https://launcher.epicgames.com/
From FAQ:
What should I know about Linux support?
The new Epic Games Launcher runs natively on Linux, but many games are Windows-only builds and may need a compatibility layer. Check each game’s Linux compatibility before installing.
We support Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer, Fedora 43 or newer, and Debian 12 or newer. Other distributions may work but aren’t officially tested or supported.
Use the Send feedback button in the launcher to report issues.
https://onlineservices.epicgames.com/news/introducing-easy-anti-cheat-linux-v2
Also epic is rebuilding Easy Anti-Cheat for Linux (EAC Linux v2) to deliver near-Windows-level protection using signed kernels, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and other existing Linux security features starting with a Fortnite, so more multiplayer games can finally support the platform without enabling widespread cheating.
Hard pass on the Epic Vibe Launcher. Heroic it is.
Cool I guess, but still trying to make client-side cheat detection happen is so futile and stupid.
Meh. Heroic launcher has been fine.
I think this generally is a good thing but I’m gonna pass on the rootkit and the launcher with ads and popups. Also, very funny to me that suddenly Linux is a priority after saying that they won’t support Linux because it’s not in their financial interest
TLDR for those who didn’t read the EAC Linux v2 post.
On hardware side, it requires TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and Input-Output Memory Management Unit (IOMMU) enabled in BIOS.
On software side, it requires a signed kernel and kernel modules, measured boot, kernel lockdown integrity mode, kexec to be disabled, and Linux Security Module BPF.
Where keys are needed, they must all be well-known. Epic maintains a list of well-known keys.
Basically this all requires that your machine has the required features and that your distribution provides a proper kernel.
Does EAC Linux v2 use a kernel driver?
No. EAC Linux v2 does not install or load an anti-cheat kernel module. It uses security features already provided by the Linux kernel, together with an anti-cheat systemd service and eBPF programs.
Does EAC Linux v2 run in the background all the time?
No. It includes a systemd service, but the service only starts when a protected game starts and it stops when the game exits.
It depends on systemd? I don’t care about init systems but watching the people who do is going to be very funny when it releases.
(I hate having to fiddle with my bios so I’ll probably stick to my switch for eac games but at least it isn’t a rootkit)
Not gonna install a rootkit on Linux, either.
From: https://onlineservices.epicgames.com/news/introducing-easy-anti-cheat-linux-v2
We are starting to reach out to leaders in the Linux community
It’s okay, we know who you talk to.
epic is rebuilding Easy Anti-Cheat for Linux (EAC Linux v2) to deliver near-Windows-level protection using signed kernels, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and other existing Linux security features starting with a Fortnite
That’s some anti-christ shit
That they are building an anti-cheat with existing open kernel security features instead of writing their own kernel modules is somehow a bad thing?
Signed kernel means no akmods right? Without being able to install Nvidia drivers this may already be a nonstarter.
It may not be your thing, but I believe this is a good thing. Some people don’t make the switch to Linux at all because they can’t play games with kernel-level anticheat. At the very least, anyone who may dual boot Linux and Windows can now boot Linux and their anticheat kernel Linux. Hopefully other Windows-only games will follow.
I use Linux on everything but my main desktop (Laptop, Project Server, web server, some Rpis), primarily because I like Fortnite.
So I am looking forward to this.
I am going to play Fortnite anyway, which means anti cheat etc anyway, I would love to have it in Linux instead of Windows.
Your deal breaker is Fortnite?
I like playing games. I don’t do much besides play games on that desktop, anything else is done on my laptop.
Me too, been playing WoW again lately.
Checking if you run the default kernel is way better than shipping rootkit to everyone.
It’s almost too good to be true.
The worse part is requiring secure boot, as if I wanted to have a dual kernel set up (my nornal, unsigned, I own my hardware and do what I want with it kernel and my locked down, M$ approved and signed, we own you epic games kernel) I can’t just switch between them with a bootloader like rEFInd or GRUB, I have to go and enable secure boot each time in the BIOS. You don’t need secure boot to play Fortnite on Windows. This is worse somehow.
Secure boot + tpm is probably a developer toggle the same way linux is now. It would be stupid to make linux users jump through more hoops than windows users, we are basically all people who gave up trying to jump through hoops for tech companies. HOWEVER, we are talking about epic games
A signed kernel does not directly mean that they will supply the kernel. They might work together with some distros and trust those signed kernels. Secure boot is often already used by Linux users. TPM I don’t know.
Easy Anti-Christ
Kernel Level Anti Cheat with remote attestation on Linux. Great. :/
Well there’s still the option for you not to install it.
Personally, I’d rather want this type of anticheat than having to use windows ever again.
I have no interest in using their launcher, new “faster, lighter” version or not (I’ll stick with Heroic), but I hope this means they’ll start distributing native Linux versions of games on their platform. I got Enter the Gungeon for free on Epic and I’m forced to play it through Proton even though the game has a native build
Didn’t Epic just force some of their Devs into a slop-first programming model?
Yes, and - of course - the launcher is vibe-coded too. They even proudly say so on the announcement page:
Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher that’s way faster and more responsive than the current one, and has a new look.
Holy shit! That’s a first for me. I’m not as anti as I once was, but vibe coding is just irresponsible. Do they have the same definition of it as I have?
How is anyone but you supposed to know that unless you define yours?
Not even looking at the code, but only seeing it kinda works at a functional level, usually only superficially.
No.
Unreal Engine 6 (which is not out yet) is replacing Blueprint, Unreal’s visual scripting language, with “Verse” a text-based language that is intended to be easier for coding models like claude to work with. Dev’s who do not wish to use such AI tools can either stay on UE4-5 or strictly develop C++ in UE6. After the announcement they got a lot of backlash (most people seem to love blueprint) and hopefully Epic reconsiders but I doubt they will.
It is dumb move on Epic’s part imo, but it’s not as bad as people make it out to be.
Thank you for the content - I was unaware of this.
Pretty cool I spent the past decade learning C++ and UE to fulfill my dream of making games. Now none of that matters. If I release the game I have been developing myself it will be called ai slop. Thanks Epic!
You can release your game to a lot of different platforms, Epic Games isn’t the only one right? And you can clearly advertise AI-free development - some people definitely like it. (Me included.)
Epic Games developed Unreal Engine and they are adding AI development tools in the up coming UE6. I dont know how much an
AI-free developmenttag will help public opinion of UE games. But who knows - maybe youre right. Crazy times
Can’t say for everyone, but I’m happy with GOG and I see no reason to switch. This news piece, of all, definitely doesn’t incentivize me.
Epic games can go fuck themselves, in Windows and Linux alike.
“I wish games with anti-cheat had Linux support!”
Monkey’s paw curls
If a
treenew launcherfallslaunchesin the woodsat Epic,does it make a sounddoes anyone fucking care?And EA’s anti cheat is also on the way, maybe we’ll see FC28 on Linux. What else are normies missing, Roblox?
Let these guys move to Linux, the more, the merrier. This is for them.
Call of Duty for one
