Breaking Barriers: Linux Overtakes macOS on Steam

In July 2023, Linux surpassed macOS for the first time on Valve’s Steam platform and became the preferred gaming operating system. This was a major breakthrough in the history of gaming.

In the past, Linux was primarily seen as an operating system for servers, developers, and technology enthusiasts, while the gaming aspect was considered secondary. Its reputation has been tarnished by compatibility issues, a limited game library, and lack of support from major game developers.

However, in recent years, Linux's gaming capabilities have undergone fundamental changes.

Advances through the creation of game-oriented distributions and compatibility layers such as Proton developed by Valve paves the way for more games to run smoothly on Linux systems.

Just two years ago, Linux accounted for the coveted 1% of users on the Steam gaming platform. But now, this open source operating system is conquering a new peak.

According to Valve’s monthly report, in July 2023, Linux surpassed Apple’s macOS on the Steam platform for the first time and became the preferred gaming operating system, creating a historic breakthrough.

In July 2023, Linux surpassed Apple’s macOS on the Steam platform.

According to the data, Linux is used by 1.96% of all Steam users, while macOS accounts for 1.84%. In other words, it beat Apple's operating system by 0.12%. Of course, the absolute leader is still Microsoft's Windows, with a usage rate of 96.21%.

There aren’t too many surprises when it comes to releases. Over the past year, Arch Linux has remained the most popular gaming operating system, followed by Ubuntu 22.04, Manjaro, and Linux Mint. The only thing to consider is whether Arch-based Valve Steam Deck is taken into account when calculating statistics.

Summarize

Linux surpassing macOS as the gaming operating system of choice on Valve’s Steam platform is a significant moment in the evolution of Linux gaming. Of course, a lot of the credit goes to the company.

In 2018, Valve launched Proton, a compatibility layer built on top of Wine and other open source technologies that allows thousands of Windows-only Steam games to run seamlessly on Linux.

As the gaming community continues to recognize Linux's capabilities, more game developers may consider Linux as a viable target platform.

In addition to surpassing macOS in gaming operating system usage, Linux is now very close to crossing the 2% threshold, which would be its next major milestone. We will continue to monitor closely and keep you updated on any changes in the evolution of Linux as a gaming platform.

So, do you think the "Year of the Linux Desktop" is getting closer?

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