CachyOS: Gaming distro sets its sights on SteamOS
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CachyOS has climbed to second place among Linux distributions on Steam, reaching 13.36 percent in the May 2026 survey and closing in on SteamOS.
For anyone running their game library on Linux, or considering a move away from Windows, the latest Steam statistics are worth a closer look. One distribution in particular is growing faster than the rest of the field. PCGH has already published detailed guides on how to install, set up and optimize CachyOS as a gaming operating system, along with its own Linux benchmarks.
CachyOS puts pressure on SteamOS
Valve has now released the latest figures from its Steam Hardware & Software Survey for May 2026. The data shows CachyOS reaching a 13.36 percent share among Linux gamers on Steam. Compared with the previous month, that is an increase of 4.99 percentage points, making it by far the biggest gainer in the entire field. Bazzite, another gaming-focused distribution, also posted strong growth.
Source: Steam
CachyOS saw strong gains in Steams May 2026 Hardware and Software Survey.
CachyOS has now clearly pushed Arch Linux, which stands at 8.70 percent, out of second place. It sits behind only SteamOS Holo, the official operating system of the Steam Deck and the new Steam Machine, which remains in first place with 23.34 percent.
Gaming distributions continue to gain ground
As mentioned, CachyOS gained exactly 4.99 percentage points in the Steam Hardware & Software Survey for May 2026, growing faster than any other distribution. SteamOS Holo, by comparison, increased by just 0.29 percentage points, while Bazzite climbed by 2.54 percentage points to 7.28 percent.
That leaves CachyOS less than ten percentage points behind the leader. If this momentum continues, the gap could shrink further in the coming surveys. As usual, the full distribution breakdown is listed by GamingOnLinux, while Phoronix has also published an analysis of the results.
Linux share on Steam falls to 3.99 percent
Overall, Linux usage on Steam fell to 3.99 percent in May 2026, down 0.53 percentage points from the previous month. Compared with the 5.33 percent recorded in March, that is a notable drop. Even so, Linux remains comfortably ahead of the years when its share sat below two percent.
Source: GamingOnLinux
Linux has been growing steadily and organically on Steam since the Steam Deck launched in 2022.
macOS stands at 2.16 percent, while Windows continues to dominate with 93.85 percent. CachyOS is therefore gaining share within a shrinking Linux segment, which makes its rise all the more noteworthy. Possible factors holding back the overall Linux share include the Steam Deck being temporarily out of stock and now more expensive, as well as the fact that the Steam Machine and Steam Frame have not yet started shipping.
Still, these figures should be treated as a snapshot rather than a firm long-term trend. The numbers can fluctuate quite sharply from month to month, and Valve recently corrected errors related to the way some distribution strings were counted. The official raw data is available through the Steam Hardware Survey.
Quelle: Steam via CachyOS via GamingOnLinux / Phoronix
