Is this the tipping point? There was another popular Youtuber who made a similar video recently, I forget who, but I could see videos like this bringing enough users to make Linux more than a drop in the bucket.
this post was submitted on 09 Jul 2025
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it was pewdiepie
and he not only made his "im switching to linux" video, but then also made like some diy makerspace video and then got into selfhosting and degoogling within like a month and ngl these videos had so much genuine passion, and that's what makes it so cool.
Yeah exactly! He's so into it!
I haven't watched Pewdiepie since many years back, but these videos really made me happy to watch. I could see my own excitement from years back relived through his eyes.
Since these are big names in tech on YT, this will make a lot of users try it out that otherwise would not have.
Half sarcastically and half seriously; This IS the year of the Linux desktop. And if it isn't next year will be. We've seen it become better and better at what, I feel, is an exponential rate. Whatever year it will be, it is going to be soon.
I'm excited for the future :)
Yup. I'm not a fan of pewdiepie and most popular streamers, but I do appreciate his advocacy for Linux.
Wait seriously?
I might have to check those vids out...
I haven't watched him in a long long time
It's a very recent development, so no wonder you missed it. Yes, Pewdiepie went full Arch with Hyprland and made his Steam Deck into a server and I'm not even joking :D
Yay! It's the year of the Linux desktop!
It might actually be true this time.
My hardcore windows only friend is discussing joining me on Bazzite really seriously. If it gets him, it will get a few tech savvy but windlass only people.
Still a long way off non-tech people though
Linux allows gamers to properly own their expensive hardware. I am surprised it took this long. It has been viable for years now.
But once gamers flip, it will be the year of linux desktop
I mean J2C is one of the smaller of the big tech YT, if that makes sense.
LTT has gone on the record several times that they won't cover Linux at all again until Steam OS gets a wide release (which probably won't happen until Nvidia gets their shit together).
GN has discussed it several times but they remain straddling the fence.
MKBHD doesn't really cover much gaming stuff and 0 PC stuff (only Apple 🤢).
Austin Evans next, maybe?
Dude, the knock-on affects from this video will be huge.
Looks like Phil was carrying this one.
I kinda wish they showed protondb around the 19:50 ish mark instead of just focusing on deck playable
https://www.protondb.com/app/7900 still borked but important to see that even for a nieche game from 2005 thats no longer available on steam an entry exists just showcases the wealth of information on protondb
100% agree. Good point.
I wish he didn’t feel the need to be so defensive about his choices. Bazzite is perfect for this use case
In his defense, he does make a great point at the beginning of the video.
“I have never touched a Linux topic in my life. Why? Because you guys scare the shit out of me, because you guys are some opinionated motherf…”
We’re opinionated? This dude literally said on Twitter that Linux is useless and nobody should use it.
Imagine knowing what people post on Twitter
I think that's his schtick
Thank you for including a timestamp! I wish more people would do that.
Doesn't matter that you waited... you're here now. Congrats!
Linux content also seems to do pretty well when it comes to clicks. I've seen smaller channels which got a boost from the algorithm (?) when they started releasing Linux videos. Hopefully this will give creators further incentives for more of this stuff!
I feel like there’s a “bell curve” for Linux gaming enjoyment.
If you’re even a little techy, like not using your PC begrudgingly and mostly live in iOS or whatever, the switch will feel like a relief. But many PC users aren’t; they arent interested in what a OS or file system is, they just want League or Sims to pop up and that’s it.
…And then there’s me. I use Linux for hours every day, I’m pretty familiar with the graphics stacks and such… But I need the performance of stripped, neutered Windows I dual boot for weird, modded sim games I sometimes play. And frankly, it’s more convenient for many titles I need to get up and running quick for coop or whatever. There’s also tools like SpecialK that don’t work on Linux, and help immensely with certain games/displays.
If you want to play multiplayer that uses anti-cheat you are still screwed right?
Depends on the game/publisher. Depending on the anticheat it can be as simple as enabling Linux/Proton support on the dev's side with a flag.
I can't play Destiny 2 with my Destiny obsessed friend, that's about all I've been impacted. Didn't really get into it anyway. I don't even check ProtonDB anymore before buying new games, they almost all work flawlessly these days.
Not quite, steam now installs EasyAntiCheat for linux when you first setup steam for instance. The games you will struggle with are games such as those published by Riot, some view that as a bonus though 😅
So what I'm hearing is that it'll prevent my former League addiction from kicking back up?
I see this as an absolute win!
Counter-strike works, as do all valve titles. Overwatch, Splitgate and Titanfall work as well and so do most "non-real-time games", like Trackmania. Riot's games and Rainbow don't work. Check protondb for the games that ate important to you.
Cs works, as long as you don’t want to play faceit or esea
Last I checked Deadlock has banned Steam Deck (and anything that looks like Steam Deck).
For the most part, no. Check out areweanticheatyet
Overcooked, Liars Bar, Ready or Not, Schedule 1, Elden Ring, Jackbox, etc . . . . . All work great as multiplayer titles on linux. There's a great trove of fun games that don't require kernel level anticheat because the the community of players isn't as toxic.
It was a pretty good video I thought.