Thanks to all of Valve's effort with Proton, Steam Deck and their funding of people working on various other bits of Linux code like GPU drivers - the Linux share on Steam as of March 2024 bounced back to a near multi-year high.
Maybe I’m wrong, and I admittedly didn’t read the article, but can’t Valve see if a person is using the Linux runtime or Windows exe without needing to request access to other information? Like it seems like a very basic thing that Valve probably collects by default because it would take effort not to.
Like when I access a website, it can instantly tell what web browser (and I believe OS, among other things) that I’m using. Unless I’ve gone in and altered my user agent. Why would using Steam be any different?
I don’t know that Steam doesn’t record it anyway, but sharing OS is explicitly part of the data they show you that they will take if you agree to the Steam survey, which certainly implies they’re not doing so if you don’t consent.
The website situation is (arguably) different, as a User Agent is something your browser is giving the website on your behalf (in theory). From the website’s perspective, you are voluntarily sharing that information and any issues with that are between you and your browser.
Surely there is no way to install steam on linux and download stuff off that installation without revealing that you are doing it on a linux machine. I mean you are either requesting a linux build of the game from their server or you are downloading some wine/proton components or configurations. Right?
The info from the Steam Hardware Survey is collected on an opt-in basis. I’m sure Valve has plenty of ways to get this information otherwise, but this specific data set requires acceptance of the terms of the survey.
Serious question, are linux users just as likely to share there system specs for corporate stats?
Its also the platform for privacy enthusiasts so i think not meaning the actual number is higher then measured.
Could go either way.
I ALWAYS share my stats for the steam surveys, because higher Linux market share = better Linux support
Maybe I’m wrong, and I admittedly didn’t read the article, but can’t Valve see if a person is using the Linux runtime or Windows exe without needing to request access to other information? Like it seems like a very basic thing that Valve probably collects by default because it would take effort not to.
Like when I access a website, it can instantly tell what web browser (and I believe OS, among other things) that I’m using. Unless I’ve gone in and altered my user agent. Why would using Steam be any different?
Consent has no relationship with technical ease.
I don’t know that Steam doesn’t record it anyway, but sharing OS is explicitly part of the data they show you that they will take if you agree to the Steam survey, which certainly implies they’re not doing so if you don’t consent.
The website situation is (arguably) different, as a User Agent is something your browser is giving the website on your behalf (in theory). From the website’s perspective, you are voluntarily sharing that information and any issues with that are between you and your browser.
Surely there is no way to install steam on linux and download stuff off that installation without revealing that you are doing it on a linux machine. I mean you are either requesting a linux build of the game from their server or you are downloading some wine/proton components or configurations. Right?
The info from the Steam Hardware Survey is collected on an opt-in basis. I’m sure Valve has plenty of ways to get this information otherwise, but this specific data set requires acceptance of the terms of the survey.