Easy Anti-Cheat are apparently "pausing" their Linux support, which could be a big problem (updated)
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.
There are the post-Cold War comments in all their glory, fuelled by the confusion between Tecent/Epic/Chinese Government...
Then there is that thing about Liam's line on Easy-anti Cheat. Where do you see a conspiracy theory on his wording? I mean, he just pointed out two related facts. I do see why the topic gets emotional, though:
1. Epic used to be very supportive up to UT 2004
2. Now they really don't care
3. Two of the biggest exclusive contracts they got (Metro and Borderlands) had their previous episodes ported to Linux, which obviously means they won't be ported just now (or won't be at all)
4. They advocate the use of Lutris the way id software suggested to improve Wine support: now that we don't care anymore, just help yourself.
So there are plenty of reasons to be displeased with them, which are as many ways to fuel some sort of paranoia.
But to accuse Liam of flaming... Sounds like "Come on, those damn journalists, can't they keep their mouth shut?" to me...
Quoting: omer666I mean, he just pointed out two related facts.There is no proof whatsoever that EAC's decision is in anyway related to Epic acquiring them.
Quoting: omer666Two of the biggest exclusive contracts they got (Metro and Borderlands) had their previous episodes ported to Linux, which obviously means they won't be ported just now (or won't be at all)Borderlands 2 was ported to Linux a full 2 years after release, so I don't see how this is suddenly a problem about Epic's involvement. Metro Exodus is a 1 year exclusive and Borderlands 3 is a 6 month one.
Quoting: omer666They advocate the use of Lutris the way id software suggested to improve Wine support: now that we don't care anymore, just help yourself.They have no immediate plans for a Linux client because they have much bigger priorities, rightly so. In the meantime they are not only suggesting using Lutris, but are also willing to fund Lutris via grants. How is that a bad thing?
Quoting: omer666But to accuse Liam of flaming... Sounds like "Come on, those damn journalists, can't they keep their mouth shut?" to me...Perhaps I have different expectations for what that word means, but I don't think it's journalism to post pure unsubstantiated speculation knowing that it will help form a pitchfork mob.
Quoting: callciferSo the business case didn't change, so it wasn't done for business reasons. But other reasons constitute cartoon villainy, believing in which would be weird conspiracy theory. So . . . it didn't happen, and EAC support for Linux is still intact? I dunno, when the only logical possibility you leave open is denial of reality, seems to me you need to revisit your logic. Maybe if you didn't overheat your descriptions so much, that would be easier to do.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?
So for instance, no, I think Smoke39 would say that Epic has a different view of business logic than the previous owners of EAC, and so having taken over they are applying their view. After all, it's clear that not every company, developer etc. has the same opinion about the business value of Linux support, or we wouldn't see some games supporting Linux and other games not doing so. No, we don't know that happened, but it's certainly not a bizarre speculation; new owners very often make policy changes.
Mind you, I personally am quite willing to believe in real people having some elements of cartoon-villainy. We see it more obviously in politicians, and businesses of course in theory are dedicated to non-cartoon villainy--pure selfishness at all costs, leavened by perceptions that too much anti-social behaviour could cause results that lower profits, but with no actual malice. But people apply logic to a pre-existing set of emotions, biases, a certain personal style. They may think their decision is just "business logic" and it may be consciously intended to maximize profits, but some people will persuade themselves that building community and maintaining a good reputation will maximize profits in the long term (even if maybe it won't) while others will persuade themselves that lying, cheating, stealing, and maximizing negative externalities (eg killing people with pollution) will maximize profits (even if maybe it won't).
Last edited by Purple Library Guy on 6 May 2019 at 8:51 am UTC
Quoting: GuestIf Garry Newman is the only source on this so far I’d reserve judgement until Liam hears back from EAC themselves. He’s not exactly a trustworthy sourcePerhaps. But it was a very specific and very fact-checkable statement, a pretty foolish way to lie.
Meanwhile, for those who are extremely reluctant to accuse companies of ever doing anything wrong, they have a problem either way; either EAC did drop support, which is bad, or a company person lied like a rug, which is also bad.
Quoting: tonRHonestly, I'm not affected at all, (apologies to GoL users who online gamers).
But I hope this shitty moves will make more developers to build more LAN and split-screen option games for PC in general and especially for Linux gamers.
You aren't affected in a direct way, but you're indirectly. Not having AC software working on Linux means that the most played games won't work on Linux --> less people will be willing to try Linux --> less customers on Linux market --> less native games we will get.
It's funny how in the past the big issue was DirectX but now that we almost overcome that problem, we get yet another impediment :/
EDIT: Actually, from now on, every time there is bad news like developer not supporting Linux, game not working on Linux, Epic Game Store and their shenanigans etc... I will go and buy new game on Linux.
Last edited by Rooster on 6 May 2019 at 12:47 pm UTC
Quoting: LeerdeckSo the only source is a comment from Garry Newman. Saw this article posted on /games with all the extra drama shitshow in the comments. I mean you could have wait for a actual response from EAC for confirmation before people lose their shit in the comment sections and post crazy conspiracy theories...It took EAC a long time to reply to me last time, I am hoping with this circling around they might be quicker and/or reassess Linux support if they actually were pausing it. There's many good reasons for getting info out early, I don't expect everyone to understand this right away.
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