Epic Games has announced EAC Linux V2, an update to its Easy Anti-Cheat for Linux that it says will close the capability gap with the Windows version. According to Tom's Hardware, the new version relies on existing Linux security features rather than a kernel driver, and is designed so distribution maintainers can meet its requirements by default. That could let more Linux gamers play competitive titles without changing their setup, but it comes with strict conditions.
Those conditions include signed kernel and kernel modules, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, Measured Boot, IOMMU, kernel lockdown integrity mode, disabled kexec, and the BPF Linux Security Module. Epic says it expects to iterate on these requirements and wants to work with developers and distro maintainers. For players, a systemd anti-cheat service would run only while a protected game is active and stop when the game exits. Recognized signing keys include Ubuntu, Linux Mint, Fedora, Bazzite, and Debian.
Tom's Hardware notes the requirements may not be well received by Linux users who value full control over their hardware and software and often distrust large tech companies. Epic offers compromises such as multiple boot options for when users don't want to play protected titles, but the article says installing such a stringent system may still sit poorly with many. The source does not report any official release date or list of games beyond describing the update.