Linux is making history on Valve’s Steam gaming platform. The latest Hardware & Software Survey for March 2026 shows Linux at 5.33% usage, up a massive 3.10 % points from last month. This is the first time Linux has crossed the 5% mark in the survey.
And let me tell you – this is big. Here’s why. In November 2024, reaching 2% on Steam was considered a breakthrough. By November 2025, Linux had gained another 1% and passed 3%. And now, just five months later, it has suddenly and largely unexpectedly climbed above 5%, maintaining the steady growth of recent years.
If we calculate it in terms of users, applying it to Steam’s roughly 132 million monthly active users, Linux’s 5.33% share would equal about 7 million users. A figure that, no matter how you look at it, cannot be ignored by the big names in the gaming industry.
Of course, Windows remains the main platform on Steam, accounting for 92.33% of surveyed systems in March. macOS holds 2.35%. Still, Linux’s latest numbers stand out this month, thanks to breaking the 5% barrier and the big 2% jump from last month.
The reasons for the sharp Linux spike remain unclear. It is striking, however, that Windows falls to 92.33% with a -4.28 point change, Linux rises to 5.33% with a +3.10 point change, and Windows 11 jumps to 66.85% with a +10.57 point change. At the same time, however, Windows 10 has seen a massive drop of nearly 15%.
For Linux users on Steam, Arch Linux is still the king in March at 0.34%. Next came Linux Mint at 0.27% and Ubuntu at 0.20% (summary). Manjaro accounts for 0.06%. However, all of these distros combined account for less than 1%. So, where is the remaining 4%? That remains an open question.
Valve’s public March 2026 page does not provide a detailed methodological note explaining the Linux jump beyond the standard description of the survey itself. In any case, this achievement can certainly be described as historic. So, is there anyone left who would dispute Linux’s capabilities as a gaming platform?
For more details, see Valve’s Steam Hardware and Software Survey for March 2026.
That’s a historical jump It’s gone from nearly completely and entirely unused to insignificant. At this rate within another 5 years or so it will be completely moot.