Elyse Betters Picaro / ZDNET
Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google.
ZDNET key takeaways
Valve is set to release a new gaming console in 2026.
The Steam Machine will run the Linux OS.
The console also doubles as a PC.
According to Gaming On Linux, the market share for Steam on Linux hit a high of 3% in 2025. Although that sounds paltry to some, for the Linux community, it was a major milestone because it proved that Linux is gaining ground in the gaming world.
I feel almost silly celebrating such a low number, but given how long I've been covering Linux, I've seen that number below 1%. It's been a slow climb up a very large hill.
When I first started with Linux, playing games was limited to a scant few, mostly along the lines of solitaire. A few years later saw the rise of games like Frozen Bubble (which I really enjoyed). Then came Wine, which opened up a whole new world of gaming on Linux.
Also: How much RAM does your Linux PC really need? My expert advice for 2025
... continue reading