# The billion dollar race to replace Windows Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_bl0HvVcmw Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/M_bl0HvVcmw Generated: 2025-12-24T10:04:50.101+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview The race to replace Windows in PC gaming is accelerating due to the success of the Steam Deck and the emergence of powerful Linux-based alternatives like Bazzite, leading Valve to solidify its ecosystem dominance while competitors like Microsoft and Google struggle to offer compelling alternatives for dedicated handheld gaming. **Key Points:** - Valve sold approximately 4 million Steam Decks by early 2025, capturing the portable PC market, with Linux usage on Steam reaching 3.2% (up from 1.02% at the time of the original Steam Deck launch). - The Lenovo Legion Go S, running Bazzite (a Linux distribution), demonstrated excellent compatibility, running games like Cyberpunk 2077 natively at 33W with better performance consistency than Windows 11 on the same hardware. - Bazzite 43's distribution shows SteamOS Holo as the leading Linux version at 26.42%, indicating strong adoption of Valve's specific platform on alternative hardware. - The video contrasts Valve's open-source ecosystem (OS + Steam Services) with Android's closed model (OS + Google Services), arguing that Valve's approach offers superior flexibility and gaming experience. - The speaker predicts Valve will continue to dominate the PC gaming market, earning over 75% of developer revenues, and that competitors like Microsoft and Google lack a compelling, cohesive gaming ecosystem to challenge this. - The speaker highlighted that the Lenovo Legion Go S running Bazzite worked well, even running the Heroic Games Launcher to access non-Steam libraries, showcasing the flexibility of Linux. - Nebula subscription trials offer 50% off the yearly plan, costing $2.50/month ($30 yearly), supporting creators directly, contrasting with the perceived ephemeral nature of many game purchases. ![Screenshot at 00:22: A direct comparison of the Steam Deck \(running SteamOS\) and the Lenovo Legion Go S \(running Bazzite\) side-by-side, illustrating the competitive landscape of dedicated Linux-based handheld gaming PCs.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/M_bl0HvVcmw/00-00-22.jpg) **Context:** This video analyzes the growing momentum of Linux in PC gaming, spurred by the success of the Steam Deck, and contrasts Valve's open, developer-friendly approach with the proprietary ecosystems of Microsoft (Windows) and Google (Android). The speaker uses data from Steam Hardware Surveys and benchmarks from other sources to show Linux gaining ground, particularly on handheld PCs, and introduces Bazzite, a specialized Linux OS, as a highly functional alternative to Windows on devices like the Lenovo Legion Go S. ## Detailed Analysis The video argues that Linux gaming, fueled by the Steam Deck's success, is at a tipping point, evidenced by Steam statistics showing Linux usage reaching 3.2% by late 2025, tripling its share since the Steam Deck's 2022 launch (when it was 1.02%). The speaker praises Valve's strategy of creating an open platform ecosystem (OS + Steam Services) that allows hardware manufacturers like Lenovo (with the Legion Go S) to install custom Linux distributions like Bazzite, offering superior usability and performance for gaming compared to running Windows. Benchmarks comparing Windows 11 and Bazzite 41 on powerful hardware showed that while Windows sometimes led, Bazzite often provided more consistent performance, especially in demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077. The speaker also notes that Bazzite makes it easy to install launchers for other stores (like Epic/GOG) and that the underlying open-source nature of AOSP (Android Open Source Project) is inherently more flexible than Google's tightly controlled ecosystem. Ultimately, the speaker concludes that Valve holds all the cards in the PC gaming distribution market, capturing over 75% of revenues, making it difficult for Microsoft or Google to successfully challenge their platform dominance with their respective OS/Service models in the handheld space. ### Linux Gaming Momentum - Linux reached 3.2% usage on Steam by Nov 2025, tripling its share since the Steam Deck launch (1.02% in 2022) - Steam Deck OLED launch and Windows 10 end-of-life correlated with peaks in Linux adoption - SteamOS Holo leads Linux distributions at 26.42% share. ### Handheld PC Comparison - Lenovo Legion Go S running Bazzite 43 provided a smooth experience, easily installing GOG and Epic launchers via Heroic - Bazzite 43 on the Legion Go S sometimes outperformed Windows 11 in Cyberpunk 2077 at 14W TDP. ### Ecosystem Contrast (Valve vs. Google) - Valve's model (SteamOS + Steam) is open and flexible, supporting community efforts like Bazzite, whereas Google's Android model (AOSP + GMS) is tightly controlled and monetized through services, limiting OEM flexibility. ### Performance Benchmarks - Benchmarks comparing Windows 11 vs. Bazzite 41 on high-end desktop hardware showed Windows leading in FPS, but the speaker suggests this difference is irrelevant for the handheld form factor where Bazzite offered better stability and power management. ### Nebula Promotion - The creator promotes Nebula subscription with a 50% off yearly deal ($2.50/month, billed $30 yearly) and offers bonus videos for subscribers. ![Screenshot at 00:22: Comparison of Steam Deck \(SteamOS\) and Lenovo Legion Go S \(Bazzite\) running Hades 2 side-by-side.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/M_bl0HvVcmw/00-00-22.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:18: Steam Hardware & Software Survey data showing Linux usage at 3.20% in November 2025, surpassing macOS \(2.02%\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/M_bl0HvVcmw/00-01-18.jpg) ![Screenshot at 01:28: Bar chart comparing lifetime revenue/usage of various consoles, showing Steam Deck at $5 million, significantly lower than PS2 \($160M\) or Switch \($154M\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/M_bl0HvVcmw/00-01-28.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:25: Historical chart of Linux Steam user percentage showing a massive spike after the Steam Deck launch \(1.02% in 2022\) and reaching 3.2% by 2025, coinciding with Windows 10 end-of-life.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/M_bl0HvVcmw/00-02-25.jpg) ![Screenshot at 11:05: A comparison graphic showing Android OS + Google Services vs. a hypothetical Fuchsia OS + Google Services, illustrating Google's tight control over its ecosystem.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/M_bl0HvVcmw/00-11-05.jpg)