Epic Games Names SteamOS Among Planned Linux Targets for Its New Launcher

SteamOS is now formally on the listing of Linux distributions Epic Video games plans to assist with its new Epic Video games Launcher. In a press release to GamingOnLinux, Epic communications director Jake Jones mentioned the launcher remains to be in Preview, and that Epic plans to “assist as many Linux distributions as doable, together with Fedora, SteamOS, Cachy, Omarchy, and extra.” It appears to be the primary time Epic has explicitly named SteamOS, which runs on the Steam Deck and Steam Machine. For now, the Preview solely ships as a.deb package deal for Debian and Ubuntu, although Epic says it’s testing different packaging codecs and can convey again the AppImage model this month. Epic first mentioned a native Linux launcher was coming again in August, and the Preview arrived on October 14.

For Steam Deck house owners, official assist might imply a neater approach into their Epic libraries with out third-party instruments just like the Heroic Video games Launcher. Nevertheless, Epic hasn’t mentioned how the launcher will work in SteamOS’s Sport Mode, and Home windows video games will nonetheless want a compatibility layer. Within the present Preview, the launcher handles that by downloading GE-Proton. As for Fortnite, Epic plans to convey it to Linux by the brand new launcher as soon as EAC Linux v2 is prepared, however the brand new anti-cheat depends on a signed kernel, Safe Boot, and several other different safety features. Again in October, Epic mentioned the Steam Deck does not at the moment assist what EAC v2 wants, and that it’s speaking with Valve about it. It appears like Steam Deck house owners will get the launcher effectively earlier than they get Fortnite.