Valve have released the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for March 2025, and as expected with the Simplified Chinese language dropping the Linux stats have shot back up.
If you do install Linux (I highly recommend) just know that in Steam, if you buy a game and your library page says “This game is not supported” and the install button is disabled, you just need to right-click on the game (in the left panel), go to Properties -> Compatibility, and set it to Proton Experimental (you can also play around with specific versions of Proton). 99% of my games work flawlessly (n.b. I don’t play competitive online multiplayer any more, it’s too sweaty and time-consuming for me these days). In fact I can’t think of anything that didn’t work. But check ProtonDB real quick before buying (although you can always refund if it doesn’t run).
you just need to right-click on the game (in the left panel), go to Properties -> Compatibility, and set it to Proton Experimental
You can also enable it for all available games from Settings > Compatibility (and you’ll still be able to override the version on a per-game basis as well)
(Also, not sure why you’re being downvoted. You made a valid assumption, and not knowing is not a sin. The dismissal of evidence is, which you clearly didn’t do. )
Perhaps not knowing this at first was unforgivable to a few people, and accepting help from you seemed like I was being insincere? I am genuinely happy to see so many eager to help in this community, hell in the instances I’ve engaged with! So, so much nicer than Reddit aha
Some windows games running on proton beat native windows performance. So yes.
Here’s a recent benchmark.
Edit: here’s the AMD GPU version if that’s what you’re using: https://youtu.be/D45AknAsIPw
Thank you, that’s fantastic! I need an upgrade and am likely going to go AMD for CPU and GPU. I think my Microsoft days are coming to an end aha
If you do install Linux (I highly recommend) just know that in Steam, if you buy a game and your library page says “This game is not supported” and the install button is disabled, you just need to right-click on the game (in the left panel), go to Properties -> Compatibility, and set it to Proton Experimental (you can also play around with specific versions of Proton). 99% of my games work flawlessly (n.b. I don’t play competitive online multiplayer any more, it’s too sweaty and time-consuming for me these days). In fact I can’t think of anything that didn’t work. But check ProtonDB real quick before buying (although you can always refund if it doesn’t run).
You can also enable it for all available games from Settings > Compatibility (and you’ll still be able to override the version on a per-game basis as well)
The trade-off of Linux vs. Windows means if your game doesn’t run on Linux I won’t buy it.
Glad I could help!
(Also, not sure why you’re being downvoted. You made a valid assumption, and not knowing is not a sin. The dismissal of evidence is, which you clearly didn’t do. )
Perhaps not knowing this at first was unforgivable to a few people, and accepting help from you seemed like I was being insincere? I am genuinely happy to see so many eager to help in this community, hell in the instances I’ve engaged with! So, so much nicer than Reddit aha