Easy Anti-Cheat are apparently "pausing" their Linux support, which could be a big problem (updated)

So developers sign contracts with these Easy Anti-Cheat people that allow them to withdraw the service from some users whenever they want? I'd start insisting on something a bit more ironclad.

So is Epic now enemy #1 of Linux gaming? I mean they are already effectively paying some developers and publishers to not support Linux, and now this?

Hrm. I wonder what this means for 7 Days to Die? You can choose to run without EAC, but a lot of servers require it. (Thankfully, a friend turned it off on hers for me. :) )

That's an Epic bait&switch, yeah. I was so happy when Linux became supported in UE4 (including the Editor!) and now it's all slowly but steadily going away. *slow clap*

I would say this is more Microsoft pulling Epic's strings, as they have done it the past.

can 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.

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.

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....

More reason to hate epic as a linux user? Hmmm, didn't expect that...

i would not jump to conclusions, nothing is set in stone

Can'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

can 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.


Last edited by Liam Dawe on 5 May 2019 at 5:25 pm UTC

I 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.

can 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 no reason to think a game developer, one so well known, would lie about this.

while i would like to agree, i cant say with recent events i can trust anything they say. but i would rather have all the information available before i start jumping down the necks of people with pitchforks and torches

Can't Epic Games just die somewhere lonely in a corner?

It might happen when fortnite will be on the decline. I foresee them pouring huge amounts of money to try and save their cash cow. Of course, that's a possibility among others.

(Thankfully, a friend turned it off on hers for me. :) )

That got me thinking: I would like to see a possibility to whitelist some accounts so that they do not require EAC. That would perhaps be a better solution in cases such as yours.

I 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.

The CCP has nothing to do with Epic stocks.

In general, anti-cheat with invasive user monitoring is a bad idea. I'd just avoid games of that sort since it's not any better than some privacy violating DRM. Anti-cheat should be implemented on the server side, using AI methods of detecting behavioral patterns that constitute cheating (including non human activity like bots). In this sense, proper anti-cheat solution should not require any OS support on the client.


Last edited by Shmerl on 5 May 2019 at 10:33 pm UTC

Hrm. I wonder what this means for 7 Days to Die? You can choose to run without EAC, but a lot of servers require it. (Thankfully, a friend turned it off on hers for me. :) )

We (a bunch of friends at work) run a 7d2d server with EAC enabled, no problems for me playing on that one from my Linux machine.

can 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 no reason to think a game developer, one so well known, would lie about this.

while i would like to agree, i cant say with recent events i can trust anything they say. but i would rather have all the information available before i start jumping down the necks of people with pitchforks and torches

By now, I would hope people would have a little decorum and not get pitchforks out against people, as it doesn't help us.

can 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.

All the same, please let us know if you hear anything more to confirm it. To be honest, considering the reputation of FP, I wondered if, while not a lie, it might have been something misinterpreted or exaggerated.

Frustrating that there's so little official word from the horse's mouth to make sure of where everything stands (a circumstance that's intentional, no doubt).

Of course, contacting EAC was the first thing I did and I will let everyone know if/when I get a reply.

can 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 no reason to think a game developer, one so well known, would lie about this.

while i would like to agree, i cant say with recent events i can trust anything they say. but i would rather have all the information available before i start jumping down the necks of people with pitchforks and torches

By now, I would hope people would have a little decorum and not get pitchforks out against people, as it doesn't help us.

can 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.

All the same, please let us know if you hear anything more to confirm it. To be honest, considering the reputation of FP, I wondered if, while not a lie, it might have been something misinterpreted or exaggerated.

Frustrating that there's so little official word from the horse's mouth to make sure of where everything stands (a circumstance that's intentional, no doubt).

Of course, contacting EAC was the first thing I did and I will let everyone know if/when I get a reply.

So I should store my pitchfork? But I just sharpened and cleaned it for use. :(

It'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...

It'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...

Ouch, sounds like I hit a nerve there. Don't blame me for others behaviour, that's ridiculous. As you said, it was a single line and I was very clearly speculating. Irresponsible? I will argue against that, considering Epic's recent behaviour and attitude towards Linux.


Last edited by Liam Dawe on 5 May 2019 at 6:09 pm UTC

By now, I would hope people would have a little decorum and not get pitchforks out against people, as it doesn't help us.

I love your optimism ;). I'm not that sure people will remember "innocent until proven guilty". May be on this site, but I have my doubts about others...

PS: Thanks a lot for reaching out and trying to gather facts!

Stuff like this just increases the amount of appreciation I have for Valve sticking firmly in our corner and supporting us.

Don'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?

I will argue against that, considering Epic's recently behaviour and attitude towards Linux.

Seriously, what attitude towards Linux? I sure hope you are not talking about that one Canada tweet from years ago. It's no different than the people still linking to the Halloween documents whenever the word Microsoft shows up anywhere.

Epic today are even offering free money to Lutris via their grants program, which is a great thing, just ask the Lutris devs. The fact that Epic doesn't release a Linux version of their client right now is no surprise. They are trying to gain foothold against an incumbent giant and there is no business case for spending resources on what is maybe 1% of the market. If it was my company, I wouldn't do it either until way later, when I had sure footing in the market.

But hey, I only work in this industry, what do I know...