The Evolution of PC Gamers: Towards a New Linux Horizon

The latest data collected by Steam, the leading PC gaming platform, reveals an interesting trend: a gradual but tangible shift of gamers from Windows to Linux. While Windows 11 continues to dominate the landscape with nearly 60% of users, and Windows 10 remains a concern, Linux’s market share, particularly via SteamOS, is steadily growing. This shift is largely driven by technical advances related to Linux and the rise of devices like Steam Deck, which open up a more fluid and optimized gaming universe for gamers, far removed from some of the inherent heaviness of the Windows ecosystem. This dynamic could well redistribute the cards in PC gaming in the years to come, leveraging open-source and the free software ecosystem, while creating a more diverse and innovative landscape for gamers. A detailed analysis of Linux’s rise in PC gaming via Steam

Steam’s recent Hardware & Software survey, published in July 2025, highlights a 0.44% decline in the market share of Windows (primarily Windows 10 and 11) among PC gamers, and a simultaneous 0.32% increase for Linux. While these figures may seem modest on the surface, consider the massive scale of Steam, which boasts over

132 million monthly active users. This translates to an additional approximately 4 million Linux gamers on this platform alone. Linux now holds a 2.89% share of the gaming universe on Steam,which is a significant improvement over a few years ago. Several factors explain this growth. The first is clearly the integration of SteamOS as the primary operating system on Valve’s portable consoles, notably the highly popular Steam Deck. This console runs a reworked and optimized Arch Linux, offering an intuitive interface for players, specifically designed for controllers. This approach avoids heavy Windows processes in the background, resulting in better gaming performance. For example, games often run faster on SteamOS than on a standard Windows 11 installation on the same machine.This trend is driving change even on desktop PCs. Tutorials and tools now make it easy to install SteamOS on modern AMD hardware, paving the way for wider adoption. The potential launch of SteamOS in a desktop version and the announced development of dedicated Steam PCs contribute to Valve’s clear strategy to establish itself in the gaming segment without relying on Microsoft’s system. Improved Hardware Support:

Linux 6.17 includes several major additions to multi-core support and improvements for Nvidia GPUs and some ARM processors, optimizing compatibility and performance (see https://www.linuxencaja.net/linux-6-17-support-multi-coeurs/).

Performance Optimizations:

Recent analysis of native x86 Linux performance demonstrates a kernel upgrade to better leverage the hardware (https://www.linuxencaja.net/x86-native-cpu-linux-performances/). Easier Installation:
Practical tools and guides now help non-expert users migrate from Windows to Linux, including support for NTFS partition management and backups (https://www.linuxencaja.net/outil-migration-linux-windows/). The Linux community is therefore optimistic, seeing its work and efforts in open source as a serious alternative to the Windows monopoly in video games.
Find out how to transition your players from Windows to Linux. Follow our practical guide to enjoy a smooth and optimized gaming experience on your Linux system, while discovering the advantages of this platform. Why is SteamOS increasingly appealing to PC and handheld gamers?

At the heart of this transition to Linux is the SteamOS platform, which capitalizes on several key strengths. First, its user interface is built into a fluid, lightweight, and controller-friendly gaming experience, which perfectly meets the needs of the Steam Deck line and future portable devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S or the Xbox Ally peripheral planned by Microsoft with an optimized Windows gaming version.

Second, SteamOS benefits from much more efficient resource management than a traditional Windows system. Unlike Windows 11, where many system processes run in the background, consuming memory and CPU power, SteamOS and its Linux kernel interact more directly with the hardware. This lightness translates into measurable gains in frame rates (FPS) and loading times in video games, crucial criteria for gamers.

In addition to this technical performance, the system’s open-source nature guarantees extensive flexibility and customization, opinions often appreciated by experienced users and tinkerers. Valve also leverages the Linux community to continually improve this system, integrating the latest kernel and driver advancements, particularly thanks to recent Linux releases that better integrate modern architectures (https://www.linuxencaja.net/linux-6-17-nvidia-tegra-riscv/).

Controller-Friendly User Interface

: Simplifies navigation and gaming comfort on portable devices.

Performance Optimization

: Eliminates unnecessary background tasks, maximizing resources dedicated to games. Open-Source Modularity
: Enables rapid and secure adaptation, with an active community. Simplified Installation and Maintenance
: Tools available for intermediate users. For hesitant players, detailed tutorials and real-life use cases allow them to explore this transition risk-free, particularly with the help of the free Humble Bundle collection or other platforms like GOG, Epic Games, and Ubisoft, which are increasingly starting to offer Linux-compatible games. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aG8qZ4zbCu0
The impact of this Linux migration on Valve’s gaming ecosystem and competitors As the operating system variable gains importance in the community, Valve is improving its ecosystem to meet the new demand. Steam, due to its size and user base, serves as a real-world laboratory for testing Linux innovations in real-world conditions, which in turn benefits the entire open-source gaming scene.

