Epic Announces Redone Linux Anti-Cheat Support (Yeah!) And A Vibe Coded Game Launcher (Boo!)

Key Points:

• Epic Games has released a preview build of a new Epic Games Launcher, which they developed using AI-assisted "vibe coding," resulting in a faster but feature-light client with a revamped look and digital commerce features like a shopping cart.
• The new launcher preview, particularly on Linux, is reported to be buggy and minimalistic, reflecting its early development stage and the experimental nature of the AI-assisted coding approach.
• More significantly, Epic announced plans to improve Linux support for their Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) system by developing EAC Linux v2, aiming to bring anti-cheat protections closer to Windows standards using existing Linux security features without relying on kernel drivers.
• This anti-cheat initiative addresses a major barrier for Linux gamers, as many Windows anti-cheat solutions are incompatible with Linux, and Epic is engaging with the Linux community and Valve to enhance compatibility, including discussions about Steam Deck support.
• The article criticizes Epic's emphasis on promoting their AI coding approach for the launcher while urging the company to prioritize substantial improvements like robust Linux anti-cheat solutions to build goodwill similar to Valve’s steady, community-focused Linux development efforts.