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Update: Epic Games gave a response, it is not paused.

Original article:

I've just today been alerted to something that's quite worrying, according to Garry Newman from Facepunch Studios, Easy Anti-Cheat are "pausing" their Linux support.

As it turns out, Newman made this comment on Reddit on a submission that actually links back to my recent article about Rust. Newman said pretty clearly "The biggest issue as far as I can see is that EAC are pausing their Linux support, which is resulting in an increase in cheaters using the Linux version. This is a huge problem because it affects every other platform.".

This is the first I've heard of it and so it's quite alarming considering the amount of Linux games that actually use it like Rust, 7 Days to Die, Albion Online (which only recently started using it), Robocraft, Insurgency Sandstorm (which planned Linux support) and so on. Not just existing games but this will obviously cause major problems for any upcoming multiplayer game that was planning to support Linux if they were going to use EAC, as it might just cause them to drop Linux support.

Additionally, this could also cause even more problems for Valve's Steam Play although we don't know the full situation, they were supposed to be in talks to get Easy Anti-Cheat supported for it. This new information doesn't exactly give me confidence but perhaps Steam Play will be treated differently? Who knows.

Interestingly, Epic Games actually acquired the maker of Easy Anti-Cheat last year, so perhaps Linux is becoming a casualty of that? I'm not saying it is but it wouldn't surprise me.

I've reached out to Easy Anti-Cheat and Epic Games to find out what they have to say about it, if anything. Took EAC a while to reply last time and I don't expect an answer on a Sunday, so hold onto your hats. At least if it does turn out to be true, there's still VAC and BattlEye which do support Linux games as well as Steam Trust to come.

Frustratingly, this news also comes only recently after we found Vivox suggesting a developer drop Linux support. This makes me even more thankful that Valve are continuing to put resources into Linux, with things like Steam Play and funding developers across a multitude of other Linux-related projects and other open source software.

Hat tip to airspeedmph.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
Tags: Anti-Cheat, Misc
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78 comments
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salamanderrake May 5, 2019
Quoting: liamdawe
Quoting: RosieCodecan i first of just say that nothing is confirmed, and that its FP that has said this and i cant say they have much in the way of credibility recently.
There's no reason to think a game developer, one so well known, would lie about this.

Epic does not support Linux builds of their editors, and they barely if ever support developers releasing Linux clients of games built with the editor.
salamanderrake May 5, 2019
Quoting: RosieCodecan i first of just say that nothing is confirmed, and that its FP that has said this and i cant say they have much in the way of credibility recently.

Quoting: liamdaweInterestingly, Epic Games actually acquired the maker of Easy Anti-Cheat last year, so perhaps Linux is becoming a casualty of that? I'm not saying it is but it wouldn't surprise me.
personally i feel that's a bit far fetched esp given that Epic do generally support linux builds of their editor etc if they was that anal about linux that would not be a thing in all honesty....

Quoting: GuestMore reason to hate epic as a linux user? Hmmm, didn't expect that...
i would not jump to conclusions, nothing is set in stone

Quoting: GuestCan't Epic Games just die somewhere lonely in a corner?
is this honestly called for.

i'm just going to leave it at, when everyone is sat bashing company's over things repeatedly no wonder they are not gunna be open to supporting this platform, no... they are gunna turn around and be like "no stuff those guys"

please, can people just not jump to conclusions wait for actual responses and not just hate on everything in existence i cant say it helps

Epic does not support their editor on Linux, and they barely support developers who want to port their games to Linux.
Liam Dawe May 5, 2019
Quoting: callcifer
Quoting: liamdaweDon't blame me for others behaviour, that's ridiculous. As you said, it was a single line and I was very clearly speculating. Irresponsible?
You deliberately fanned the flames despite having no evidence whatsoever, surely it's no surprise to you that people picked up on it?
You're misinterpreting my intentions. I did not deliberately try to stir anything up, stop acting like I am. It is interesting and on-point that Epic Games acquired them. Not long after, we now find this out. It wouldn't be out of the realm of possibility to say they're related, in fact I still think it's quite possible hence me mentioning it.

