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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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callcifer May 5, 2019
Quoting: liamdaweYou'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.
If you honestly, truly believe that this conspiracy theory is not only possible, but probable, then I've seriously misjudged you. Oh well...
Liam Dawe May 5, 2019
Quoting: callcifer
Quoting: liamdaweYou'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.
If you honestly, truly believe that this conspiracy theory is not only possible, but probable, then I've seriously misjudged you. Oh well...
Why wouldn't it be probable? Epic have no plans for Linux support of their Store, Epic's CEO very clearly doesn't care given all the repeating statements against supporting Linux and the list goes on. Now they've been acquired by Epic and months later a game developer has said they're pausing Linux support. If you think that it's improbable, fair enough. However, what's first to go when a company is cost cutting - the one not used a lot - Linux.
Smoke39 May 5, 2019
Quoting: callcifer
Quoting: liamdaweYou'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.
If you honestly, truly believe that this conspiracy theory is not only possible, but probable, then I've seriously misjudged you. Oh well...
Just a few posts ago you were pointing out that the Epic Store not being on Linux was more likely a logistical business decision rather than a malicious one. Why, then, is the suggestion that they made a similar business decision about EAC a farfetched "conspiracy theory"?
Whitewolfe80 May 5, 2019
Quoting: callciferIt's really funny how everyone already grabbed their pitchforks against Epic despite the whole connection being limited to a single line of unsubstantiated, irresponsible speculation by Liam.

No wonder why some companies aren't willing to engage with such a level-headed, well-mannered crowd...

Well we cant all be level headed and in anyway trying to edgy.... It's not just Linux attacking Epic its gamers in general including a sizeable windows market portion but peoples beef is mainly around exclusives price fixing at least here in the Uk as games are universally cheaper on steam than they are on the Epic store (cant speak to other regions)Yes they are business but many of there decisions are so anti consumer, I cant help but get a little pissed at the way they are approaching things. But maybe it's just me maybe fucking people over is the way to go but to suceed in business,it's not an approach i personally care for.
Avikarr May 5, 2019
Quoting: Whitewolfe80They 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)

Well, developers of Rocket league already said, that it'll stay on Steam and will get continous support and addons on this platform. At least this is clear. I hope they'll keep the word.
callcifer May 5, 2019
Quoting: Smoke39Just a few posts ago you were pointing out that the Epic Store not being on Linux was more likely a logistical business decision rather than a malicious one. Why, then, is the suggestion that they made a similar business decision about EAC a farfetched "conspiracy theory"?

Because the business case for EAC supporting Linux is no different today than it was a month ago, with or without Epic. So the only reason people are arguing "it's because of Epic" is this weird conspiracy theory that these cartoon villians are deliberately trying to fuck with Linux users. Or are you telling me the business case for Linux has changed in a month?
callcifer May 5, 2019
Quoting: GuestThere is another possible reason. EAC finished Linux support because they want to focus on Proton support.
That would have been a great point to make in the article, especially since it already includes speculation.

Quoting: GuestWe don't know shit, that's the fact.
That's exactly my point! People have already grabbed their pitchforks and are marching down the proverbial streets with no evidence whatsoever.

It is juvenile, pathetic and does NOT help attract developers to our platform at all. I personally know multiple developers who decided against a Linux version of their games because they saw how the "community" behaved on other games.

I've seen people with hundreds of hours in Rust asking - with a straight face - whether they could get a refund now that Facepunch is dropping Linux due to middleware issues. As long as those people are the vocal ones, devs will continue to be disincentivized to port their games. Conspiracy theories about how cartoon villains are conspiring against Linux don't help either.

But again, what do I know, I just work in this industry.


Last edited by callcifer on 5 May 2019 at 11:25 pm UTC
Liam Dawe May 5, 2019
Quoting: callciferIt is juvenile, pathetic and does NOT help attract developers to our platform at all. I personally know multiple developers who decided against a Linux version of their games because they saw how the "community" behaved on other games.
You're making it sound like only the Linux community gets heated. That's very disingenuous and you know it.

Quoting: callciferBut again, what do I know, I just work in this industry.
So you keep saying but without something to show for it, all people will think is you're another armchair expert trying to make themselves sound important. Stop doing it. I'm not trying to be horrible here, seriously, but it's very annoying when people use a line like this, repeatedly, like their opinion is more important than others.
callcifer May 5, 2019
Quoting: liamdaweYou're making it sound like only the Linux community gets heated. That's very disingenuous and you know it.
When Windows gamers get "heated" the developers don't have the luxury to stop supporting them. That's not the case for Linux. "I want to, but it's not worth the drama" is an exact phrase I've heard.

Quoting: liamdaweSo you keep saying but without something to show for it, all people will think is you're another armchair expert trying to make themselves sound important. Stop doing it. I'm not trying to be horrible here, seriously, but it's very annoying when people use a line like this, repeatedly, like their opinion is more important than others.
I'm not saying my opinion is more important than yours, it's not, not sure where you got that. I'm just trying to give insight into how developers (particularly indie) tend to see the situation because I've been in that situation. If you don't believe me, that's fine. Maybe you could reach out to some developers who decided against a Linux port and ask them - off the record - their impressions of the community. I bet it won't be sunshines and rainbows.


Last edited by callcifer on 5 May 2019 at 11:44 pm UTC
callcifer May 5, 2019
Quoting: GuestCan I ask that you calm down a little? Or, at least, use wording to give the effect of calming down a little. It appears to me that you're getting hyped up, and ironically grabbing a pitchfork at what others are saying.
Fair enough, I'll tone it down.

Quoting: Guestit does look like whatever Epic gets involved in turns out bad for gaming on GNU/Linux.
I wonder, did you try playing any games on the Epic store? In my experience, it works pretty great. Both the store and the games. Well, only Satisfactory for me, but it works flawlessly.

Quoting: GuestFor example, nobody was raising conspiracy theories - Epic is not out to destroy GNU/Linux, but neither is it lifting a finger to help the platform. That's not a conspiracy

Here's a link to the reddit thread of this exact article. That particular comment has 134 upvotes right now. I think that whole thread speaks for itself honestly.

Quoting: Guestif you'd like to continue on something you mentioned: users who can no longer play a game because of lack of EAC, but who paid the same money as, say, Windows people (who can keep playing) - doesn't that strike you as a little unfair? While a refund I don't think is suitable, surely there's something you could suggest that a developer could do to make up for it, even in a token fashion.
No, it's not at all unfair to me. When you pay for a game, you buy it as-is. There is no guarantee, implied or otherwise, of future content or support. The only exception to this is what a company explicitly chooses to support, like Valve's playtime based refund program.


Last edited by callcifer on 5 May 2019 at 11:48 pm UTC
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