The short version: Epic Games has released a Preview of its rebuilt Epic Games Launcher, and for the first time it runs natively on Linux. Epic also says Fortnite is coming to Linux, but only after it finishes a rebuilt anti-cheat system called Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) Linux v2. Both were announced on October 14, 2026.
What Epic announced
A rebuilt launcher: Epic describes the new launcher as faster and more responsive, with a new look. It says this first release is “light on features”, and some features from the old launcher, such as certain social and account management options, are not there yet.
Linux for the first time: the Preview is available for Windows, macOS and Linux. Epic’s FAQ says the launcher “runs natively on Linux”, but warns that many games are Windows-only builds and may need a compatibility layer.
Your library carries over: purchases, installed games, cloud saves and progress are tied to your Epic account, so they appear in the Preview too.
Linux system requirements
These come straight from Epic’s official launcher Preview page.
How to get started
Epic documents three simple steps:
- Download: get the Linux installer from launcher.epicgames.com after checking the requirements above.
- Install and sign in: open the installer, sign in with your Epic account and follow the instructions.
- Give feedback: use the “Send feedback” button in the launcher, or Epic’s Discord and EDC forums.
Good to know: Epic notes that installing the new launcher automatically uninstalls the legacy version. That note is aimed at systems that already have the old launcher installed, which until now did not include native Linux.
What is EAC Linux v2?
The background: EAC has supported native Linux games since 2014, and since 2021 it can protect Windows games running through Wine or Proton. That Proton support is opt-in for each game, and Epic admits many developers skipped it because Linux protection was weaker than on Windows. Epic says this is why Fortnite is not on Linux yet.
The new approach: instead of a kernel driver, EAC Linux v2 relies on security features already in Linux, plus an anti-cheat systemd service and eBPF programs. The service starts only when a protected game starts and stops when you exit. You will be prompted to install it the first time you launch a game that uses EAC Linux v2.
The eight requirements
Not all-or-nothing: Epic says you can keep a separate boot entry with the required kernel and command line, and pick it only when you want to play a protected game. If you start a protected game without meeting the requirements, you get an error message, not a ban.
What this means for other games
Fortnite first, others later: Epic plans to pilot EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite, refine it, and then offer it to other developers so they can bring multiplayer games to Linux.
Developers choose: games that already use the older EAC Linux support can keep it for maximum compatibility or switch to v2 for stronger protection. So v2 does not automatically switch on in existing games.
Distro outreach: Epic is asking distro maintainers to contact [email protected] to get their signing keys on its well-known list, which it plans to make open source. Epic will also co-host a panel with Fedora Project Leader Jef Spaleta later this year.
When will Fortnite arrive?
No date: Epic says Fortnite will come to Linux through the Epic Games Launcher “once it’s working with a critical mass of distro maintainers”. Epic engineering director Rick Deist told The Verge there is no timeline.
SteamOS and Steam: Deist said Epic is “investigating” SteamOS compatibility, but Epic Games Store VP Martin Keely said there are no plans to put Fortnite on the Steam store.
What Ubuntu gamers should know
Ubuntu is in a good spot: it is an officially supported launcher distro, and the Canonical Ltd. Master Certificate Authority, used by Ubuntu and derivatives like Linux Mint, is on Epic’s list of well-known Secure Boot keys.
NVIDIA users, take note: Epic singles out out-of-tree drivers like NVIDIA’s. Any modules you load must be signed with a well-known key, so how your NVIDIA driver was installed may matter.
Expect some setup: Epic says lockdown integrity mode and disabled kexec must be explicitly set at boot, and that these features “may require configuration changes” on some distros. Epic has not published Ubuntu-specific steps yet.
Steam and Proton still matter: the native launcher does not make Windows games native. Epic says many titles still need a compatibility layer. EAC-protected games on Proton also still depend on each developer opting in. The Steam Deck does not meet EAC Linux v2’s requirements today.
Bottom line
The native launcher is something Ubuntu gamers can try today. Fortnite on Linux is a real plan, but it has no date and will ask more of your system than most Linux games do. If you want to be ready, check that your PC has TPM 2.0 and that Secure Boot is turned on.
Sources: Epic Games Store, Epic Online Services, Epic Games Launcher FAQ, The Verge.
