Steam's January 2026 survey shows Linux gaming reaching 3.38% market share, up from 1.3% in January 2023, with AMD CPUs dominating 67% of Linux gaming systems.
The Steam Hardware Survey for January 2026 has been published, revealing continued growth for Linux gaming on the platform. After hitting a record high of 3.58% in December 2025, Linux market share dipped slightly to 3.38% in January, still representing significant year-over-year growth.
Linux Gaming Market Share Growth
Looking at the historical data, the trajectory of Linux gaming on Steam has been remarkable:
- January 2016: 0.95%
- January 2023: 1.3%
- January 2024: Under 2%
- January 2025: Around 2.0%
- January 2026: 3.38%
The growth represents more than a tripling of Linux market share in just three years, with the platform now accounting for over one in thirty Steam gamers.
Platform Distribution Changes
While Linux saw slight month-over-month decline from December's record, Windows experienced growth, increasing by 0.39% to reach 94.62% of the market. macOS remained relatively stable at 2.01%.
Steam OS and Hardware Trends
Steam OS continues to play a significant role in Linux gaming adoption, accounting for approximately 25% of all Linux gamers on the platform. This suggests that dedicated gaming distributions remain popular among the Linux gaming community.
Hardware preferences show a strong AMD presence in the Linux gaming ecosystem. AMD CPUs power 67% of Linux gaming systems, a dominance largely attributed to the Steam Deck's custom AMD APU. This hardware ecosystem advantage has helped Linux gaming gain traction, as the Steam Deck has introduced many gamers to Linux-based gaming environments.
Market Implications
The sustained growth in Linux gaming market share has several implications for the gaming industry:
Developer Attention: As Linux approaches 3.5% of the Steam user base, more developers are likely to prioritize Linux compatibility in their games
Hardware Partnerships: The strong AMD presence suggests continued collaboration between Linux gaming initiatives and hardware vendors
Platform Diversity: The growth demonstrates that platform diversity in PC gaming remains viable, contrary to concerns about Windows monopoly
Mobile Gaming Influence: The Steam Deck's success in driving Linux adoption highlights how handheld gaming devices can influence desktop gaming ecosystems
Future Outlook
The slight dip from December to January is typical for seasonal patterns, and the overall trend remains strongly positive for Linux gaming. If current growth rates continue, Linux could approach 4% market share by the end of 2026.
The data underscores Valve's successful strategy in promoting Linux gaming through SteamOS, the Steam Deck, and continued platform support. As more games become available on Linux and hardware support improves, the platform appears positioned for continued growth in the gaming market.
For detailed survey methodology and complete data, visit the official Steam Hardware Survey page.
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