Steam survey shows Linux hitting an all-time high with gamers

Linux gaming has just hit a major milestone. Valve’s March 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey shows Linux at 5.33%, which is the highest share it has ever recorded on Steam.

In the meantime, Windows fell to 92.33%, while macOS came in at 2.35%. This means that Linux is now comfortably ahead of MacOS.

What do the numbers say?

The standout detail is not just the record itself, but the size of the jump. Lunix gained 3.1 percentage points in March, after sitting at 2.23% in February. So the March surge is quite dramatic. This kind of swing is big enough, and it might include some inaccuracies based on language-share changes and possible corrections tied to Steam China data. So while this is still a real record, it probably reads as a milestone with some noise.

What’s leading the charge?

A lot of this momentum still points back to Valve’s own hardware ecosystem. About a quarter of Linux gamers in the latest survey are using SteamOS, which makes sense given how much the Steam Deck has helped normalize Linux gaming for people who would never manually install it on a desktop.

In other words, Linux did not just suddenly get popular by itself. It got here because Valve has turned it into something people can actually use.

Why this is a big deal

Five percent might still sound small compared to Windows, but for Linux gaming, it is pretty big. It means the platform is no longer just an enthusiast side quest on Steam. Linux is large enough to feel harder for developers and publishers to ignore.

Windows is still king when it comes to PC gaming by a huge margin. But Linux just had its best month ever on Steam. It might still be niche, but it is starting to look like a real audience now.