This change is also generating reactions from major publishers: Epic Games is paying more attention to Linux support, GOG is investing in Linux compatibility tools, while Ubisoft and EA’s Origin are beginning to take a more serious interest in expanding their multi-platform reach. Battle.net, a well-known platform for Windows and Mac, is also being watched because Linux demand could influence its future development.

Valve, after popularizing the Steam Deck portable console, is now focusing on a stronger presence on desktop PCs, via SteamOS. This plan is not insignificant: it aims to reduce gamers’ historical dependence on Windows, while ensuring a fluid and optimized ecosystem for AAA and indie games.

Accelerated development of SteamOS

for desktop.

Intensified testing on AMD and NVIDIA hardware support

in the latest Linux updates.

Collaborations between Valve and publishers to expand the Linux-compatible catalog.
Repercussions for Microsoft , pushed to develop optimized gamer versions of Windows. With gamers increasingly familiar with Linux capabilities, pressure is mounting on manufacturers and publishers. Microsoft, sensitive to this trend, is preparing countermeasures, such as the integration of a dedicated Xbox interface for Windows 11 on future ROG Xbox Ally X portable consoles (https://www.linuxencaja.net/astuces-linux-utilisateur-avances/).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5823xRp_dw4 Technical Challenges to Overcome for Wider Adoption of Linux in Gaming
Despite significant growth, Linux remains a significant minority in the overall PC gaming market. Several technical challenges are still holding back its widespread adoption:Software Compatibility

: Some major games are not yet optimized for Linux, forcing users to rely on compatibility layers like Proton, which, while effective, can introduce bugs or performance losses.

Diverse Hardware Support

: Although the Linux kernel has made significant progress in supporting many recent GPUs, CPUs, and peripherals, the fragmentation of distributions sometimes poses a problem for demanding gamers. The arrival of Linux 6.17 with its native multi-core support (https://www.linuxencaja.net/linux-6-17-support-multi-coeurs/) and the improvement of Nvidia and Tegra drivers (https://www.linuxencaja.net/linux-6-17-nvidia-tegra-riscv/) help mitigate these shortcomings.

Interface and User Experience

: The need to offer Windows-like usability, particularly for triple-A games and platform interfaces like Origin, Battle.net, or Ubisoft Connect, remains a major challenge. For beginner gamers, this complexity can pose a barrier to entry. However, the open-source community, as well as initiatives from Valve and other players, are working to simplify this experience. Installation guides and resource calculators to better manage disk space and performance (https://www.linuxencaja.net/calculateur-mo-go-linux/) facilitate migration. Furthermore, container solutions like those explored under Kali Linux also allow for better compatibility and are gradually being implemented (https://www.linuxencaja.net/kali-linux-conteneurs-macos/). While these obstacles address the diversity of hardware and software configurations, they are unlikely to slow the growth momentum that has begun, especially with the rise of Linux portable consoles and the rise of competing distribution platforms like Humble Bundle, which are multiplying Linux-friendly offerings.
Discover how to easily transition your video game players from Windows to Linux. A complete guide on the steps to follow, the required software, and best practices for a successful transition. Future prospects for Linux in gaming and the involvement of major platforms
The future of PC gaming seems to be written with Linux as a key player in the coming years. The rise of SteamOS, reinforced by the popularity of the Steam Deck and Valve’s plans to bring it more widely to PC, is giving new impetus to the world of open video games. Other platforms, long focused on Windows, are also showing a growing interest in adapting: Epic Games is launching initiatives to facilitate the porting of their games to Linux, GOG is strengthening its compatibility tools, and even Ubisoft, Origin, and Battle.net, previously less open to Linux, are considering expanding their support. This will benefit all gamers. Hardware manufacturers, led by AMD, are already supporting these advances with system optimizations that explicitly target Linux (https://www.linuxencaja.net/linux-6-17-ajouts-rust/), particularly in terms of CPU and GPU performance. Microsoft, aware of the risk, is investing in more optimized gaming versions of Windows on x86, as well as in dedicated Xbox interfaces that promise an experience primarily focused on PC and portable console gaming.

Rapid development of Linux gaming distributions, including SteamOS.

Simplified game ports and cross-platform support

Consolidation of hardware architectures for high-performance gaming under Linux.

Strengthening of open-source communities and their tools (scripts, automation, package management).

With increasing access to the gaming market, Linux is also fueling the free and open-source software scene, accelerating the evolution of solutions like Proton. The future could well see Linux establish itself as the go-to system not only for gaming, but also for development and streaming, on a more free, powerful, and high-performance PC universe.