It finally happened. Linux gamers on Steam as of the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for October 2025 have crossed over the elusive 3% mark.

Free Windows 10 support ended for most people this past month, and the trend line of Linux usage has been quite clear leading up to this, as people prepared for the inevitable. An increase in Linux usage is also correlated to a drop in Chinese players, which did happen this month a little bit, but Linux usage is also trending up when filtering for English only. It’s worth noting that for all the official support Macs ever saw in gaming, they never represented anything better than about 5% of the market.

  • Deestan@lemmy.worldEnglish
    24·
    17 hours ago

    I have a Windows laptop specifically for gaming, but I end up using my Linux coding laptop for games in the end.

    It’s less hassle figuring out how to enable nvidia drivers on xorg in GNU linux so that I csn use Proton emulation than to deal with this weeks clusterfuck of windows update trying to make me turn on ads and spying and trick me into using a microsoft.com account to log in.

    I am not joking.

    The windows still has some dust on it from when I did some house renovations months ago, because I haven’t been bothered to use it.

    • TropicalDingdong@lemmy.worldEnglish
      123·
      16 hours ago

      Having been gaming on Linux for the past 10 years and facing basically 0 issues, I can also affirmatively I don’t understand the attachment to windows. I get it if you need specifically word or excel. and I guess if you’ve got kids who want to play fortnite.

      • magic_lobster_party@fedia.io
        14·
        16 hours ago

        It’s mostly convenience. They know it works, so they keep using it.

        Luckily Microsoft is making it inconvenient to continue using Windows.

      • corbin@infosec.pubEnglish
        6·
        14 hours ago

        Because sometimes Proton doesn’t work? Like, it’s good enough for most games, but there are always edge cases and games that randomly break one day.

        • CeeBee_Eh@lemmy.worldEnglish
          32·
          13 hours ago

          As of now, you have to make an effort to find a game that won’t work through Proton, aside from games with malware (anti-cheat).

      • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.worldEnglish
        227·
        16 hours ago

        Because I dont like Linux. Ive tried multiple distros, and I do not like it. At all. Worse, I find that they only people who do like it are utter cunts who sniff their own farts. Reading up over the years while looking into it, theres a ungodly amount of comments from cunts shitting all over people asking simple questions. It was like a text based version of seeing kids shouting “NEWB!!!” in a COD lobby.

        All the issues I see people having with windows, Ive not had or Ive solved. And it was never hard, or complicated, or anything else. And whats more, no one acted like a cunt because someone had, what they considered a “dumb question”.

        In short, fuck linux. Fuck Windows as well, dont get me wrong. But FUCK LINUX. Windows I hate because of the company that makes it, Linux I hate because of the own fart sniffers who use it.

        • magic_lobster_party@fedia.io
          91·
          14 hours ago

          My experience is the opposite.

          Whenever I have a problem with Linux, there’s often a solution available after some Googling. Often it’s just changing something in a configuration file. Not great, but at least doable.

          Whenever I have a problem with Windows, there’s often that one thread where someone details the exact same problem, and there’s some ”official Microsoft tech support” whose only contribution is to ask if they have tried to reboot the computer and then radio silence.

          • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.worldEnglish
            37·
            13 hours ago

            I cant lie, those Microsoft tech support “have you tried rebooting” gits are the worst. But outside of that, even on Reddit, you get actual help. With linux, I see an ocean of “what a fucking newb” type shit. Even in here, everyone sucking their own cock because they dont use windows anymore. And if you do, well, you must be a pleb. Like people cant just use what works for them, and leave it at that.

            And whats funny, is that everyone using linux is still having issues. They say its amazing, then harp on about not being able to play games and the solution is more often than not “have you tried installing this other distro???” Which is about as helpful as “have you tried turning it off and on again?”.

            Everyone uses whatever works for them. Windows, MacOS, linux, whatever. And that should be fine. Instead, its become some kind of dog shit console war. PC users looking down their noses at console users, console users looking down their nose at mobile users, ISO users looking down their nose at Android users, Android users looking down their nose at IOS users, linux users looking down their nose anyone that isnt using linux. And even then, “Why you still using Mint, mate? Dont you know its better to use OSpop for gaming???” Its this never ending hole of cunts all shitting all over everyone else. If only we could just enjoy what we are doing and shut the fuck up.

        • Katana314@lemmy.worldEnglish
          6·
          15 hours ago

          I’ve definitely run into some snobbish “Accept my incorrect solutions and be grateful, or go back to Windows, newb” types of people. I don’t have much love for them. I recognize it takes patience to acclimate new users, but it’s part of the job.

