Linux Game Sales Figures
May 14th, 2007 by CrusaderA reader let us know that two independent game developers have released sales statisticsfor their Linux titles:
- Gish: Sales per OS- 73% Windows, 20% OSX, 7% Linux
If I recall correctly, around 5% of the various id-produced first-personshooter players were on Linux (although back in 2000 John Carmack noted thatthe retail Quake III: Arena Linux sales were disappointing); if that was thecase, it’s neat to see a growing amount of Linux gamers supporting indiestudios.
May 15th, 2007 at 1:27 am
we are so small!
May 15th, 2007 at 6:16 am
Not small. That fact is most games are only native to Windows. As a Linux user I would buy a Windows game, and use WINE to play it on Linux. Steam (HL, HL2 ..) anyone?
As such, the number of sales statistics for Linux games is impressive.
May 15th, 2007 at 3:11 pm
At least around here it’s impossible to buy Linux games offline and buying online can many times be a lot more expensive than buying the microsoft version and then download the Linux binary.
The best had been if there had been one media for all platforms (Linux, Mac, microsoft).
May 26th, 2007 at 7:04 am
Sadly, I see the figures disappointing. I was thinking of trying my first commercial game for Linux-only, but it seems that it isn’t worth it. If I start development using cross-platform libraries adding Linux support isn’t a bad idea though.
I guess it has to do with the mentality that systems based on Free and Open Source software should have all their programs for free, and the fact that probably Linux is used more by people who cannot afford a Mac or Windows OS.
In any case, supporting Linux only, would leave severe losses :(