- Valves Steamos -Market Serve has grown by 0.32%, based on New Steam Hardware & Software Survey
- Microsoft’s Windows 11 market share fell by 0.44%, suggesting players migrating to Steamos
- These results come just before Microsoft’s new ‘full-screen experience’ for the Xbox PC app
Microsoft’s Windows 11 is on the verge of receiving significant updates leading to 2026, specifically for players with his new Xbox PC app ‘Full Screen Experience’. However, it seems that Valve’s Linux-based operating system is gradually taking the lead as the better operating system for games.
As reported by TweAttown, Steams suggests the result of the Hardware & Software Survey in July 2025 to Valves Steamos from Microsoft’s Windows 11, with a growth of 0.32% in the Linux market share -while the Windows 11 market share fell by 0.44%.
TWEACTOWN emphasizes that Linux’s 2.89% market share for the operating system is equivalent to about four million players out of Steam’s 132 million users, so growth is quite significant. It can also be a huge indication of how popular handheld games have been since Valve introduced his Steam Deck back in 2022 if a majority of these results come from handheld players.
It is clear that Valves Steamos still has a long way to go with regard to its user counting compared to Windows 11, but the Linux operating system has undoubtedly already surpassed Windows in terms of gaming performance, accessibility and features.
It is also worth noting that both Valve and Microsoft have promised obligations to improve their respective operating systems. The former plans to expand Steamo’s compatibility with other handheld and desktop PCs, while Microsoft brings a ‘full screen experience’ to handhelders debuting on ROG Xbox Ally.
Analysis: I doubt the new Xbox PC app ‘full-screen experience’ will check the Steamos Momentum
As I have stated in the past, it is very difficult for me to see how Microsoft’s upcoming Xbox PC app experience will move me away from Steamos because the latter has simply won me (at least with handhelds).
I wouldn’t say that Microsoft doesn’t have a chance and I will definitely check it out when it is available – but I think the scene is already ready for Valve to take the lead when it comes to PC games.
The tools at my disposal while using Bazzite (a Steamos clone) are good for UI adaptation, and perhaps most importantly improved game performance with DECKY FRAMEGEN AND DECKY LOSSESS SCALING, ALL VIA DECKY LOADER.
Sure there are determined equivalent tools on Windows 11 but navigation and tinkering on this operating system, especially With a handheld is something I don’t want to deal with anymore. Therefore, this ‘full -screen experience’ sounds promising as it sounds like a similar to Steamos’s game mode.
Microsoft’s new efforts to improve games on his operating system are very welcome and valued, and I think it will attract many players when it launches with ROG Xbox Ally – but generally I suppose it won’t check out Steamos’ momentum.
