this post was submitted on 13 Nov 2025
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Whether you like the idea of SteamOS or not, this will be the easiest way to get Linux into the mainstream for gamers. And at a time when Windows is forcing everyone to buy a new PC it really couldn't come sooner. If Steam timed this right they could really fuck over Microsoft. I honestly can't think of a more hilarious scenario in which Windows potentially gets dethroned.
Steam gets a lot of deserved flak for their anti-consumer practices and gambling, but it's honestly amazing how much they can do as a company. It's amazing the things you can accomplish when you don't have shareholders to deal with.
What makes it even funnier is, that steam is started by former Microsoft employees
I 100% agree about this being the opportunity for Linux to be brought into the mainstream but for a different reason.
This will divorce Linux from Linux bros. Most people aren't interested in doing any of the stuff Linux is good at like running servers, they just want to run their apps.
Right now the only way normie users hear about Linux is by stumbling into a Linux bro who started ranting at them.
While Linux bros have been great for popularizing Linux on the backend and with technical people you literally could not pick a worse demographic to represent a product to the general public.
If they release Half Life 3 day 1 of Steam Machine launch, Linux gonna get so much attention, probably biggest bang of the decade.
While I generally agree with your overall assessment. The thing you have to understand is that Microsoft has largely written off home users. At least written them off as a concern. They are much more focused now on corporate, government, and AI. Whether or not home users remain trapped on their products, matters less to them. Compared to the other groups.
The recent revelations about meddling by Microsoft corporate into their gaming division, closing so many successful studios. Canceling massive projects. Without regard to how much time, energy and resources were poured into them. All to meet some arbitrary 30% margin of profitability. They're betting in the short term on the other groups to keep home users trapped and helpless. And short term it will work to an extent.
But the time is right for valve to push right now regardless.
At corporate scale, migrating to Linux is a non-starter right now. Our IT had to explain to people where the "windows button" had gone and how people could find all their apps. Support had to argue with a user who had a hardware issue, but didn't want to get a new device because it would come with Win11. Last I heard, a board member still refuses to upgrade.
So yeah, MS has the corporate world by the balls. Smaller companies might have a better shot, but might have a harder time hiring someone willing to give Calc even just a chance when all their training and experience is with Excel.
I hope Linux can gain a larger foothold on the home user market, particularly among those who only really need the browser anyway. If Valve can convince gamers that it really isn't that big of a leap, perhaps that's the best place to pry open MS' grip.
It'll be a long way to go still, but at least it looks like there's some movement.
Problem is Microsoft has leverage in several enterprise categories like teams, office, etc.
There have been successful corporate switches in Linux, with even dedicated 1:1 UX skins to keep even the most poorly skilled users happy, but lots of corporations are just way too vendor locked.
It doesn't matter how total garbage win 11 or teams gets, anyone locked in is gonna be stuck, kinda like what happened with vmware.
Microsoft's biggest mistake though is basing their QoL and overall OS design on the home market. If they lose their leverage there, even mid size or older corps may seriously consider transitioning or trialing Linux as a test.
It's very hard to convince leadership to abandon vendor locked deals, but they eat up anything that demonstrates slashed costs and improved productivity. If a vendor like SUSE shows up with a complete package, they may genuinely consider if MSFT takes a real nosedive.
My employer certainly is. You'd have to throw our about 80% of our infrastructure, including a bunch of shit that was built in-house, and good luck convincing management that all those development expenses are sunk cost.
Particularly mamagement of the rest of the company, whom IT had to do a lot of work to convince we're more than just a cost to manage.