Epic is building a native Linux version of the Epic Games Store client. An Epic staff member confirmed the plan during a community Discord discussion, ending years of “no native support planned” and pointing Linux and Steam Deck players toward a first-party alternative to the community launchers they lean on today.
Quick answer: A native Linux client is confirmed and coming “soon,” but it will not be part of the upcoming launcher preview build, and Epic has not given a release date. For now, Steam Deck and Linux users still reach Epic games through third-party tools like Heroic.
What Epic confirmed about Linux support
The confirmation came out of an AMA on the Epic Games Store community Discord on August 13, after a user asked whether Epic’s work on a modern launcher framework could bring Linux support. Epic staff member @onepercentnachos answered that it is planned, while making clear it needs more work than a straight port.
As you can imagine, we need to do more than simply have a build of the launcher that can run natively on Linux.
That single line does two things. It commits Epic to native Linux support, and it tempers expectations about timing. A build that boots on Linux is only the starting point. The client also has to handle downloads, updates, library management, and store features in a way that holds up on the platform.
Why it won’t ship with the preview build
Epic has been rebuilding its launcher from the ground up. The new client drops the old Unreal Engine-based approach in favor of a fresh framework, and Epic says it boots roughly five times faster than the current version. That rebuild is what the upcoming preview shows off.
Linux support is not part of that first preview. The faster underlying framework is what makes native Linux support more realistic down the line, since a cleaner codebase is easier to extend to new platforms. But Epic is treating Linux as a follow-on effort rather than a launch-day feature.
The rebuild carries a broader set of planned features alongside the performance work, including profiles and avatars, written user reviews, universal controller support, and third-party patch notes. A public beta for the new launcher is planned and will be announced through the Discord server.
Epic Games Store roadmap for 2026 and more screenshots of launcher rebuild
by u/ImAnthlon in EpicGamesPC
What this changes for Steam Deck and Heroic users
Right now, there is no official Epic client on Linux. Steam Deck and desktop Linux players reach Epic games through community launchers, most commonly the Heroic Games Launcher, which wraps the Windows client in Proton and uses the Legendary backend to download and manage games. That setup works, but it relies on translation layers rather than a program built for the platform.
A native client removes that middle layer. It should run leaner than the Windows app under Proton, and it makes redeeming the weekly free games directly to a Linux library a first-party experience rather than a workaround. Epic is not alone here. GOG is separately working toward a native Linux version of GOG Galaxy, so both stores are moving in the same direction.
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Native Linux client | Confirmed, in planning |
| Release date | None given (“soon”) |
| Included in preview build | No |
| Current access method | Heroic / Proton workaround |
| Fortnite on Linux | Not confirmed |
Does a Linux launcher mean Fortnite on the Steam Deck?
Not on its own. A storefront and a playable game are two separate problems. Fortnite’s blocker on Linux is Easy Anti-Cheat, not the launcher, and the Discord answer did not mention Fortnite at all.
There is a related signal, though. Easy Anti-Cheat already supports Linux, and Epic posted a job earlier for a senior game security engineer to “champion Linux anti-cheat capabilities for Epic.” That could eventually open the door for its biggest titles, but nothing about Fortnite on Linux is guaranteed yet.
The bigger picture for Linux gaming
The timing tracks with the platform’s growth. Linux recently hit a record 5.3 percent share among Steam users, with Windows slipping below 93 percent, and NVIDIA has been hiring engineers to improve Linux gaming performance. A native storefront from the company behind those weekly free games makes Linux a slightly easier choice for handheld and desktop players alike.
For now, the practical takeaway is simple. The commitment is real, the faster rebuilt launcher is what makes it possible, and no date has been attached to the Linux client. Until it arrives, Heroic remains the way in, and anyone waiting on Fortnite should watch the anti-cheat side rather than the storefront.