          By and large I’m preferential to just stay with something that works; part of what pushed me off it has just been Microsoft themselves enshittifying the experience. I feel like I remember a day when Windows start search actually took you to what you wanted, and now “notepad” immediately queries the shopping network before your own program list, and when you get Notepad open it has a Copilot button.

          You’re doing the right thing as long as you stay on an OS that keeps you going day in and day out. I tried Linux earlier in the year on two distros that did NOT work as well as the internet said they would, and went back to Windows. More recently, tried another one and there were stupid difficulties - but I got past them, at a time when Windows issues were just giving me “This is the way it is now, just put up with it”.

        • ampersandrew@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
          91·
          16 hours ago

          You’re on Lemmy, a site people use when they don’t like reddit. You don’t see any reason why there might also be a ton of people here who use Linux, an operating system you use when you don’t like Windows?

          • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.worldEnglish
            210·
            13 hours ago

            I dont give a fuck where I am, you start looking down your nose at people, Im gonna fucking say something. Snobby twats deserve every slap they get. As for using linux, use whatever works for you. Just dont start treating other people like shit just because they dont do the same thing you do. “I dont understand people who still use windows…” Cool, no one gives a fuck what you do or dont understand. I dont understand why you piss about with different linux distros, but here we are, and you dont give a fuck that I think that, right? And nor should you. You should just go about your day. Which is why I dont spend my time in windows forums moaning about linux users being snobs. I just get on with my day. And you lot should too. I know the console wars are over now, but fucks sake, lets not start PC vs linux wars now.

            • ysjet@lemmy.worldEnglish
              31·
              10 hours ago

              There’s something deeply ironic about how angry you are towards people because they disagree with your OS choice.

              Perhaps some introspection might be in order, hmm?

        • poke@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          7·
          16 hours ago

          I’ve definitely seen angry people respond to windows bug reports on various apps. Is the Linux community worse? Anectodally, I would agree with you. Its also fine to have a preference, and I understand needing to besmirch your own because some people on Lemmy are toxic particularly around open source projects, but like, I try to not stoop to that level. I am happy youve generally had a good time bug fixing in Windows, unfortunately I switched away because my graphics drivers regularly crashed on Windows and I’ve never had said issue on Bazzite. Could it be my fault somewhere? Sure. I’ve had a better time since I left, though. Guess I’m a fart sniffer. Just wanted to voice that not everyone has had this experience, is all. Have a good one, hope you cheer up.

        • sugar_in_your_tea@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
          4·
          15 hours ago

          If you like Windows, that’s 100% fine, keep using it.

          But I’m genuinely curious, what didn’t you like? Which distro(s) did you try? What problems did you run into?

          I ask because you obviously cared enough to try it out but had a bad experience, so that’s something we could maybe look into as Linux enthusiasts.

          I’m never going to berate anyone for their choice of OS, use whatever works for you. For me, that’s Linux, mostly because I found a workflow that works really well for me and it’s a pain to replicate on Windows. My SO still uses Windows because that’s what they like, and it’s totally fine, I’ll even help them fix stuff when it breaks. I honestly don’t care what people end up using, but I will mention my preference if I think others might be interested.

        • wizblizz@lemmy.worldEnglish
          22·
          9 hours ago

          There’s always one engorged asshole that had to show up and be a complete prick about people liking something. Fuck all the way off

          • Bennyboybumberchums@lemmy.worldEnglish
            11·
            7 hours ago

            You do realise that Im talking about YOU doing that, right? This me giving it BACK to you. And oh look, none of you like it. Funny how that works, aint it? Now, why dont you “fuck all the way off”.

      • Deestan@lemmy.worldEnglish
        6·
        15 hours ago

        I run Windows normally.

        How long does your Window box function without updates? How long does it remain safe? Historically, a few months at best until they bundle telemetry in a new way. Then you need to find another rando dude’s github for workarounds.

        Anyway what you are describing is literally a hassle that for me is just not worth it. I can do all that and set up and update group policies for updates over and over oooooor I can literally spend less mental energy figuring out how to configure my drivers on Linux.

        What you do works for you and you feel it is convenient. That is fine.

      • PoliteDudeInTheMood@lemmy.caEnglish
        1·
        16 hours ago

        Oh that’s handy, I set group policies on my wife’s Win10 computer, but I guess InControl automates that process. Nice.

        I switched to Linux last year, but the wife has no interest in any of that. So I set the group policy and haven’t seen a single thing about Windows 11 popup on her computer… yet. But I have Windows 10 Enterprise LTSC flashed to a usb stick taped to her computer in case they find a workaround for that.