Linux Gaming Marketshare Regressed So Far 2016

[jf33]

The thing is, while it is definitely possible to play on Linux, there are basically no advantages.

Being independent of Microsoft is enough advantage for me, especially when you look at where they're heading right now. But the point is:
a) Being independent is nothing instantly noticeable, but something abstract. So many people don't see the advantage.
b) Those wanting to be independent will not buy games at steam and make themselves dependent on Valve.

The reason Valve wants people to switch to linux is that it would make Valve independent (of Microsoft), not the people.

[Ardje]

They've been out for quite some time. They have bad reviews, just like the controller itself. No wonder people don't rush to buy them.

Actually, it's only been a week or so since the second steam machine was availabe here.
I immediately bought the SN970, but I noticed the PC world still thinks that CEC does not exist.
If CEC worked out of the box, it would be a nice console. Now it substitutes my intel desktop.
The steam machine itself (except for the CEC flaw) is basically perfect. It's fast, it has 3GB RAM on the video card, and it is very very quiet.
Not every linux game runs though, because steamos comes without things like java (far sky doesn't work for instance), and it's hard to install it if you are not a debian developer already.
The steam controller is basically the best controller I have ever used. It beats my PS3 controller hands down in usability. It also beats my mouse with gyro aim.
But you need to learn to use it and just hope somebody has a config with gyro aim, and hope that it works on steamos the same way.

[Passso]

Being independent of Microsoft is enough advantage for me, especially when you look at where they're heading right now. But the point is:
a) Being independent is nothing instantly noticeable, but something abstract. So many people don't see the advantage.
b) Those wanting to be independent will not buy games at steam and make themselves dependent on Valve.

The reason Valve wants people to switch to linux is that it would make Valve independent (of Microsoft), not the people.

Yup, I agree. And I still think that Valve be a good competitor on the console market.
They will be as soon as < 300$ hardware will be available, and Pascal coupled with Pentium may provide this, this year.

Now a lot of you guys can whine about "people prefer Windows" , "not enought AAA games" etc. but Steam boxes compared to XBox1 and WiiU has already a lot of exclusive AAA games.

(Sony and their "exclusive title on PS4 or die and get burried" will be much harder to beat...)

[Pecisk]

They've been out for quite some time. They have bad reviews, just like the controller itself. No wonder people don't rush to buy them.

Steam Machines and Big Mode doesn't have survey implemented yet. And no, Steam Machines and Controller didn't get bad reviews. Please educate yourself and don't try to justify 'doom and gloom' attitude.

[anda_skoa]

The thing is, while it is definitely possible to play on Linux, there are basically no advantages.

Well, the main advantage is not having to reboot.

While suspend-to-disk makes that kind of bearable, i.e. not losing your session state, it is still a kludge as you don't have access to any of your applications while gaming (or rather in between gaming sessions, in breaks, while waiting, etc).

Cheers,
_

[Passso]

Well, the main advantage is not having to reboot.

While suspend-to-disk makes that kind of bearable, i.e. not losing your session state, it is still a kludge as you don't have access to any of your applications while gaming (or rather in between gaming sessions, in breaks, while waiting, etc).

Cheers,
_

I would add : no antivirus, antispyware, antimalware
and more generally : automatic management and updates

[mike4]

Audio and Udev still need some love. The need to create udev rules for some USB devices is not competitive to other os.

[babali]

Linux is a third of mac, pretty cool isn't it!

[mcallegari]

The Steam survey is so wrong.
Since every Steam access and gameplay is monitored and since it is all web based....is it so difficult to store the OS+hours spent and make statistics on that ?
Sounds more real than how it works now...and no more popups to users

[pracedru]

I havent seen any commercials for or any products linups of the Steam machines with SteamOS yet.
So this is not that wierd.
Why would any one buy a Steam machine if they aren't even aware of them?