PC gamers are patiently waiting for SteamOS to release so they can start gaming on Linux, poll suggests
Windows has long been the preferred operating system for PC gaming, and we don’t see that changing any time soon. Despite this, it’s evident that an increasing number of PC gamers are interested in switching OS, and we’ve noticed that Linux is becoming more popular on Steam. Devices like the Steam Deck (which uses the Linux-based SteamOS) are a steady driving force for this.
SteamOS is yet to be widely supported on third-party devices, though Valve has branched out by officially supporting Lenovo’s Legion Go S handheld. The company also supports users who want to install SteamOS on other AMD handhelds. However, a full SteamOS release – one that better supports desktops – is what gamers are looking forward to, according to our recent poll.
SteamOS on desktop could boost Linux popularity despite anti-cheat worries
Based on our poll, nearly half of respondents (44% at the time of writing) are waiting for a full SteamOS release before trying out Linux for gaming. One of the downsides of Linux is the lack of anti-cheat support, particularly in more competitive multiplayer games – 28% of respondents acknowledge this as a reason for sticking to Windows. A couple of notable examples include Apex Legends and GTA Online, among popular games such as Fortnite and Call of Duty.
It’s worth suggesting that if more and more users start switching to Linux, devs will likely pay closer attention. After all, Proton (the compatibility layer to get Windows games working on Linux) does support anti-cheats; it just needs to be enabled by the devs. Proton and Easy Anti-Cheat support on Proton is detailed in some Steamworks documentation here. An increasing reliance on kernel-level access or Secure Boot complicates things, though.
Steam has previously commented on what it will take to get SteamOS working properly on a desktop. Nvidia drivers are holding back a widespread release, given their relative infancy in open-source compared to AMD.
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Even popular reviewers such as Gamers Nexus have previously said “we cannot take Windows anymore” and highlighted a desire to do more game benchmarks on SteamOS, which presents a more gaming-focused operating system with improved optimization versus Windows. This was made evident when comparing the Windows and SteamOS versions of the Legion Go S.
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