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Fortnite on Linux / Steam Deck? Not until 'tens of millions of users'

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Hoping at some point to play Fortnite on Linux / Steam Deck without the use of Cloud Gaming services? Well, it's probably quite some time away, if ever.

While Epic Games could put it on Linux, they're currently just choosing not to. The anti-cheat is supported, and has been for some time. It uses a mixture of Easy Anti-Cheat (which Epic themselves own) and BattlEye, both are actually supported on Linux. Their own game engine, Unreal Engine, does also support Linux too.

Recently The Verge did an interview with Epic's CEO Tim Sweeney, and this was mentioned:

Why is Fortnite still not playable on Steam Deck?

If we only had a few more programmers. It’s the Linux problem. I love the Steam Deck hardware. Valve has done an amazing job there; I wish they would get to tens of millions of users, at which point it would actually make sense to support it.

Worth noting back in September 2023, Epic Games let go over 800 people.

You may remember that back in 2022, Sweeney gave a pretty clear "no" to Fortnite support with Proton for Linux / Steam Deck, with Sweeney mentioning all the different Linux kernel combinations, especially with the size of Fortnite as a game it's a huge target for cheaters (and it's only gotten a lot bigger since then).

The other side though of course is the Epic Games Store, and how Epic sees Valve as a competitor. The issue claimed is the 30% cut that Valve take, but given how many resources Epic continue pouring into the Epic Games Store, through various exclusivity deals and free games, they're not going to turn around and put Fortnite onto Steam. Remember they actually pulled Rocket League and Fall Guys from Steam after acquiring them.

They wouldn't actually need to put it onto Steam for it to work on Linux / Steam Deck though, there's various ways to get the Epic Games Store on Linux and Fortnite already loads with Proton, it's just the anti-cheat blocking you actually playing it.

Really, the reality is simple and the quote above makes it clear. It's just a question of how much money Fortnite would make, and it would need to make a lot on Linux / Steam Deck. Once a platform is big enough, it won't be ignored. Money is the only priority, as seen when Epic decided to kill off Unreal Tournament.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly. Find me on Mastodon.
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58 comments
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dvd Dec 15, 2023
I do hope Peter in the image is Liam's genius. Although how absurd fortnite is i could imagine them buying the rights.


Last edited by dvd on 15 December 2023 at 3:55 am UTC
Pengling Dec 15, 2023
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Quoting: dvdI do hope Peter in the image is Liam's genius. Although how absurd fortnite is i could imagine them buying the rights.
It's an official thing - the same update also adds Solid Snake, who at this point is starting to look like he'd attend the opening of an envelope.

I don't know about you, but I'm getting so very tired of nonsensical inter-company crossovers that make zero sense. (Just because Batman and Mickey Mouse met Super Mario and the Gremlins in someone's childhood toybox, it doesn't mean that it could or should be made official now, y'know?)
StoneColdSpider Dec 15, 2023
Quoting: PenglingI don't know about you, but I'm getting so very tired of nonsensical inter-company crossovers that make zero sense. (Just because Batman and Mickey Mouse met Super Mario and the Gremlins in someone's childhood toybox, it doesn't mean that it could or should be made official now, y'know?)
Mario use to visit the Pink Vice and leave coins in Bayonettas g-string everyday in my toybox......
slaapliedje Dec 17, 2023
Quoting: Pengling
Quoting: slaapliedje(until the Unreal Tournament III debacle)
This is way before my time with Linux-gaming, but I'm curious, what happened?
UT III was said to be released for Linuz (after UT 99 and 2004 had Linux versions). But it kept getting delayed over and over. Stuff leaked out that it was being held up because of some third party middleware that wasn't available for Linux, and either needed to be completely replaced, or also get ported. Think slomething like the Bink Video player.

I am sure someone else could provide more info.
abukhalid Dec 17, 2023
The research firm Omdia reported that the Steam Deck sold 1.62 million units in 2022.[86] Their report estimates that the Steam Deck will pass 3 million units sold since its launch sometime during 2023.[86] Through 2022 and most of 2023, the Deck had been one of the most popular purchases on the Steam storefront. Valve stated in November 2023 that they had sold "multiple millions" of the Steam Deck.[87]


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steam_Deck#Sales

this is only the steam deck and its not available in all region i hope valve extend the sales to all country's in the worlds and we will see it reach 5M ez

add on it PCs and Laptops running linux
Shmerl Dec 17, 2023
QuoteIf we only had a few more programmers. It’s the Linux problem

Lol, a few more programmers? What is Epic, some amateur ad-hoc company?

It's complete BS. It's Tim Sweeney problem - he doesn't like Linux gaming.


Last edited by Shmerl on 17 December 2023 at 8:01 pm UTC
razing32 Dec 20, 2023
Was that Peter Griffin from Family Guy in the thumbnail ?
I don't play Fortnite just curios about the sponsorship/crossover.
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