depends on what you expect out of a "user". I think servers and Android count but I think SteamOS is a bit tricky, because it's relying on a compatibility layers running Windows to run most games. This may not matter to the end user, but it isn't quite the developer revelation many imagine where suddenly tons of games and apps have a proper linux port.
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dizhn ◴[04 Aug 23 06:33 UTC] No.36996199[source]▶
I think there's a point to be made when one OS can actually run programs meant for another. I think this makes it even more valuable, not less.
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1. johnnyanmac ◴[04 Aug 23 06:54 UTC] No.36996360[source]▶
>I think this makes it even more valuable, not less.

put it this way: I have the expenses and know how to simply have 2 native platforms if I need it. If I need to emulate something but don't feel like spinning a second boot, it's usually for a few niche programs I need very occasionally. Otherwise, I can just get that OS ready.

That's how I see the Steam Deck. I simply have a portable windows machine that has Steam on it, so I don't see the incremental value of having these games run through Proton while having a linux machine. Because I have "running windows games" covered. If it was running Linux games natively, I may in fact buy it simply to help say to developers that I want more native games on Linux. But if devs just keep focusing on Windows, I have that set already.

And To be honest I'm not a huge fan of the form factor nor screen to begin with, so it'd be a bigger compromise choosing to play on a Steam Deck than if I could choose other machines.

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2. dizhn ◴[04 Aug 23 07:36 UTC] No.36996688[source]▶
> But if devs just keep focusing on Windows, I have that set already.

It is what it is. I would say they will never focus on Linux but it's not so clear anymore. A lot of things are changing fast.

> And To be honest I'm not a huge fan of the form factor nor screen to begin with, so it'd be a bigger compromise choosing to play on a Steam Deck than if I could choose other machines.

Luckily even better handhelds seem to be coming out. Asus ROG Ally (windows) is worth a look, as is Ayn Odin 2 (android..Now we have this too as a potential gaming platform to consider. Maybe not today, but who knows.). I recommend ETA PRIME's youtube channel to keep an eye on these things.

https://www.youtube.com/@ETAPRIME