More than double macOS on Steam
Valve’s Hardware and Software Poll for March 2026 Shows 5.33% of gamers on Linux. This is the first time that the 5% barrier has been crossed. To give an idea, Linux was at 3.5% at the end of 2025, it had fallen to 2.23% in February, and it more than doubled in a single month. The Steam Deck has a lot to do with it, but not only that.
And this is where it gets interesting: Linux now does more than double macOS on Steam. Macs fell below 2.5%, while Linux climbed to 5.33%. When we know that Apple sells machines for 1,500 euros and more with high-performance graphics chips, seeing a free and open system outrun it to this extent in the gaming field still raises questions. Windows obviously remains very far ahead with more than 92%.
CachyOS beats Windows 11 on several games
In terms of performance, a test carried out by NJ Tech compares CachyOS, a distribution based on Arch Linux, to Windows 11 on around ten big games. The configuration: a Ryzen 5 5600X, a Radeon RX 6700 XT, 16 GB of DDR4 and an NVMe SSD.
On Cyberpunk 2077, CachyOS runs at 98 frames per second compared to 91 on Windows. On Space Marine 2, it’s 81 compared to 68. Red Dead Redemption 2 displays 85 frames per second on Linux compared to 81 on Windows. And all this through Proton, Valve’s compatibility layer which translates Windows calls on the fly. None of these games have a native Linux version. On the other hand, The First Descendant runs better on Windows (63 versus 54 frames per second). Proton is not yet perfect on all titles.
The recipe of the moment
Proton has made huge strides in recent years, and the Steam Deck has pushed Valve to invest heavily in Linux compatibility. CachyOS, for its part, provides kernel optimizations for gaming, with fixes that improve processor management and latency. And then it must be said, Windows 11 drags its share of criticism (ads in the Start menu, telemetry, bloatware) that push some players to look elsewhere.
On the Apple side, the situation is a little different. macOS has good graphics chips with the M3 and M4, but the catalog of compatible games remains very limited compared to Windows or Linux via Proton. Mac porting remains a problem, and until publishers take it more seriously, the Mac will remain behind Linux on Steam.
What do we say about it?
5% may seem modest, but for Linux on Steam it’s a milestone. And see the Mac being overtaken by a free system in the video game field, it’s still a bit embarrassing for Apple. Well, on the other hand, installing CachyOS and configuring Proton is not exactly within everyone’s reach.
