Anti-Cheat Architecture
Epic Games says that it is working on an update for its anti-cheat solution for Linux that would close the gap in capabilities with the Windows version of Easy Anti-Cheat. The company stated that EAC Linux V2 will use existing Linux features to make it easier for distribution maintainers to meet these requirements by default, which should allow more Linux gamers to play competitive titles without needing to make changes to their current setup, but with the trade-off of forced adherence to certain security measures that the Linux community often avoids.
System Requirements
EAC Linux V2 currently has the following requirements: Signed Kernel and Kernel Modules, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Measured Boot, Input-Output Memory Management Unit (IOMMU), Kernel Lockdown Integrity Mode, Kexec Disabled, and Linux Security Module BPF. The company expects to iterate on these requirements over time and is looking to work with developers and distribution maintainers to refine them. Using these features means that EAC Linux V2 will not need a kernel driver like the Windows implementation, although it may require some distro maintainers to implement configuration changes.
Supported Distributions
As for Linux players using an EAC-Linux-V2-compatible game and distro, they need to install an anti-cheat systemd service that only runs alongside a protected game. Once they quit the protected title, the anti-cheat service ends its process. Some of the distros that EAC Linux V2 recognizes signing keys from include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Bazzite, and Debian, meaning gamers already using these would be able to play protected games provided that their machine meets all other requirements.
Community Response
Even though Epic is trying to reach as many Linux gamers as possible, these features will likely face resistance from the community. Some Linux users prioritize open-source flexibility and do not trust strict controls, making the enforcement of these requirements challenging for adoption. Epic does offer compromises, such as allowing multiple boot options so that Linux gamers can maintain their preferred configuration when they do not intend to play a protected title, but the stringent system demands may still deter many users.
