Steam survey shows Windows 10 usage is double Linux usage

[kingpotnoodle]

The Linux thing is a just a simple Chicken/Egg scenario, it's a tough sell to developers to be Linux compatible for such a tiny % of potential users. Developing for Windows with a mature gaming ecosystem, DirectX etc. is simply a better use of time when you're making AAA titles that cost millions to develop. I don't see it changing very quickly, the games for Linux are mostly casual/basic and that will probably continue for quite some time.

[shaithis]

25 by my count.

Log in on https://steamdb.info/linux/

36 work and 4 potentially work (out of 217). Still better then I expected but not many big titles in there.
Shadows of Mordor, The Metro Reduxes and Empire Total War were the only big titles with Alien Isolation and Rome 2 in the "hints at working" sections.

A LONG way to go yet but I guess it's going to be a slow transition. The problem I guess though is "will devs write for Linux until more people are using it?" and "Will users switch to Linux until devs write for it?"

I need to update my linux and try a few I guess....

if only BF4 was available under Linux I'd jump straight away...

Not much chance for a while. EA don't seem to be very Linux-friendly, they haven't even created Origin for Linux yet.

[ZaO]

I really hope the Linux gaming situation continues to improve. I'm sure Valve must have organised a load of stuff with game devs behind the scenes, otherwise why would they go to all this effort with Steam Machines n all? Just on the off chance it might work out? I doubt that. They're smart enough business people to know better!

Edit: Linux support for Star Citizen looks very likely now: https://youtu.be/zt4r3ksHXng?t=25m51s

[zsde]

Linux users 0.89%, Win10 users 0.09%. Thus 10 times more Linux users. The article headline should say that Win10 has double the increase in users over Linux from the last survey i.e 0.04% increase and Linux 0.02% increase. That's a far cry off what the article headline states. M$ must hate that system that still tops the charts Should be a lesson to them. New is not always better.

[GuidoLS]

I really hope the Linux gaming situation continues to improve. I'm sure Valve must have organised a load of stuff with game devs behind the scenes, otherwise why would they go to all this effort with Steam Machines n all? Just on the off chance it might work out? I doubt that. They're smart enough business people to know better!

Edit: Linux support for Star Citizen looks very likely now: https://youtu.be/zt4r3ksHXng?t=25m51s

In case you missed it, Star Citizen is under FTC (US Federal Trade Commission) investigation for mass fraud - at this point, Star Citizen is looking very much like they could be in legal trouble. They're trying to play it off, and saying it's only Derek Smart making waves, but it's not just Derek Smart... either way, don't be surprised or disappointed.

[directhex]

Game devs aren't integrating cross-platform concerns into their games from day 1 (and games take 3 years to make, so in 2015 you see tech decisions locked in stone in 2012), so typically ports (if they happen at all) are done after release, by subcontractors. In a sense it's cheaper, because they have the expertise already, and in other ways it's more expensive, as you're paying contractors rather than getting the guys already on the payroll to do it.

And the expert subcontractors have limited staff so can port a limited number of titles at once.

Valve works in-house, 2K contract out to anyone (Aspyr, Feral, VP). Most indie games are contractor ports or in-house (indie game engines tend to be more portable in the first place). Paradox ports are in-house.

[The Hand]

Steam OS could shake things up a bit.. and maybe proper linux support from AMD?

[Corky34]

A LONG way to go yet but I guess it's going to be a slow transition. The problem I guess though is "will devs write for Linux until more people are using it?" and "Will users switch to Linux until devs write for it?"

For me as a user that switch will be 2019/20, I refuse to buy into Microsoft's vision of how the PC is evolving, or in some people eyes devolving.

[SHSPVR]

Wait a minute that screen shows:

Physical CPUs 2 cpus 48.26%

Really???? Nearly half the people using steam have more than 1 physical cpu in their system, I think not.

No it means 1 CPU with Dual Core

[DanceswithUnix]

Steam OS could shake things up a bit.. and maybe proper linux support from AMD?

AMD have about a 20% performance penalty over their Windows performance (compared to Nvidia where you expect Linux to be a hair faster). That isn't good, it is like dropping a whole grade of graphics card. But that is nothing compared to ports that aren't properly native and just about get the game working.

This benchmark is quite depressing, Shadow of Mordor you are lucky to get half the framerate of Windows:

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...10-linux&num=2

On a platform used on servers the world over for its speed, that is just pitiful.

[FRISH]

Linux users 0.89%, Win10 users 0.09%. Thus 10 times more Linux users. The article headline should say that Win10 has double the increase in users over Linux from the last survey i.e 0.04% increase and Linux 0.02% increase. That's a far cry off what the article headline states. M$ must hate that system that still tops the charts Should be a lesson to them. New is not always better.

Check win 10 64 bit

[ZaO]

In case you missed it, Star Citizen is under FTC (US Federal Trade Commission) investigation for mass fraud - at this point, Star Citizen is looking very much like they could be in legal trouble. They're trying to play it off, and saying it's only Derek Smart making waves, but it's not just Derek Smart... either way, don't be surprised or disappointed.

I heard something about that in another forum. Based on the conversation there, it just sounded like some jealous game dev trying to get himself some attention. I checked out some of the info in the links, but I don't really know much about it as it just seemed insignificant. I didn't realise there was an actual investigation though. I'm going to look into it.. Cheers for the info!

Edit: Just realised who that Derek Smart guy is haha... I can't find anything about the US Federal Trade Commission investigating CIG, though.. Can you pm me links if you know any? Would be best not to go too off topic in this thread Cheers dude.

AMD have about a 20% performance penalty over their Windows performance (compared to Nvidia where you expect Linux to be a hair faster). That isn't good, it is like dropping a whole grade of graphics card. But that is nothing compared to ports that aren't properly native and just about get the game working.

This benchmark is quite depressing, Shadow of Mordor you are lucky to get half the framerate of Windows:

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?pag...10-linux&num=2

On a platform used on servers the world over for its speed, that is just pitiful.

That's depressing

[GuidoLS]

@ZaO -

There's a lot of carpet bombing by all sides, so it's hard to find any hard information. HERE is the actual complaint as made to the FTC. I have no dog in this hunt - I gave up on space sims years ago with the Wing Commander series (incidentally, another Chris Roberts product). I won't speculate when or if this goes anywhere, beyond noting that the FTC just went after its first kickstarter project as a fraud, and got a conviction. And this is a LOT bigger - 80million USD and growing larger.

[ZaO]

@ZaO -

There's a lot of carpet bombing by all sides, so it's hard to find any hard information. HERE is the actual complaint as made to the FTC. I have no dog in this hunt - I gave up on space sims years ago with the Wing Commander series (incidentally, another Chris Roberts product). I won't speculate when or if this goes anywhere, beyond noting that the FTC just went after its first kickstarter project as a fraud, and got a conviction. And this is a LOT bigger - 80million USD and growing larger.

I'll have a read! Cheers.

[outwar6010]

Wait a minute that screen shows:

Physical CPUs 2 cpus 48.26%

Really???? Nearly half the people using steam have more than 1 physical cpu in their system, I think not.

Could it just mean dual core setups?

[KillerCoati]

Isn't this pretty obvious seeing as most of the games on steam aren't compatible with Linux but are with windows 10? So why would Linux ever be more popular on a games platform such as steam :S