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.

  • nyan@sh.itjust.works
    1·
    3 days ago

    All they really have to do is specify that all new machines sold domestically have to be loaded with their tailored Linux distro and no other OS, and they’d eventually get rid of the majority of Windows machines. Enforcement of that should at least be possible, since they’d only have to check sellers and distributors of new equipment. Then just lean on domestic developers and/or software companies so that they don’t provide new versions of must-have applications (whatever those may be) for Windows to encourage the holdouts to move on.

    It would never fly in a country without an authoritarian government, but China could likely get away with it. It just wouldn’t be instantaneous.