Epic Games Officially Confirms Support for SteamOS
One of the most influential companies in the gaming industry, Epic Games, has officially confirmed that its updated Linux launcher will provide support for the SteamOS platform. This development is particularly significant for Steam Deck owners, who have previously only been able to access their Epic Games libraries through unofficial workarounds.
More Opportunities for Linux Users
Jake Jones, the company’s director of communications, confirmed that the new launcher, currently in preview mode, will be compatible with a variety of Linux distributions. These include Fedora, Cachy, and Omarchy, as well as Valve’s own SteamOS. This move signals that Epic Games is taking a serious interest in the Linux gaming ecosystem.
The team is currently working on optimizing software distribution. According to Jones, the company is evaluating various package formats and will soon restore support for AppImage, which will simplify the installation process for users. While the project remains in development, official support means that Steam Deck users can expect much more stable performance when running Epic Games titles in the future.
What About Fortnite?
Although the arrival of the Epic Games Launcher on SteamOS is a major step forward, it does not automatically mean that hits like Fortnite will immediately become available on the Steam Deck. The primary obstacle remains version 2 of the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) system. The company stated that the current technical specifications of the Steam Deck do not fully meet the requirements of EAC v2.
Representatives from Epic Games noted that they are actively working with Valve to resolve this issue. They hope that technical limitations will be overcome in the future, allowing for the full optimization of Fortnite on Linux. However, at this stage, the matter remains unresolved.
What This Means for Players
As the popularity of the Steam Deck continues to grow, many gamers are adopting it as their primary portable console. The official integration of the Epic Games Launcher means that players with game collections on both platforms will no longer need to rely on complex emulators or unstable third-party software. This is a step toward an open ecosystem where game libraries transcend platform boundaries. While the future of Fortnite remains uncertain, the increased attention Epic Games is paying to Linux will ultimately have a positive long-term impact on users of both PCs and portable devices.