Epic rebuilds anti-cheat to put Fortnite on Linux
Epic is working to make Fortnite playable on Linux through its Epic Games Launcher. The company plans to rebuild Easy Anti-Cheat for Linux, called EAC Linux v2, and will pilot it in Fortnite first. No release timeline has been announced.
Epic’s Linux push centers on its launcher, which entered preview today and marks its first Linux release. Fortnite is not playable there yet. The blocker has been cheating risk: EAC already supports Linux, but Fortnite does not, and Epic’s CEO previously doubted large-scale anti-cheat across varied kernel setups.
Epic now plans EAC Linux v2, developed with distribution maintainers around security requirements. It will be tested first in Fortnite, then offered to other developers. Epic is also exploring SteamOS compatibility, though it says Steam Deck lacks needed EAC v2 features and it has no plans for a Steam store release. No release date was given.
If Epic succeeds, Linux users could gain access to a major multiplayer title, and smaller developers may benefit from reusable anti-cheat improvements. The move may also strengthen Linux as a gaming platform, though Steam Deck owners may remain excluded until compatibility issues are resolved. Broader effects could include more pressure on anti-cheat vendors to support diverse systems, while questions about kernel-level security and user privacy may continue to shape adoption.