Epic Games plans Fortnite for Linux with new Easy Anti

What you need to know

Epic Games is developing EAC Linux v2 to bring Fortnite to Linux, using built-in Linux security features and testing the system in the game. The company plans to make it available to other developers, but is still refining it and has not announced a release timeline.

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Epic Games is finally taking a step towards bringing Fortnite to Linux. The company announced today that it is rebuilding its Easy Anti-Cheat system specifically for the platform, declaring the new version as EAC Linux v2, and will use Fortnite as the initial live test case.

For multiple years, the hurdle has always been anti-cheat confidence. Easy Anti-Cheat has supported native Linux clients since 2014 and added Wine/Proton support in 2021. Previously, CEO Tim Sweeney publicly said the company lacked the confidence to fight cheating at scale across the wide range of Linux kernel configurations.

According to Epic’s technical post, the new EAC Linux v2 aims to close the protection gap with Windows by relying on existing Linux security features rather than installing its own kernel module. These include signed kernels, signed kernel modules, Secure Boot with attestation, TPM 2.0, measured boot, IOMMU, kernel lockdown, and BPF LSM.

The system will operate as a systemd service paired with eBPF programs. Epic is working with distribution maintainers so more distros meet these requirements by default, reducing the number of players who need to reconfigure their systems.

Once a significant number of distros are covered, Fortnite will arrivepreview build. Epic has also taken a step for developers, confirming it will soon make the improved anti-cheat available to other developers and opening the pathway for more multiplayer titles on Linux

Linux gaming has grown significantly thanks to Proton and the Steam Deck. However, competitive multiplayer titles have largely remained out of reach because of anti-cheat gaps. If Epic delivers a solid anti-cheat solution and gets Fortnite running smoothly, it will be a meaningful shift.

Which Linux distributions is Epic working with to qualify Fortnite for EAC Linux v2?

Epic has not named the Linux distributions it is working with. It says it is working with distribution maintainers to help more distros meet EAC Linux v2’s requirements by default before bringing Fortnite to Linux.

How can Linux players check whether their system meets EAC Linux v2’s kernel and boot-security requirements?

“Steam’s new beta update adds helpful feature for Secure Boot and TPM 2.0” reports that Steam beta users can see whether those two features are enabled. EAC Linux v2 also relies on signed kernels and kernel modules, Secure Boot attestation, measured boot, IOMMU, kernel lockdown, and BPF LSM, but no way to check those requirements or confirm full compatibility is specified.

How will players install and update Fortnite through the Epic Games Launcher on Linux?

How does EAC Linux v2 differ from Easy Anti-Cheat’s existing Wine and Proton support?

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For now, there’s no public timeline. Epic engineering director Rick Deist said the company is still refining the solution and will test it live in Fortnite before releasing anything to the public.