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

Maybe you could reach out to some developers who decided against a Linux port and ask them - off the record - their impressions of the community. I bet it won't be sunshines and rainbows.

And you agree with that "impression"? Linux gamer community isn't different in anyway to Windows gamer community IMHO. In fact many of the claims you read in this thread against Epic are the same that you will read in a Windows gamer forum.

Unless you really believe that we give such impression, I think that you have a very childish argument if you think that making Linux gamers feel "ashamed" will change their opinion regarding Epic.

Someone took a page out of Microsofts book. Embrace Extend Extinguish.
And given the fact that Epic owns easy anti cheat, and their CEO's love for Microsoft Windows, it's not a big mystery whats going on.


Last edited by Zaxth on 6 May 2019 at 1:14 am UTC

Somehow loads of cheaters still seem to bypass these 'anti-cheat' systems. They seem to be questionable worth, probably better if Steam can make something that integrates into the games exe and can't be easily hacked (since it would detect memory injections). Hmmm.. sad.

Certainly feels like there is a cold war going on against Linux atm... And companies are trying to make games into a services where nobody owns anything and they can pull the cord at anytime, even kill software from existence... concerning.


Last edited by TheRiddick on 6 May 2019 at 1:43 am UTC

I personally know multiple developers who decided against a Linux version of their games because they saw how the "community" behaved on other games.

When Windows gamers get "heated" the developers don't have the luxury to stop supporting them. That's not the case for Linux. "I want to, but it's not worth the drama" is an exact phrase I've heard.

I don't know why you would bring that up. You cannot seriously expect everybody to respect this decision making. Because I absolutely do not respect it on any level. That is a terrible rationale for a bad decision.

Valve just could blacklist every game using their dumbass software from Steam. They'd go bankrupt within 5-10 mins. Which would be awesome. World needs less anti-cheat rootkits and more smart coding that doesn't need it.

Uh... when will we get some great news in the Linux gaming scene again?

With proton there was a giant leap taken, was it too big for everything to catch up?

Before proton, we got some great triple A titles here and there. We could handle it. Now the amount of announcements or releases of those titles have decreased. At least that's my feeling. And even worse, we hear lots of "news" that Linux support is dropped, will be dropped or "paused". Some of them caused by Epic and their exclusives, cutting us off even from titles that work with proton.

We can play now many single player titles, especially thanks to proton, more than we have time to play... but with more titles our demand also increases, especially for multiplayer titles. And most (big) games make the (big) money with multiplayer... but we are cut off... yeah, I have a bad feeling for Linux gaming in the near future. If we lose that little momentum we had, Linux gaming will stagnate, and stagnation means rip.

Sorry to sound that pessimistic, I'm just starting to worry more and more with all those negative news...

**Wear tinfoil hat**
Well, let's say something....
...something about AR. >> Why Epic Games called an open platform truce with Microsoft (Venture Beat)
**Take off tinfoil hat**

Honestly, 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.

then dont do eac for us and give us one lonely linux server :-)
solved

Because the business case for EAC supporting Linux is no different today than it was a month ago, with or without Epic.

But without Epic no one at Kamu seemed to care. Supporting Linux does not mean violating natural laws. Also it's not forbidden. Also I don't think it's economic damage either. An anti-cheat system must work on many different platforms and should be designed to do so.


Last edited by 0aTT on 6 May 2019 at 6:48 am UTC

"If we don't support Linux, nobody will!" — Epic Games.

Epic Anti Consumer move.

This thread is infected with so many internet tropes, it's ludicrous to read.

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...

I 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.

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)

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.

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.

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?

But 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.

Just 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 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.
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

If 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 source

Perhaps. 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.

Honestly, 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 :/

So 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...

Guys, all pitchforks aside, as a community, there is really only 1 thing we can do to change stuff like this: Buy even more games on Linux. I know I will.


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

So 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.

https://www.gamingonlinux.com/articles/how-to-be-a-great-advocate-for-a-niche-gaming-platform.12006