Fortnite has reached almost every gaming platform over the years, from PlayStation and Xbox to Nintendo Switch 2 and mobile, while Linux players stayed locked out. That is about to change, as Epic Games has confirmed that Fortnite on Linux is officially in the works.
Epic’s own announcement explains how the company plans to get there. However, players shouldn’t expect to jump in right away, as Fortnite’s anti-cheat system needs a major rebuild first.
Fortnite is coming to Linux, but it needs a major update first
In a post announcing the new Epic Games Launcher preview, Epic said it is rebuilding Easy Anti-Cheat and working with Linux distribution maintainers on new security requirements. Once enough distributions are on board, Fortnite will launch on Linux through the Epic Games Launcher, which is now in preview on Windows, macOS and Linux.
The new anti-cheat is called EAC Linux v2, and Epic’sblog says Fortnite will be the first game to test it. It’s important to note that Steam Deck players are left out for now. Epic said the handheld doesn’t support the features EAC Linux v2 needs, although the company is talking with Valve and hopes to add support in the future. Epic also hasn’t shared a release date for Fortnite on Linux.
The announcement is a clear reversal for Epic. Back in 2022, CEO Tim Sweeney ruled out Fortnite on Steam Deck over cheating concerns, and in 2023, he said Epic would only consider Fortnite on Linux if the platform reached tens of millions of users. Linux has grown a lot since then, and in March 2026, it hit a record 5.33% share, with SteamOS making up roughly a quarter of all Linux systems on Steam.
Several factors have likely contributed to that growth, including the end of Windows 10 support, the popularity of the Steam Deck and the launch of the Steam Machine earlier this year. However, the numbers change from month to month, as Linux dropped to 3.05% in the September 2026 survey. Even so, the share remains well above where it sat two years ago, when Linux held under 2% of Steam users.
If EAC Linux v2 performs well in Fortnite, Epic plans to offer it to other developers, which could potentially open the door for more multiplayer games on Linux. Once Fortnite on Linux goes live, Linux players should be able to join the same matches as everyone else, as Fortnite’s crossplay and cross-progression run through a single Epic Games account. That would leave Mac as the only major PC platform without a current version of Fortnite.
While you wait for Fortnite on Linux, our Fortnite crossplay guide explains how cross-platform play and cross-progression work on every platform. In addition to that, you can read about how Epic’s controversial AI push sparked a massive backlash among Fortnite fans.
