Steam hardware survey from June shows decline in Linux user base

The data for June confirms a further decline, with Linux usage settling at 3.69%. This figure represents a decrease of 0.3% compared to the previous month and represents an overall decrease of 1.64% from the record March figure. In contrast, Windows remains the dominant platform and increased by 0.25% to 94.1%. macOS also recorded a slight increase of 0.05%, bringing its overall share to 2.21%.

Analysts see a possible link between these fluctuations and regional user growth. The June survey shows a notable increase in the number of users using Simplified Chinese, which rose by 2.34% to a total of 24.19%. In the past, an increase in the number of Chinese users has always been accompanied by a decrease in the overall share of Linux users on the platform.

In terms of the distribution of Linux environments, SteamOS continues to maintain a stable position, accounting for around 23% of all Linux-based gamers.

The hardware data shows a strong preference for AMD processors within the Linux community. AMD CPUs are used by almost 67% of Linux gamers. This preference is primarily due to the introduction of the Steam Deck and Steam Machine, both of which use custom AMD SoCs. In addition, AMD's commitment to open source development remains a key reason why enthusiasts choose this hardware for their Linux installations.