There's a difference between having an opinion, matching a few things up and mentioning it - to intentionally starting a witch hunt (something I absolutely don't want). However, I'm also not afraid to give my opinion on my own website.


Last edited by Liam Dawe on 5 May 2019 at 6:28 pm UTC
appetrosyan May 5, 2019
Could everyone please stop giving Liam a hard time? It's not his fault that sometimes things don't work out, and some good things don't happen.

This is an uphill battle, and not having casualties is kind of ridiculous. I'm glad that the games that work, do indeed work well. There have to be some companies that deem it too difficult/too time consuming. Liam is not at fault that EAC is one of them. Also, Liam is not at fault that ignoring Linux makes sense, and is profitable, especially to companies that want to establish themselves as much as possible (i.e. the other game company).

I won't say that epicFail hadn't deserved all of the hate that they got, just most of it. Nonetheless, we should remain civilised. They didn't do this out of malice; it simply makes business sense. It's nothing personal. It's Ok not to condone their predatory tactics, but going so far as to wish their destruction and speculating about what kind of devilish party had caused them to allegedly 'pause' EAC Linux support is just not the 'nix way.


Last edited by appetrosyan on 5 May 2019 at 7:04 pm UTC
appetrosyan May 5, 2019
Quoting: Guest
Quoting: salamanderrakeI take that back, it just hit me, Minecraft still runs on Linux, MS still has their silly Linux on Windows stuff going, and MS doen't feel Linux as a threat, the only one that does is the Chinese gov', which owns 48% of Epic stock. The Chinese gov' can't force Linux to create backdoors into peoples software/OS as there is not central controlling body for Linux, and no for-profit company, like MS/Apple, whose finances are so dependent on sales in China that they would bend over backwards to appease the Chinese gov' just to get into that market.
WTF, the CCP has nothing to do with all of this, Tencent has no control over Epic and they have their own shop, WeGame, that they are thinking of releasing worldwide.
https://www.scmp.com/tech/china-tech/article/2154272/tencents-wegame-platform-push-go-global-heating-rivalry-pc-gaming

Also, chinese government and any other government that wants to rivalize with the US hegemony would prefer Linux over Windows since Windows is full of CIA backdoors. They don't need to spy on us, they only spy on it's own people through the internet, and that affects Linux too.

China runs mostly on Linux and M$ Шindows knockoffs (i.e. non-genuine copies) so they would be interested in more support.
GustyGhost May 5, 2019
Alternate title:

Easy Anti-Cheat extend gesture of kindness to Linux gamers by sunsetting support for literal spyware.
TheSHEEEP May 5, 2019
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Oh, my.
These "China bad!" posts are kinda funny, no matter where they pop up and no matter how far from any topic they are.
It's like rule 34, but for games: "No matter what you are discussing, at some point, someone will try to turn the discussion into 'China bad'".
Avikarr May 5, 2019
Epic Waste. This even is not sad anymore. It's funny, how Epic does everything what gamers hate so much ;)


Last edited by Avikarr on 5 May 2019 at 8:15 pm UTC
const May 5, 2019
Is there already a flame going on I haven't noticed? Instead of blaming Liam, let's just agree on waiting for more info before we really jump to conclusions. At some point, they will give an official statement.

With regards to this community: There's never a reason to spread hate upon any person or company. It makes both the person spreading hate and our community look bad. Always remember that for a 1% platform, we are really blessed with games. Enjoy gaming on linux, emphasize and connect with other players. That's the best way to promote our platform.


Last edited by const on 5 May 2019 at 8:25 pm UTC
Whitewolfe80 May 5, 2019
So Epic are happy to use linux backend software and to provide engine support (kind of to linux) but they dont have a linux client or any intention of developing one. They are buying whole studios to gain exclusives rocket league being a worrying high profile linux indie title that will now be leaving steam. I hope valve dont pull well a valve and cut off the money tap because things arent going as well as they planned (see Steam box/Steam Link/Steam broadcasting etc)
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