Steam Hardware Survey Highlights Shifts in User Preferences
Valve has unveiled its latest hardware survey report, shedding light on the evolving landscape of hardware and software preferences among Steam users as of November 2025. The findings reveal a notable trend: Linux adoption is steadily climbing, while Windows—particularly Windows 10—experiences a decline.
Linux has seen a modest increase in its user base, rising by 0.15% to reach an all-time high of 3.2%. Although this figure remains significantly lower than Windows’ commanding 94.79% share, it marks a pivotal moment as Linux has now surpassed macOS, which stands at 2.02%. For context, Linux was languishing below 1% for an extended period, only gaining traction following the launch of the Steam Deck in late February 2022. This shift suggests that gamers are beginning to explore Linux, whether driven by their hardware choices or simply out of curiosity.
In tandem with the rise of Linux users, Windows 10 has seen its share plummet to 29% as gamers transition to Windows 11, which now commands a substantial 65% of the market. This migration is hardly surprising, given the seamless upgrade path and extensive compatibility offered by Windows 11. Interestingly, a segment of users departing from Windows 10 appears to be gravitating towards various Linux distributions, with a preference for Mint, Debian, and Bazzite.
Much like the Steam Deck catalyzed Linux’s growth, anticipation builds for a potential surge in adoption following the release of Valve’s Steam Machine. Currently, SteamOS accounts for 26.42% of the Linux user base on Steam, making it the most popular Linux variant, despite experiencing a slight decline this month. Microsoft, aware of the rising Linux presence, is actively working to rekindle interest in Windows gaming with the introduction of Xbox handhelds.
On the hardware front, AMD is celebrating its highest-ever CPU market share at 43.56%, although Intel retains a lead at 56.44%. In the GPU arena, Nvidia’s 60-class cards continue to dominate, remaining a favorite even among laptop gamers.
Overall, Linux’s performance in the gaming sector is commendable, especially considering the challenges it still faces. While it occasionally outperforms Windows in specific scenarios, the latter’s convenience and familiarity continue to draw users in. The majority remain hesitant to navigate the compatibility hurdles associated with gaming on Linux, suggesting that while a complete takeover by Linux is unlikely in the near future, its upward trajectory shows no signs of abating.
