Those problems would be solved by server side anti cheat. There's no way to solve cheating with client side anti cheat. The only reason they do it is because it's cheaper and they can get your data. Using AC as an excuse to lock down or limit systems is similar to using kids as an excuse to ask for everyone's ID and ban VPNs.

I thought easy anti cheat wasn't kernel level?

No need to gatekeep, you should want everyone to be lifted up and not just those you deem worthy

Kernel Level Anti Cheat does not work on Linux, they have to do it otherwise.

We got Epic Games Launcher on Linux before GTA 6.

They are using Kernel integrated functionality. So its a Kernel Level Anti Cheat, isn't it? The difference is, that they use integrated functionality and do not have root rights on the system, if I understand correctly.

Compromising an OS with kernel level anti cheat

But they use Kernel integrated functionality from Linux. The difference to Windows Kernel Anticheat is, that they won't have root rights on the users system when playing the game (if I understand this correctly). This is actually how you do it right.

Well it depends on the view. It uses Kernel functionality to do that, so it is Kernel level. They just don't get access to root, but its run on Kernel level.

I don’t want people that switch for this reason on Linux.

What reasons do you allow people to switch to Linux? Would be good to have such list, because I can link to it and tell them they are not allowed for given reasons. Thank you in advance.

I'm sure I'll get shredded for this, but I don't understand what everyone is so mad about. This is a net good thing that will raise Linux awareness and adoption. You don't have to install the Epic Launcher or Fortnite and its anticheat if you don't want to. And if you're worried about the kernel level change - if that is what's required - then compile your kernel without it. Or don't load the module if that's how it's implemented. And "working with distributions" doesn't even make sense. The kernel is the kernel. I know there are variations, but that does not a distribution make. If you don't want the change, fork it and remove it. Or just use the fork where some one else did it for you. This is the whole point of Linux. It belongs to all of us and for each of us to the way we want.

Thanks for coming to my TED talk.

There are tens of thousands of instances of car crash deaths in the US every year, but it probably doesn't stop you from using cars as a mode of transit. My stance is that I won't use a shit program. AI makes it more likely that the program is going to be shit, but I've probably used something made with AI by now, including video games, that did its job and wasn't shit. The Epic store client was shit before it was vibe coded too, so I didn't use it. The biggest improvement here regardless of vibe coding is that Linux players will be officially supported customers, so if I buy a copy of Alan Wake II, I have some sort of assurance that I'll have recourse as a customer against an update that makes it inoperable to me.

Maybe I'm being dumb, but why would I use this over Heroic? Is it meant to be a Heroic replacement or just the "official" client? Genuine question

It's the official client, but I also doubt Heroic will play as nicely with live service games like Fortnite. There's a decent chance that if you only play offline games, Heroic might remain better.

Cars are just a tool, like AI, cars dont't make crashes, drivers do. Drivers are responsible for their driving, just as progrrammers are responsible for their coding. AI doesn't make more likely shitty programs, people make it more likely. Tools are just that, tools that do and make things, the people behind those tools are the responsible for how are used.

Vibe coding is just bad practice, like horribly wrong practice in 2026. I haven't read the TOS for the new client so I won't argue about the part about officially supported customers but I wouldn't be surprised if that weren't the case.

cars don’t make crashes, drivers do

Designing our infrastructure for cars first instead of people first encourages crashes to an extraordinary degree, but now we're getting a bit far from the metaphor.

I don't know what the TOS allows for, but it's Epic's actions regarding new Linux customers that I'd be more interested in. I'm not going to be the guinea pig with their Linux endeavors, but I'll wait to see what happens the first time a Linux customer runs into problems with a Windows game and its compatibility. At least Epic has an incentive to not be hostile toward those customers anymore.

Ah, fair enough. I'll probably stick with Heroic then

They suck so much even the slop machine out coded their devs

Damn man, how bad are they at their job?!

Code is code is code. Human or ai made.

Any idiot can swing a hammer, it takes a professional to build a house.

Ai useage is the same way. Any idiot can vibe out some slop, but a professional can use it as a proper tool to do a job or help them do theirs.

The problem with AI isn't what it generates. It's the training, the water consumption, the copyright and legal issues, and economics.

Ai in and of it self as a tool is fine as a concept. Shitty programs have always and will always exist. Ai didn't change that in any way that really matters beyond there's just more of them.

What Epic wants to do is make it so their game only runs if the kernel and its modules are all signed by an approved partner, hence the "working with distributions" bit. You wouldn't be able to run any game with EAC if you customized your system setup, which includes running third-party drivers for your GPU, sound, and/or network cards, something that's sometimes necessary on Linux due to poor manufacturer support.

Their "solution" to this is to suggest you make two boot entries - one for your actual system, and a second, locked-down one that passes attestation to play their games. That's a huge ask for a game whose playerbase is mainly children.

Wine is still your best bet.

since we're talking about Epic here hard liquor might be better

Please vibe code the anti cheat. Wanna see it fall so badly