Steam on Linux use in March hit an all-time high of around 5.33% marketshare. Since then it pulled back to around 4% while for September 2026 the Steam Survey results are now in and it’s clocking in just above 3%.
The Steam Survey results for September that were published this evening indicate a rather steep decline of 0.85%, down to 3.05%. Meanwhile macOS is at 1.92% and Microsoft Windows at 95%.
As with most months where Steam Survey indicates an abnormally large decline for Linux use, the second stop is checking on the language use… Once again a case of a big spike in Simplified Chinese use. Steam’s Survey reports a 7.42% increase in Chinese use, up to 31.39% overall of the Steam population. Usually with those large month-over-month swings where Steam China use shoots up dramatically is a boost to Windows and a detriment to Linux. Some attribute the large increases in Simplified Chinese use to being a reporting/sampling issue.
When diving into the Steam Linux data exclusively, CachyOS has spiked by another 2.65% to now account for 18.12% of the sampled Linux gaming population. That even outperforms SteamOS Holo coming in at 17.37%.
Among Linux gamers on Steam, AMD CPUs still account for the high 60 percentage space thanks to the Steam Deck and Steam Machine using AMD APUs and their open-source/Linux support being popular with enthusiasts.
Those wanting to dive in to all the Steam Survey stats for September can find the fresh data on SteamPowered.com.
I’m talking about banning Windows for any citizen.
It’s funny, because if the Chinese really did something along those lines it would be interpreted (correctly) as authoritarian abuse.
How can a government enforce such ruling? It is not the same as blocking the websites you don’t like.
Enforcement is secondary, the first and most important step is making it illegal. And maybe providing an alternative they develop and control themselves, a custom China based Linux as a replacement for Windows. So the first step is making it a reason not to install Windows willing fully. And the enforcement goes as far as they can, nobody said that it can be enforced on everyone.
If anyone is caught talking or using Windows because they don’t use VPN and hide their browser identity, then the government could investigate a bit further. Nobody want to be caught in China. Windows has a builtin identification, the browser tells a lot, and Windows tries to connect to the internet for downloads and updates. All of that could be tracked. You would need to be offline in order not get caught, unless you know 100% exactly what you do, maybe then its safe.
I’m not a wizard, I don’t know the exact methods. This is just what I know as a normal citizen who does not really do all of this stuff. Imagine what they know.