Epic plans Fortnite Linux pilot with rebuilt Easy Anti-Cheat

Epic Games says it plans to bring Fortnite to Linux by first piloting a rebuilt version of Easy Anti-Cheat, called EAC Linux v2. The Oct. 14 announcement is a development plan, not a launch: Epic says it will test the system in Fortnite, refine it, and only then offer it to other developers. The company has not given a release date. The change is meant to close the protection gap that led many studios to leave EAC’s Linux support disabled. Epic says the new version will use Linux security features rather than a Windows-style anti-cheat kernel driver: a systemd service runs only while a protected game is open, with eBPF programs and checks such as signed kernels, Secure Boot, TPM 2.0, measured boot and kernel lockdown. Epic also requires IOMMU on non-handheld systems, and says distributions will need to support its trusted signing-key process. Its [technical requirements](https://onlineservices.epicgames.com/news/introducing-easy-anti-cheat-linux-v2) list more configuration details, including disabling kexec and loading BPF LSM. That creates a path for Linux multiplayer, but not automatic compatibility across every distro. Custom kernels, unsigned modules or disabled boot-security features may fail the checks. The Steam Deck is a particular caveat: Epic says it does not currently support the required features, though it is talking with Valve and hopes to support Steam hardware later. [Phoronix’s technical report](https://www.phoronix.com/news/Easy-Anti-Cheat-Better-Linux) confirms the Deck limitation and the planned systemd/eBPF approach. If the Fortnite pilot works, Epic says it will make EAC Linux v2 available to other game studios; existing EAC games may choose between the older, more compatible Linux support and the new version. Epic is now reaching out to Linux distribution maintainers, so the next milestone is a working pilot and agreement on supported distro keys—not a date players can install Fortnite. The [official EOS Status announcement on X](https://x.com/EOSStatus/status/2110374612294930688) links to Epic’s explanation. ~linux ~gaming