It’s very good news for Valve, which is seeing their platform do well. And it’s good news for users of other Linux distros in the sense that compatibility with Valve’s Linux probably helps ensure support for them.
But it doesn’t mean, I think, so much that lots of Windows users are moving to Linux unless they are abandoning their desktop for a Steam Deck. More that there are likely people using both a Linux-based device – Steam Deck – and a device running another OS.
To be fair, it’s still good for Linux because in this case, software distributed to Steamdeck through Flatpak or Steam can largely be used by other distros as well, which can make more conventional desktops more enticing in the near future.
There was some earlier article that a large portion of Linux users are using the Steam Deck, which is Linux-based.
googles
Not the article I was thinking of, but makes the point:
https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2023/08/linux-overtakes-macos-users-on-steam-thanks-to-steam-deck/
42% of Linux Steam users are Steam Deck users.
It’s very good news for Valve, which is seeing their platform do well. And it’s good news for users of other Linux distros in the sense that compatibility with Valve’s Linux probably helps ensure support for them.
But it doesn’t mean, I think, so much that lots of Windows users are moving to Linux unless they are abandoning their desktop for a Steam Deck. More that there are likely people using both a Linux-based device – Steam Deck – and a device running another OS.
To be fair, it’s still good for Linux because in this case, software distributed to Steamdeck through Flatpak or Steam can largely be used by other distros as well, which can make more conventional desktops more enticing in the near future.