The Epic Games Launcher is officially making its way to Valve’s handheld ecosystem, with Epic confirming that its upcoming Linux launcher will natively support SteamOS and Steam Decks. While the application is currently still in its preview phase, this major expansion promises to open up new possibilities for portable gaming enthusiasts who want access to their non-Steam libraries on the go.
What does SteamOS support mean for players?
The confirmation came directly from Epic Games Communications Director Jake Jones during a statement outlining the future of the Linux launcher. Jones noted that the company plans to support a wide variety of Linux distributions, stating that they are testing packaging formats to ensure broad compatibility. Alongside SteamOS, distributions like Fedora, Cachy, and Omarchy are slated for official support as the software moves forward from its initial preview build.
For Steam Deck owners, this development means managing and playing games from outside the Steam ecosystem could soon become significantly smoother. Until now, accessing alternative storefronts required complex third-party tools or manual workarounds, making native launcher support a highly anticipated milestone for the community.
Is Fortnite coming to the Steam Deck?
Despite the positive news regarding the storefront app, questions still remain regarding its most prominent title. Epic previously noted that it was investigating bringing Fortnite to SteamOS, but technical hurdles persist. Specifically, Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) Linux v2 compatibility remains an obstacle, as the Steam Deck currently “does not support the required features for our EAC v2 solution.” Epic has indicated that discussions with Valve are ongoing, but no final release timeline for the battle royale hit on SteamOS has been locked in.
- Epic Games Launcher is bringing official support to SteamOS and Steam Decks.
- The launcher remains in preview, with packaging formats like Debian/Ubuntu .deb downloads and AppImage updates rolling out.
- Other Linux distributions like Fedora and Cachy are also on the roadmap.
- Fortnite compatibility is still undecided due to ongoing challenges with Easy Anti-Cheat v2 on the Steam Deck.
Source: The Verge