Linux gaming just got a massive win!

Summary

Epic Games announced a preview of its redesigned Epic Games Launcher for Windows, macOS, and— for the first time—Linux. The launcher is described as faster and more responsive, though its initial release has fewer features. Epic says it was “vibecoded,” a detail the host notes but does not explore in depth.

The bigger development is Epic’s plan to bring Fortnite and other Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) games to Linux. EAC has supported Windows games running through Wine/Proton since 2021, but individual game publishers had to opt in. Many held back because Linux’s anti-cheat setup did not provide protection they considered comparable to Windows.

Epic is developing EAC Linux v2 to address that gap. Rather than giving anti-cheat kernel-level access, the proposed approach uses Linux features such as signed kernel modules and Secure Boot attestation. The host explains that kernel-level anti-cheat can carry security and system-stability risks, and argues that the Linux approach is preferable if it can provide effective cheat detection.

Epic plans to test EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first, then make it available to other developers if the trial demonstrates that it works effectively. Players will be prompted to install a systemd service the first time they launch a supported game. According to Epic, the service runs only while a protected game is running.

A key requirement is Secure Boot. Players who have disabled it may need to enable it in their BIOS/UEFI settings. Epic also requires boot keys from a list of recognized providers, which includes several Linux distributions and Microsoft’s UEFI certificate authority.

Steam Deck support is not available yet because Epic says the device does not currently meet the requirements for EAC Linux v2. Epic says it is discussing the issue with Valve and hopes to support the Deck in the future.

Guides and Explanations Covered

• The host gives a beginner-oriented explanation of kernel-level anti-cheat and its potential risks.
• The video explains how Secure Boot helps prevent cheats from being inserted during the boot process.
• It notes that some Linux users may need to re-enable Secure Boot to use EAC Linux v2.

Main Speakers and Sources

• Main speaker: NerdNest host, providing commentary and explanations.
• Primary sources discussed: Epic Games’ launcher announcement and Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat Linux v2 blog post.