Easy Anti-Cheat on Linux Kernel: Epic Games Opens a Senior Position with a Clear Objective

Epic Games has opened a position for a Senior Game Security Engineer with an explicit mandate stated in the job description: "Champion Linux anti-cheat capabilities". This is the most direct signal so far that the company is considering a serious commitment to bring its anti-cheat mechanisms to Linux platforms, including Steam Deck.

The underlying technical problem is well known: Easy Anti-Cheat does not support kernel-level on Linux. It only works in user-mode via Wine and Proton, Steam's compatibility layer for running Windows titles on Linux. This limitation excludes from the platform all titles that require kernel-level protection with EAC active, a numerically significant category. But to name one that everyone knows: Fortnite.

Technical Requirements and Compensation

The position is open in North America, with a salary range between $202,965 and $297,682 USD annually. The required profile is strictly technical: in-depth knowledge of Windows and Unix systems, established experience in debugging and reverse engineering x86-64 and ARM binaries. The combination of Windows and Unix and the reverse engineering component directly reflect the complexity of developing a cross-platform anti-cheat at the kernel level without compromising current behavior on Windows.

In 2023, Tim Sweeney stated that the business sense of committing to creating a version of Fortnite on Linux and SteamOS would be reached with "tens of millions of users". Apparently, something has changed, and Epic now seems interested in building at least the technical infrastructure so that number could one day become a reality.

The job listing is accessible via ShowbizJobs. A potential transition from user-mode to kernel-level would unlock a significant number of titles currently inaccessible on Linux. A few months ago, EA also posted a job announcement pointing in this direction, suggesting that the penguin operating system is garnering new attention.