Epic Games has confirmed that Fortnite is coming to Linux as part of a major overhaul of its Easy Anti-Cheat system, although Steam Deck owners may have to wait longer to play the battle royale.
Despite Linux gaming becoming more accessible through devices like Valve’s Steam Deck, Fortnite has remained unavailable on the operating system due to concerns about cheating.
Now, Epic is developing a new version of Easy Anti-Cheat designed to address those concerns, with Fortnite set to become the first game to test the technology.
Fortnite will be first to test new Linux anti-cheat system
In an October 14 announcement, Epic revealed Easy Anti-Cheat Linux v2, a redesigned anti-cheat system intended to bring Linux protection closer to the level currently available on Windows.
Although Easy Anti-Cheat has supported Linux games since 2014 and Windows games running through Wine and Proton since 2021, developers have been hesitant to enable support because of differences in security.
Epic explained that the new system will use existing Linux security features, including Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, and signed kernels, to help prevent cheating.
Valve“We are also planning to pilot EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first, where we’ll test it in a live environment and refine it based on what we learn,” the company said.
“Once we’ve validated EAC v2’s effectiveness, we’ll make it available to more game developers so they can bring their multiplayer games to Linux players too.”
Unlike the Windows implementation, the Linux version will not require a dedicated anti-cheat kernel driver. Instead, it will use existing Linux security features alongside a service that runs only while a protected game is active.
Epic has not announced a release date for Fortnite on Linux, and the company says it will continue working with Linux distribution developers to improve compatibility.
Steam Deck support remains uncertain
While Fortnite’s upcoming Linux support is confirmed, Epic has warned that Valve’s Steam Deck currently lacks the features required to run its new anti-cheat system.
“The Steam Deck does not support the required features for our EAC v2 solution, but we are actively talking with Valve and hope to support it in the future,” Epic explained.
That means Fortnite’s arrival on Linux does not automatically guarantee that players will be able to install and play the game on the Steam Deck.
Epic also confirmed that it is maintaining communication with Valve to support Steam hardware devices as much as technically possible.
The company has outlined several requirements for EAC Linux v2, including Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, measured boot, and kernel security protections. Some Linux distributions may require additional configuration before players can launch supported games.
Epic says players who attempt to launch a protected game without meeting the requirements will receive an error message rather than being banned for cheating.
For now, Fortnite’s Linux release remains in development, with no confirmed launch window or timeline for potential Steam Deck compatibility. For now, users will have to use cloud streaming options like GeForce Now or Xbox Cloud Gaming.
I’m Abhishek Sharma, an author at TigerJek.com. I enjoy exploring games, testing different strategies, and turning what I learn into clear, useful guides. My goal is to help players understand the game better and improve without the usual confusion.
