Epic is bringing Fortnite to Linux

Epic Games is working to bring Fortnite to Linux through its Epic Games Launcher. The launcher is releasing in preview, but Fortnite is not yet available on Linux. Epic has not given a timeline for a Linux version.

Cheating concerns have been one reason the game has not been available on Linux. Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) service supports Linux, but Fortnite does not. In February 2022, Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney said the company lacked confidence that it could combat cheating at scale across a wide range of kernel configurations.

Epic says it is rebuilding EAC for Linux under the name EAC Linux v2 and working with Linux distribution maintainers on security requirements. The company plans to bring Fortnite to Linux through the Epic Games Launcher once the system works with a “critical mass” of maintainers. Epic also plans to make the improvements available to other developers and says it will pilot EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first.

Epic engineering director Rick Deist told The Verge that the company is also investigating compatibility with Valve’s Linux-based SteamOS. Epic Games Store vice president and general manager Martin Keely said the company does not plan to bring Fortnite to Valve’s Steam store. Epic says the Steam Deck does not support features required for its EAC v2 solution, but that it is talking with Valve and hopes to support the device in the future.