There’s a new Steam survey to delve into. We see many of the same developments as in previous months, including users finally moving on from Windows 10 (as end-of-life nears) and more gamers upgrading to the RTX 50 series. And not only are people leaving Windows 10, they’re ditching Windows altogether – Linux’s share is up 0.32% in the past month.

Linux gaming has become increasingly popular on Steam, primarily because the Linux-based SteamOS, which comes installed as standard on Valve’s Steam Deck handheld, and more recently, third-party devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S. However, it’s not only SteamOS doing the heavy lifting; alternatives like Bazzite or Fedora Linux are making gains.

Fedora Linux is getting more popular

It’s evident that gamers are upgrading from Windows 10 to 11, but according to the July 2025 survey, overall Windows usage fell by 0.44%. Both Linux and OSX (Mac) made gains, but the former benefited the most. This is even before Valve has released an officially supported SteamOS client for desktops. Someone did use it to transform an old iMac into a gaming PC, however.

As you can see from the stats above, SteamOS actually declined compared to other Linux distros in July, but it remains the largest with a 28.31% share. In contrast, Fedora Linux is making large gains, making up a total of 4% of users when you combine the Workstation Edition and KDE Plasma Desktop distros.

Another notable development is the growing use of Bazzite. This distribution is described as “the next generation of Linux gaming” and quickly became a popular alternative to Windows on handhelds like the ASUS ROG Ally and Lenovo Legion Go. Before Valve started supporting SteamOS on these alternative AMD-powered handhelds, Bazzite grew as a go-to option if you wanted to ditch Windows, which some find lackluster on a handheld form factor.

Valve has explained how to install SteamOS on other handhelds, but it’s still early days in terms of support. This generally makes Bazzite a more feature-complete experience. You can read all about the differences between Bazzite and SteamOS here.

About the Author

Jack Goodall

At PC Guide, Jack is mostly responsible for reporting on hardware deals. He also specializes in monitors, TVs, and headsets and can be found putting his findings together in a review or best-of guide.