The upcoming skate. from EA will be unsupported on Linux / SteamOS and Steam Deck due to anti-cheat

skate. is an upcoming next-generation skateboarding game and it's now confirmed it will not support Linux / SteamOS and Steam Deck due to anti-cheat.

This should perhaps be no surprise since it's an EA (Electronic Arts) published title. They've been gradually moving over older games to their newer EA Javelin Anticheat that completely blocks Linux platforms. Plus, how they also blocked Apex Legends too which uses Easy Anti-Cheat. And with skate. being an online game with no offline mode, it was a given that it would have anti-cheat and now it's fully confirmed.

Pictured - skate., credit: EA

In the latest update post on Steam, these two key FAQ points should be noted:

How will we make sure players have all the appropriate safety/privacy controls?

• At EA and Full Circle, we believe in the power of Positive Play. In skate, we want to ensure everyone has a great time, but if something goes sideways, it’s important to empower players to let us know quickly. We have EA Javelin anti-cheat monitoring for any unfair gameplay issues and in-game reporting for other issues like griefing. There are also numerous privacy options (blocking teleporting, spectating, and disabling the ability of others to move your Build Kit items).

Will skate. be available for Mac OS, Steam OS, Proton/Linux systems (handle held PCs like the Steam Deck) for Early Access?

• We want to bring skate. to as many platforms as possible and will continue to listen to feedback and look at the feasibility of adding new platforms in the future, but for Early Access launch, MacOS, SteamOS, Proton/Linux will not be supported.

I really do hope Valve keep pushing SteamOS so this anti-cheat problem can eventually be solved as I wrote about before here on GamingOnLinux. It's such a thorn in the side of Linux gaming, one of the last true major hurdles for it to overcome.

At this point, it's also worth reminding people that any upcoming Windows kernel changes will mean nothing for Linux / SteamOS gaming. I wrote about it here on GamingOnLinux back in September 2024 due to various clickbait articles elsewhere. It's come up again recently due to another Microsoft blog post, which talks about new security solutions that work outside of the kernel (for people who don't read it - developers "can" use it, they're not being forced), but everything I wrote before remains the same. If developers want to block Linux, they will continue to do so.

See more on our dedicated anti-cheat compatibility page.