Steam on Linux Surges Past 3% Milestone, Fueling a Gaming Revolution

The latest Steam Survey results released by Valve on 1 December 2025 reveal a pivotal moment for Linux gaming: the share of Steam users on Linux has finally broken the 3 % barrier, reaching 3.2 % in November. This marks a modest 0.15 % lift over the month and a dramatic jump from the 2.03 % recorded in November 2023, illustrating a clear upward trend that has been building for years.

“Steam on Linux is up to 3.2%, an increase of 0.15% for the month.” – Valve, Steam Survey November 2025

A Decade‑Long Growth Curve

A decade ago, in November 2015, Linux users represented just 0.98 % of Steam’s player base. By November 2024 the figure hovered around 1.91 %, and a year earlier it had slipped to 1.91 % again. The recent jump to 3.2 % is therefore a more than three‑fold increase over the last ten years, underscoring the steady traction that open‑source gaming has been gaining.

The Steam Deck Effect

The Steam Deck, Valve’s handheld Linux‑powered console, has been a major catalyst. Powered by AMD APUs, the Deck has broadened the appeal of Linux by offering a ready‑made, high‑performance gaming platform. The device’s success has spilled over into the broader PC market, nudging more players toward Linux‑compatible hardware.

Proton and Compatibility Layers

Valve’s Proton stack—an implementation of Wine tailored for gaming—has dramatically improved the compatibility of Windows titles on Linux. With each update, more games run natively or with minimal performance loss, reducing the friction that once deterred users from switching.

Upcoming Steam Machine and Steam Frame

Valve’s announced Steam Machine and Steam Frame projects promise to bring Linux gaming to the living room. These devices are expected to run SteamOS Holo, Valve’s own Linux distribution, further entrenching Linux as a mainstream gaming platform.

Hardware Trends: AMD Takes the Lead

AMD’s dominance in the Linux gaming space is stark. According to the survey, 70 % of Linux gaming systems are powered by AMD CPUs, compared to 42 % of Windows systems. This disparity reflects AMD’s continued focus on open‑source drivers and the broader Linux ecosystem.

The CPU marketshare chart highlights AMD’s ascendancy, while the OS distribution pie chart shows SteamOS Holo, Ubuntu, and Arch Linux variants leading the way.

What This Means for Developers and the Industry

• Increased SDK and API Support: With a larger user base, developers are incentivized to optimize for Vulkan and other Linux‑centric APIs.
• Supply Chain Considerations: Hardware vendors may pivot to offer more Linux‑friendly drivers and firmware updates.
• Monetization Models: Steam’s success on Linux demonstrates that a robust marketplace can thrive on open‑source platforms, encouraging more indie studios to target Linux.

Valve’s public data is available on SteamPowered.com, offering deeper insights for analysts and developers alike.

Looking Ahead

The Steam Survey’s upward trajectory suggests that Linux gaming will continue to grow, propelled by hardware innovation, driver support, and Valve’s ecosystem. As more titles ship with Proton compatibility and as the Steam Machine and Steam Frame materialize, the 3 % mark may soon become a baseline rather than a milestone.

Source: Phoronix, "Steam on Linux Use Easily Hits An All-Time High In November," 1 December 2025.