Type “trends pblinuxtech” into Google and you’ll land on pages that say Linux is about automation, containers and security, then stop. No figures, no sources. That isn’t much help if you actually want to know what’s changing. PBLinuxTech is a Linux and gaming news site, so the trends that matter are the ones it follows: how many people game on Linux, which distributions they run, and why the numbers jumped.
How Fast Linux Grew on Steam
Trends PBLinuxTech: Two years ago Linux was a footnote. In April 2024 it held 1.90% of Steam users, and a year later just 2.27%. By April 2026 Steam Deck HQ was reporting 4.52%. The real shock came in March 2026, when GamingOnLinux reported 5.33%, up 3.10 points in one month and the first time Linux ever passed 5% in the survey. Windows still held 92.33% that month, so nobody should call it a takeover.
|
Survey month |
Linux share | Note |
| April 2024 | 1.90% |
Starting point |
|
April 2025 |
2.27% | Slow growth |
|
January 2026 |
3.38% |
Small dip that month |
| March 2026 | 5.33% |
First time above 5% |
|
April 2026 |
4.52% |
Down 0.81 points |
| July 2026 | Above 4% |
Back over 4% |
A word of caution, though. Valve doesn’t say how many systems it samples, and the monthly swings are big. macOS nearly doubled to 2.35% in the same survey, which hints that the sample itself may have shifted. Trust the long climb more than any single month.
Why the Numbers Moved
No single cause explains it, but a few keep showing up in the reporting. Proton, the compatibility layer inside Steam, lets plenty of Windows games run on Linux with no extra setup. KitGuru, quoting Phoronix, said SteamOS made up 24.48% of the Linux install base in March. Windows 10 reaching its end of support probably helped as well: it dropped by almost 15 points to 25.36% in that survey, and owners of older PCs that can’t run Windows 11 have reason to look elsewhere.
Then there’s the Steam Deck. Digital Citizen noted that in July the Deck was still the most common single hardware configuration among Linux players. A handheld that ships with Linux brings in people who never planned to try it. Supply matters too: Steam Deck HQ suggested stock shortages of the Deck in many regions may explain part of April’s dip.
What Gamers Actually Install
Trends PBLinuxTech: The distro list tells you more about this audience than the headline percentage. GamingOnLinux’s March 2026 breakdown looked like this.
| Distribution | Share of Linux users |
Good for |
|
Arch Linux |
8.78% | Users who want current packages |
| Linux Mint 22.3 | 6.90% |
Beginners coming from Windows |
|
Linux Mint 22.2 |
1.90% | People who haven’t upgraded |
| Manjaro | 1.45% |
Arch with an easier setup |
By July, Fedora, CachyOS, Bazzite, Ubuntu and Linux Mint were reported to be gaining share. One catch: Steam Deck HQ pointed out that CachyOS and Bazzite were only added as recognised distros in April, so older charts likely undercount them. Distros built around gaming are turning into a category of their own.
Putting It to Use
Numbers matter only when they help you make better decisions and take action. Before installing a game, look it up on ProtonDB, where players post how each title runs. Valve’s Proton repository on GitHub lists known issues and release notes, and recent reports count for more than old ones, because a game that failed last year may run fine now.
Be careful with anti-cheat. Digital Citizen argues that a bigger Linux audience gives publishers more reason to support it, but until a developer confirms it, assume a competitive online game might not launch at all.
Choosing a distro depends on how much tinkering you enjoy. Mint is the gentler start. Arch-based systems suit people who like to adjust things, and Bazzite or CachyOS are worth reading about if gaming is the only goal. You can also check the numbers yourself: Valve posts the monthly data on its Steam hardware survey page, and comparing two or three months teaches more than any summary, this one included.
What to Watch Next
Three questions will decide whether the 2026 gains last. Will Linux stay above 4% once the Windows 10 migration wave settles? Will new SteamOS hardware keep arriving? Steam Deck HQ expected the Steam Machine to launch later in 2026, so look at how it shows in the newest survey. And will the big anti-cheat vendors keep widening Linux support? PBLinuxTech’s Proton and game compatibility coverage is a decent place to follow those answers as they come in.
Quick Answers
Is Linux gaming ready for everyone? Not quite. Many single-player games run through Proton, but some multiplayer titles with strict anti-cheat may not.
Is the 5.33% figure reliable? It’s real data from Valve’s survey, but the sample is undisclosed and the next month fell to 4.52%, so read it as a peak, not a baseline.
Do I need a new PC? Not necessarily. Older machines that can’t move to Windows 11 are part of why people try Linux, and lighter distros exist for modest hardware.
Where should I check the latest figure? Valve’s own survey page, then GamingOnLinux’s Steam Tracker page for the trend line.
Sources: Valve Steam Hardware & Software Survey, GamingOnLinux, KitGuru, Steam Deck HQ, Digital Citizen, ProtonDB, Valve Proton on GitHub.
Final Thoughts
Linux gaming has more than doubled its footprint in two years, and the reasons are practical: better compatibility, popular handheld hardware and the end of Windows 10. The monthly figures will keep bouncing, but the direction hasn’t changed. If you’ve been curious, a live USB stick and an evening are enough to try it yourself. Visit eurotechtalk for more details
