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Windows Market Share Plummets: Is Linux the Future?
2 Apr
Summary
- Windows saw its biggest three-year drop in market share, now at 60.8%.
- Linux's PC gaming share rose to 5.3% in March 2026, a significant increase.
- Steam Deck's impact is evident, but broader market trends should be cautiously interpreted.
Windows has seen a dramatic decline in its market share, experiencing its largest three-year drop to 60.8% as of March 2026. This signals a diversifying gaming ecosystem moving beyond traditional Windows dominance.
Linux is steadily gaining traction in PC gaming, with the March 2026 Steam hardware survey showing 5.3% of users on some form of Linux. This represents a significant increase from 2.3% one year ago.
Valve's SteamOS is the most common Linux variation, powering devices like the Steam Deck. However, other Linux distributions are also seeing growth, though the data includes notable anomalies this month.
Broader market trends require caution. According to StatCounter, Linux holds 3.1% of total desktop OS users worldwide as of March 2026, a gain but down from a previous high. A surge in "unknown" operating systems and bot traffic may be skewing overall web statistics.
