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.
A Vibe coded mess is what we getting.
No thanks, i dont care for anti-cheat titles to begin with and there is Heroic in case i need to run a game from epic store.
Thats great, I look forward to continuing to not use or give a fuck about epic or its launcher.
Will they call this the steam wars?
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
Cuck coding an anti-cheat should be interesting. I wonder how many “you are right to push back, I left a giant vulnerability open that can be exploited by fornight, let me fix that for you” they will come across.
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.
Some people don’t make the switch to Linux at all because they can’t play games with kernel-level anticheat.
Then they should suffer with Microslop until they get some self-esteem and better taste in games
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
Kernel Level Anti Cheat with remote attestation on Linux. Great. :/
Easy Anti-Christ
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?
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.
Signed kernel means no akmods right? Without being able to install Nvidia drivers this may already be a nonstarter.
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.
Vibe coded. I fucking hate that term. Anyone who uses it I instantly know to be an unprofessional hack of a dev.
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.
A quote from Tim Swiney in the announcement is that “it’ll have advanced features like a shopping cart”.
No, I’m not kidding. He really fucking said that
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.
If I’m not mistaken eBPF is code executing in the kernel, so I’m guessing that systemd service loads the kernel part of the anti cheat. If so this is a root kit.
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)
The more I’ve used Linux, the more I’ve come around on the idea of systemd. At least now it’s easy to understand services and their status.
My speculation but people who purposefully don’t use systemd probably won’t care about Epic Vibe Launcher anyway.
Yeah but people on the internet also like getting mad at things
Eh, we have rights to yell at cloud. :)
Not gonna install a rootkit on Linux, either.
Epic games can go fuck themselves, in Windows and Linux alike.
Hard pass on the Epic Vibe Launcher. Heroic it is.
Stay the fuck off my kernel. Signed, me
“I wish games with anti-cheat had Linux support!”
Monkey’s paw curls
its vibe coded apparently
also anticheats on Linux is gonna start being a little more intrusiveI 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
As someone who enjoys Fortnite but gave it up when I switched to full time Linux, this is exciting. I would love to jump back in.
If this is a success and we start seeing other games like COD have Linux support, I will be super happy.
You may not like the games, but you should never be against the option for people to play them on Linux.
