Fortnite anti-cheat for Linux will require Secure Boot and TPM 2.0
Epic put a Linux Epic Games Launcher preview out on Oct. 14 and is rebuilding Easy Anti-Cheat for Fortnite, with no date. The new version requires Secure Boot, TPM 2.0 and signed kernels, VideoCardz reported, so only some Linux machines will qualify.
The Product Desk
Distro maintainers: needed in critical mass before Fortnite comes. Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE, Universal Blue: on Epic's key list. Steam Deck: lacks required features. Custom kernels, unsigned modules: could be a problem. Other developers: improvements after the Fortnite pilot.
- decision Distro maintainers Epic will bring Fortnite to Linux once it works with a critical mass of distro maintainers, claim 6
- capability Distros with recognized keys Epic's key list already has Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE and Universal Blue, covering Bazzite, claim 13
- constraint Steam Deck and Valve Epic says the Deck lacks features EAC v2 requires; it is talking with Valve, claim 7
- exposure Custom kernel users Custom kernels and unsigned modules could be a problem for some users, claim 14
- capability Other game developers Epic pilots EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first, then offers the improvements to them, claim 9
| Who | How | Kind | Claim |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distro maintainers | Epic will bring Fortnite to Linux once it works with a critical mass of distro maintainers | decision | 6 |
| Distros with recognized keys | Epic's key list already has Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE and Universal Blue, covering Bazzite | capability | 13 |
| Steam Deck and Valve | Epic says the Deck lacks features EAC v2 requires; it is talking with Valve | constraint | 7 |
| Custom kernel users | Custom kernels and unsigned modules could be a problem for some users | exposure | 14 |
| Other game developers | Epic pilots EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first, then offers the improvements to them | capability | 9 |
What happened
- Epic plans to pilot EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first, then offer the improvements to other developers who want to bring their games to Linux players.
- The new version detects cheats with eBPF instead of a dedicated kernel driver, and a systemd service runs only while a protected game is active.
- Epic's list of recognized signing keys already includes Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE and Universal Blue, the last of which covers Bazzite.
- Epic is investigating SteamOS compatibility for Fortnite, but Martin Keely, an Epic Games Store VP and GM, said it does not plan to put the game on the Steam store.
Why it matters
- constraint Epic's ship condition depends on distro maintainers and, for the Steam Deck, on Valve. Neither group works to Epic's schedule. That helps explain why Epic offers no date.
- exposure Players who run custom kernels or unsigned modules are the ones most likely to find the new requirements block them, even on capable hardware.
- decision Studios that skipped Linux Easy Anti-Cheat for its weaker protection now have a reason to hold off and watch how the Fortnite pilot goes before committing.
On Oct. 14, a Linux player can open the Epic Games Launcher in preview, the first time Epic has offered it on Linux [1][2]. Fortnite is not in it yet [3]. Rick Deist, Epic's engineering director, told The Verge in a briefing that the company has no timeline for the Linux version [11].
Easy Anti-Cheat already exists on Linux. It has supported Linux since 2014 and Windows games running through Wine/Proton since 2021, but developers must switch Linux support on themselves, and VideoCardz reports that many have avoided it because the protection is weaker [4]. Epic CEO Tim Sweeney gave the reason for Fortnite in February 2022. He said: "We don't have confidence that we'd be able to combat cheating at scale under a wide array of kernel configurations." [5]
In our view, the new requirements are Epic's answer to that sentence. According to VideoCardz, EAC Linux v2 asks for signed Linux kernels and modules, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, measured boot, IOMMU support and kernel lockdown [12]. Each item cuts down the number of kernel configurations Epic has to defend.
"Critical mass" is a roadmap phrase. Epic's blog post says: "Once it's working with a critical mass of distro maintainers, we'll bring Fortnite to Linux via the Epic Games Launcher." [6] Epic did not put a number on it.
The Steam Deck shows how literal those conditions are. Epic said the device "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." [7] VideoCardz reports there is no confirmed timeline for that [8].
We'd sort your own situation on two questions. First, is your distro's kernel signed by a key on Epic's list [13]? Second, does your hardware have TPM 2.0 with Secure Boot enabled [12]? Yes to both matches the plan Epic described. Yes on the distro and no on the hardware is a firmware or purchasing problem, and you can find it out before any date is announced. A custom kernel or unsigned module on capable hardware depends on Epic and the maintainers, and VideoCardz says such setups could be a problem [14]. No to both is outside what Epic has described.
A studio can run the same grid over its own Linux players before deciding whether to adopt EAC Linux v2 once the Fortnite pilot is done [9]. We'd run the check now because it costs little.
What to watch
- Whether Epic gives a Fortnite Linux date or says how many distro maintainers make a critical mass.
- Whether Epic and Valve confirm a timeline for Steam Deck support of EAC Linux v2.
- Which other developers adopt EAC Linux v2 after the Fortnite pilot.
Clarity's read
What the record supports and how the coverage leans. The claims behind it follow.
Reality
- Evidence68
- Adoption8
- Hype gap+15
- Incentives
- Insufficient
- Confidence72
Claim ledger
Ranked by verification strength, evidence, and original report placement.
- [1]
Epic's new Epic Games Launcher is releasing in preview for the first time on Linux.
- [2]
The Linux launcher preview entered preview on October 14, 2026, and Fortnite is planned for the new Epic Games Launcher on Linux.
- [3]
Fortnite is not yet available on Linux.
- [4]
Easy Anti-Cheat has supported Linux since 2014 and Windows games running through Wine/Proton since 2021, but developers must explicitly enable Linux support and many have avoided doing so because of weaker anti-cheat protection.
- [5]
In February 2022 Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said for Fortnite: "We don't have confidence that we'd be able to combat cheating at scale under a wide array of kernel configurations."
- [6]
Epic wrote in a blog post: "Once it's working with a critical mass of distro maintainers, we'll bring Fortnite to Linux via the Epic Games Launcher."
- [7]
Epic says 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."
- [8]
Epic is discussing Steam Deck support with Valve, but there is no confirmed timeline.
- [9]
Epic plans to pilot EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first and will make the improvements available to other developers so they can bring their games to Linux players.
- [10]
Epic is investigating making Fortnite compatible with Valve's Linux-based SteamOS, Deist said, though Epic Games Store VP and GM Martin Keely said the company does not plan to bring Fortnite to Valve's Steam store.
- [11]
Epic engineering director Rick Deist told The Verge in a briefing that the company does not have a timeline for when the Fortnite Linux version might be available.
- [12]
EAC Linux v2 will require signed Linux kernels and modules, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, measured boot, IOMMU support and kernel lockdown.
- [13]
Epic's list of recognized signing keys already includes Ubuntu, Fedora, Debian, openSUSE and Universal Blue, which covers Bazzite.
- [14]
Custom kernels and unsigned modules could be a problem for some users.
- [15]
EAC Linux v2 uses eBPF for cheat detection without installing a dedicated kernel driver, and a systemd service runs only while a protected game is active.
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Sources
2 independent publishers whose own reporting we read for this story.
- theverge.comEpic is bringing Fortnite to Linux
1 article · October 14, 2026
- videocardz.comEpic confirms Fortnite is coming to Linux with new Easy Anti-Cheat v2 - VideoCardz.com
1 article · October 14, 2026
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