Epic Games confirms broader Linux support for its launcher

Epic Games confirmed it will broaden Linux support for the redesigned Epic Games Launcher. The launcher entered public Preview on Oct. 14 for Windows, macOS and Linux, the first time the launcher has been available on Linux.

The company aims to support SteamOS, Fedora, CachyOS and Omarchy, extending beyond the Debian and Ubuntu coverage already included in the Preview. SteamOS, built on Arch Linux, powers Valve’s Steam Deck and Steam Machine hardware. Official support could let users access their Epic Games libraries without third-party clients.

Epic has not explained how game installation and launching will function on SteamOS. It has also not confirmed whether it will offer a handheld-friendly interface on SteamOS. The Preview is missing certain social features and account options from the previous launcher, and it does not support Intel Macs.

Fortnite will not run on Steam Deck simply because SteamOS supports the launcher. The Steam Deck currently lacks support for the requirements of the new Linux anti-cheat. Epic has not given a release date or timeline for Fortnite on Linux.

Epic is rebuilding Easy Anti-Cheat as EAC Linux v2 and plans to test it in Fortnite first. The new anti-cheat does not use a kernel driver, a component with deep operating-system access, and only runs while a protected game is open. Easy Anti-Cheat is used by Fortnite and games including Dead by Daylight, Rocket League, Apex Legends and Elden Ring, but the existing Linux implementation has not offered protection equivalent to its Windows version.

The company is working with Valve and Linux distribution maintainers on the anti-cheat and Steam hardware support. Before Fortnite comes to Linux, Epic must have enough Linux distribution maintainers to satisfy its security requirements. SteamOS requires every distribution to implement the Fortnite requirements under Epic’s plan.

The launcher first appeared as an AppImage, a portable Linux packaging format. It then switched to a.deb package for Debian and Ubuntu. The company plans to restore AppImage downloads in November and is still evaluating different Linux packaging formats for distribution. Epic Games Communications Director Jake Jones said, “we’ll restore AppImage this month.”

The company’s testing showed a startup time of 5.47 seconds for the new launcher versus 10.07 seconds for Steam, using different launcher versions and testing conditions. Keywords Studios ran those tests for Epic in October, averaging results across 13 machines and leaving out the three lowest-end machines. Ars Technica found in its own tests that the launcher reaches the store a few seconds faster than Steam.

Martin Keely, general manager of the Epic Games Store, said the team started from scratch with a new architecture for the store and launcher shell. Epic Games said, “Programming is hard. So, instead of doing that, we vibe coded a new Epic Games Launcher.”

Official launcher support on SteamOS could give Steam Deck and Steam Machine users direct access to Epic Games libraries without third-party clients. It does not by itself make Fortnite playable on Steam Deck because the required anti-cheat features are not yet supported on that hardware.