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Linux gamers could soon have another big game to look forward to. Epic Games has confirmed plans to bring Fortnite to Linux, but there's still some work to do before players can jump into a match.
The company announced the news alongside a preview of its new Epic Games Launcher, which is now available for Linux for the first time. However, don't rush to download Fortnite just yet. The game is not playable on Linux at this point, and Epic has not announced a release date.
Official Linux AppImage download from Epic Games.
Epic is working on Easy Anti-Cheat
The main problem is Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), the technology Fortnite uses to help stop players from cheating in online matches. While EAC already has some Linux support, Epic says its current version doesn't offer the same level of protection as it does on Windows.
To fix this, Epic is rebuilding its Linux anti-cheat system under the name EAC Linux v2. The company is also working with Linux distribution maintainers to make sure the new system meets its security requirements.
Epic plans to test the new technology in Fortnite first. If everything works as intended, it wants to make the improvements available to other developers too, potentially making it easier for more multiplayer games to support Linux.
The Epic Games Launcher now supports Linux
There's some good news for Linux players already. Epic's redesigned Games Launcher is available in preview for Linux, Windows and macOS. It is a new version of the launcher, although some features are still missing.
For Linux users, the launcher is an important first step, but it doesn't mean every game in the Epic library will work. Some games still need additional compatibility support, and Fortnite itself is not ready yet.
You can find more details about the new launcher on the official Epic Games announcement.
What about Steam and the Steam Deck?
Don't expect Fortnite to appear in the Steam store as part of this move. Epic plans to bring the game to Linux through its own Epic Games Launcher, not Steam.
Steam Deck support is a separate question. Epic says the device does not currently support everything required by its new anti-cheat system. The company is talking with Valve and hopes to support Steam hardware in the future, but that is not a guarantee that Fortnite will run on the Steam Deck.
When can Linux players jump in?
For now, there is no release date. Epic first needs to get its new anti-cheat system working with enough Linux distributions before it can bring Fortnite to the platform.
Still, this is a promising step for Linux gaming. Fortnite is not available just yet, but Epic has now publicly confirmed that bringing it to Linux is the plan. The next big question is how long the anti-cheat work will take.
For the latest technical details, check out Epic's official Easy Anti-Cheat Linux v2 announcement.
Webmastahhh is the creator of Mastanet, a gaming and technology website where he shares news, reviews, guides and personal insights about games, hardware, software and the future of digital entertainment.
