Epic Games Store: Official Linux Launcher Coming Soon

Epic Games is preparing a native version of its launcher for Linux, confirmed by a team member. The rollout is announced for "soon," but without a specific date or list of compatible distributions.

An official launcher to replace community solutions

Until now, Linux users, particularly Steam Deck owners, had to rely on third-party tools like Heroic Games Launcher to access their Epic Games library. These solutions depend on compatibility layers (Wine, Proton) to run Windows games but add technical complexity that limits accessibility.

During a Q&A session on Epic Games’ official Discord, an employee confirmed that Linux support was in development. They specified that this version would not be included in the next launcher preview, as its adaptation requires more than just a Linux compilation.

Linux, an increasingly serious target for publishers

The announcement fits into a broader trend: the gradual opening of closed ecosystems. Valve, with SteamOS and the Steam Deck, has helped popularize Linux among gamers. Epic Games now seems to want to catch up after years when the community had to fend for itself.

Another sign of this growing interest: a recent job posting from Epic Games to work on anti-cheat capabilities for Linux. Easy Anti-Cheat, used by Fortnite, already partially works on Linux, but the game remains inaccessible on this platform. No commitment has been made regarding future compatibility.

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What this means for players

A native Epic Games Store launcher would simplify access to weekly free games and users’ libraries. It would also remove dependence on community tools, which are often fragile during automatic updates.

One unknown remains: game compatibility. Even with a Linux launcher, some titles might still be blocked due to their anti-cheat systems. Epic Games has not specified which distributions will be supported or whether all games in its catalog will be accessible.

"We need to do more than just have a version of the launcher that can run natively on Linux." — Onepercentnachos, Epic Games team memberTranslated from French

The arrival of an official Epic Games Store launcher for Linux marks a milestone for the ecosystem, but players will still need to wait. The promise of deeper integration than mere portability hints at a better experience, even if concrete details are still lacking.