Not that anyone cares but I thought I should voice my position as a customer...

The increased support by Steam for Linux is pushing me more and more into buying my games over there rather than GOG.

I know Linux is niche but I think increasingly the landscape is changing and GOG should adapt and start working on offering Linux support. I don't think the future is sustainable without acting on this.

I think until Steam itself lists steamdeck users / steam OS in the hardware survey its a lost cause with them cornering things:

Windows
96.91%
+0.39%

Windows 10 64 bit
54.19%
+2.76%

Windows 11 64 bit
41.96%
-2.28%

Windows 7 64 bit
0.57%
-0.02%

Windows 8.1 64 bit
0.09%
-0.04%


OSX
1.32%
-0.22%

MacOS 14.2.1 64 bit
0.32%
-0.13%

MacOS 14.3.0 64 bit
0.16%
+0.10%

MacOS 14.3.1 64 bit
0.12%
+0.12%

MacOS 14.0.0 64 bit
0.06%
-0.04%


Linux
1.76%
-0.19%

"Arch Linux" 64 bit
0.14%
-0.01%

Ubuntu 22.04.3 LTS 64 bit
0.09%
-0.04%

Linux Mint 21.3 64 bit
0.06%
+0.06%

"Manjaro Linux" 64 bit
0.06%
-0.01%

Maybe everyone is installing windows on the deck?

I still doubt it would make Linux jump that much in percentage. Maybe 2 or 3, which I guess is huge for Linux since it's been at a little over 1% forever on steam..

Currently Linux is at 1.76% - but does that include steamdecks or not? (havent seen that figure change really since before the supposed 3mil+ sales).

Not as far as Steam / GOG's catering (or not) to the (broad drawer full of forks) OS.

I'm guessing it does not include steamdeck. I think they would have SteamOS/steamdeck on the Linux list. Maybe I'm wrong.

Exactly what I would expect too.

Point being though it would shift the figures a bit (but given how many games are being made deck compatible, it also means devs / pubs / studios are willing to push that way for the potential additional income. With that in mind I think its a waiting game for now to see how this all pans out (in regards to the OP). If the deck works, I'm sure linux compatability (and not just "deck verified") could become a bit more prevalent - especially if windows 11 - 12 goes the way my colleagues in the industry expect.

Edit: forgot to mention the gradual shift to engines other than unity since that whole debacle a while back and Adobe's AI crap has creative people fleeing too (aside from the stupid price).

The lack of Linux support is mostly from game developers. It's not really the store's job to make a game they sell multi-platform.

As far as playing Windows games on Linux what's important is that WINE continues to be developed. I don't think Steam or GOG matter all that much.

But it's true the Steam client makes the process very simple for anyone who needs or wants help getting a game to run.

I'm pretty sure the raw numbers include the Deck, listed under Arch Linux.
I have a look at the survey results from time to time and the Arch linux "rise to the top" during last year, instead of Ubuntu doesn't seem to be a coincidence.
I'm not sure how the numbers are calculated but if the listed % is from all the accounts, well, still a freaking massive huge number. The total accounts number is surely growing as is the concurrent player number, breaking records consistently.

Also worthing of note is the most used language is simplified chinese for a couple of months now, has been steady growing from a couple of years now. If the statistics only included English as primary language or "western" locals numbers may look quite different. As far as I know (sorry if I'm mistaken), Steam as a diferent client version for China and the standard Deck OS doesn't work in China's internet.

While I too am disappointed with the poor Linux support, not only from GOG but from all stores out there, I am too strongly against DRM to see Steam as a valid option.

So instead I work on tools to improve the Linux experience, like ./play.it.

Its from whoever takes part in the survey (opt in via the client / given the option to via the client - unless anything has changed in the last couple of months).

Thanks for letting GOG know.

Plenty of chinese / "chinese" (depending on how steam might consider the countries boundaries) users on there for a long time - plus the language isnt only in China. I think the option of it being a first language is new (last few years) though.
Still an interesting stat. Should ask my neighbours son for any thoughts (engineering intern in HK).

The sample is random. So if Linux is down or up on a given result its doesn't really mean anything. It could just be that more or less Linux users were sampled that time. So I don't see that the survey is of much use to anyone looking for changes.