According to a report from Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Epic Online has launched some Easy Anti-Cheat, or EAC, support not only for the Linux operating system itself, but for the Steam Deck as well. Given that the Deck runs on a Linux-based system called Proton, this is a huge step forward for making sure that games which use this anti-cheating software will be compatible on the Valve handheld device.
EAC is something that is used in a lot of online games, countering hacking and cheating during multiplayer playthroughs. Until recently, EAC didn’t really support Linux, which meant that big games like Rainbow Six Siege would likely not have run on the Steam Deck. While Easy Anti-Cheat does have its own Linux version, it would likely have been an emulated Windows version that would have been used, which would have caused issues. Games may have been able to boot up, but the EAC would have kicked in during play, and that’s where the problems would begin.
Shortly after being announced, Valve said it hadn’t found a single game the Deck couldn’t run. This relates to a claim the company made that said the system would most likely be compatible with every game on a user’s Steam library. It wasn’t long after this that some showed concerns about EAC and its lack of compatibility with Linux, which would have meant that the Steam Deck would likely not be able to run all games, especially online ones.
With Epic Online now supporting Linux, this means Valve’s handheld PC is on its way to being a strong contender in the world of mobile gaming. With Valve saying it hopes it will be a market leader for more mobile gaming devices, the Steam Deck could actually take the industry to the next level. Those who have been testing it so far have already been quick to praise it, after all.
Steam Deck is due for release this December.
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Source: Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Epic Games
