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Linux surpasses the Mac among Steam gamers

(arstechnica.com)
433 points Sporktacular | 9 comments | 04 Aug 23 00:36 UTC | HN request time: 0.412s | source | bottom
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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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highwaylights ◴[04 Aug 23 08:32 UTC] No.36997130[source]▶
Another way to look at this is to say that the massive uptick in Steam Deck users is really good for the future of Linux gaming given that if current trends continue with the next version of the Steam Deck it may well get to the point where it becomes worth it for developers to focus on native Linux builds rather than being Proton compatible. Especially in cases where Unreal / Unity takes most of the heavy lifting away anyway.

I'm not overly optimistic given that the biggest barrier to supporting Linux has always been how much variance there is in terms of what's out there, but it's still a good thing for Linux.

In terms of perceptions of desktop Linux I don't really think it matters. Linux isn't going anywhere and as software probably has more penetration right now than any other operating system ever has.

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1. deadbunny ◴[04 Aug 23 10:45 UTC] No.36998065[source]▶
The WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. Joking aside I don't see native ports becoming more common, we tried that a decade ago with Steam Machines and it was for the most part a disaster made of awful ports and zero support. Proton has a large community around it and just keep getting better every release, I can't see people giving that up.
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2. Sakos ◴[04 Aug 23 10:57 UTC] No.36998176[source]▶
Steam Machine failed because nobody made them and what we did get was overpriced for the performance delivered. There was no reason to buy or make a Steam Machine over a standard PC, thus no audience for publishers or devs to care about. The Deck delivers something people want and people are buying it and using it.

That said, I think most of us, except for the die hard purists, are fine with Proton compatibility being the main target for companies. As long as a game runs as well as it does elsewhere without restrictions or inconvenience, most of us are happy and don't care about the technical details of how it's running.

3. SSLy ◴[04 Aug 23 12:31 UTC] No.36999058[source]▶
> WIN32 is Linux's most stable API. Joking aside

If we talk ABI's not API's, it's not a joke https://blog.hiler.eu/win32-the-only-stable-abi/

4. baq ◴[04 Aug 23 13:55 UTC] No.37000100[source]▶
> The WIN32 is Linux's most stable API.

It's funny because it's true. Valve took advantage of Microsoft API stability guarantees and executed with an overnight success 10 years in the making.

It's actually a great thing, too. You build a game once and it's more stable than any distro packaging could ever make it be.

5. pjmlp ◴[04 Aug 23 14:41 UTC] No.37000734[source]▶
And just like OS/2 "runs Windows apps better than Windows", it will only reinforce Windows strenght as the main OS game developers care about.
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6. ric2b ◴[04 Aug 23 17:58 UTC] No.37003487[source]▶
Unless Valve starts extending the Windows API, after having embraced it...
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7. pjmlp ◴[04 Aug 23 18:11 UTC] No.37003630{3}[source]▶
Bottom line is that Valve doesn't want to pay for Windows licences, that is all.
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8. sam_bristow ◴[04 Aug 23 22:22 UTC] No.37006672{4}[source]▶
I thought the all this Valve on Linux work came about back when it looked like Microsoft was going to really push their Windows Store.

So less avoiding Windows licences and more avoinding getting cut out by MS.

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9. pjmlp ◴[05 Aug 23 05:36 UTC] No.37009299{5}[source]▶
Both, which is kind of ironic, as they need to emulate Windows and DirectX, and have been a complete failure making studios port their PlayStation, Android and Switch games to SteamOS, despite the heavy POSIX flavour of those platforms, specially in what concerns Android and its relationship to Linux.