Linux Anti-Cheat Compatibility – Complete Guide (2026)

Linux anti-cheat compatibility guide is essential for anyone gaming on Steam Deck, SteamOS, or desktop Linux who wants to play competitive multiplayer games. According to GamingOnLinux, anti-cheat systems are a special case when it comes to Linux gaming, with many games completely blocking Linux and preventing you from playing.[reference:0] This comprehensive Linux anti-cheat compatibility guide covers everything from understanding different anti-cheat systems to installing required runtimes, checking compatibility lists, and troubleshooting common issues.

When you search for a Linux anti-cheat compatibility guide, you are likely dealing with a game that won’t launch, kicks you from servers, or displays anti-cheat errors. According to In Game News, the primary barrier for Linux gaming in 2026 remains the integration of security software.[reference:1] Unlike Windows, which allows many anti-cheat solutions to hook directly into the kernel, Linux restricts this level of access.[reference:2] This Linux anti-cheat compatibility guide walks you through every step needed to get your games running.

1. Understanding Linux Anti-Cheat Compatibility

Anti-cheat systems are the primary barrier for Linux gaming in 2026. Unlike Windows, which allows anti-cheat solutions to hook directly into the kernel, Linux restricts this level of access.[reference:6]

The most common anti-cheat systems include:

• Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC): Used by Fortnite, Apex Legends, and hundreds of other games. Epic Games acquired EAC in October 2018.[reference:7]
• BattlEye: Used by PUBG, Destiny 2, DayZ, ARK, and many others.
• Riot Vanguard: Used by Valorant. This is a kernel-level driver that loads before Windows boots.[reference:8]
• Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC): Used by Counter-Strike 2 and other Valve games.
• EA Javelin: Used by recent Battlefield, EA Sports, Madden NFL, and F1 series releases.[reference:9]

According to Tech Insider, the community tracker Are We Anti-Cheat Yet now lists 642 of 1,166 games as broken on Linux.[reference:10] However, support has expanded significantly in recent years.[reference:11]

Understanding these systems is the first step in any Linux anti-cheat compatibility guide.

2. Linux Anti-Cheat Compatibility Guide: Install Proton Runtimes

Installing the required Proton runtimes is the most important Linux anti-cheat compatibility step. According to In Game News, you must ensure that the “Proton EasyAntiCheat Runtime” and “Proton BattlEye Runtime” are installed in your Steam library.[reference:12]

Step 1: Open your Steam Library
Step 2: In the search bar, type "Proton EasyAntiCheat Runtime"
Step 3: Click "Install" or ensure it shows as installed
Step 4: Search for "Proton BattlEye Runtime"
Step 5: Click "Install" or ensure it shows as installed

According to GamingOnLinux, these runtimes will enable certain games to work that require them.[reference:13]

Without these runtimes, games that rely on Easy Anti-Cheat or BattlEye will fail to launch or will immediately kick you from servers.[reference:14]

Outcome: The required Proton runtimes are installed, enabling anti-cheat compatibility.

3. Check the GamingOnLinux Anti-Cheat Compatibility List

GamingOnLinux maintains a comprehensive anti-cheat compatibility list. According to GamingOnLinux, they are currently listing over 230 games with some form of anti-cheat.[reference:15]

Step 1: Visit: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/anticheat/
Step 2: Search for your game
Step 3: Check the status:
    - Green = Works
    - Red = Broken
    - Yellow = Waiting on reports
Step 4: Read the notes for specific Proton requirements

According to GamingOnLinux, you can click the table headers to sort by game, anti-cheat vendor, or status.[reference:16]

Some games even allow SteamOS/Steam Deck but block other forms of Linux (like Fedora or Ubuntu).[reference:17] This is a deliberate choice by the developer to limit the environment to a known, controlled hardware set.[reference:18]

Outcome: You know whether your game is compatible and what’s required to make it work.

4. Use ProtonDB for Community Reports

ProtonDB provides crowdsourced compatibility reports across many games run on Linux via Proton. According to GamingOnLinux, ProtonDB is another website you can check for reports.[reference:19]

Step 1: Visit: https://www.protondb.com/
Step 2: Search for your game
Step 3: Look for Steam Deck or Linux reports
Step 4: Check which Proton versions other users recommend
Step 5: Read comments for specific anti-cheat fixes

According to user reports, ProtonDB often marks games as "Platinum" (compatible out of the box) even when official ratings show them as "Unsupported."

ProtonDB is particularly useful for games that aren’t officially verified. The community often provides detailed instructions for getting problematic games to run.

Outcome: Community-tested solutions are applied from ProtonDB.

5. Check Are We Anti-Cheat Yet?

Are We Anti-Cheat Yet? is a database tracking games that use anti-cheat and whether they work under Linux. According to GamingOnLinux, it is another option for checking compatibility.[reference:20]

Step 1: Visit: https://areweanticheatyet.com/
Step 2: Browse or search for your game
Step 3: Check the compatibility status
Step 4: Read notes for each game

According to Tech Insider, Are We Anti-Cheat Yet now lists 642 of 1,166 games as broken on Linux.[reference:21]

This database is updated regularly and provides a quick overview of which games are playable and which are not.

Outcome: You have a clear view of game compatibility status.

6. Force a Specific Proton Version

Changing the Proton version can resolve anti-cheat issues. According to the Steam Community, Proton now supports EAC without requiring any recompilation, but you may need to manually enable support.[reference:22]

Step 1: Open your Steam Library
Step 2: Select the problematic game
Step 3: Press the Options button → Properties
Step 4: Go to the Compatibility tab
Step 5: Check "Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool"
Step 6: Try these Proton versions in order:
    - Proton Experimental (bleeding edge, most recent fixes)
    - Proton 11 (latest stable)
    - Proton 10.0-4 (stable alternative)
    - Proton 9 (older but sometimes more stable)
Step 7: After changing, restart Steam and test

According to GamingOnLinux, Proton has seen significant development attention recently with support for anti-cheat software enabling games like PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds and DayZ to run correctly.[reference:23]

Outcome: The game runs with a different Proton version, resolving anti-cheat issues.

7. Troubleshoot Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) Issues

Easy Anti-Cheat is the most widely used anti-cheat system. According to In Game News, EAC supports Linux gaming through the Proton EasyAntiCheat Runtime, though it remains up to individual developers to enable this support.[reference:24]

Fix 1: Verify EAC Runtime is installed
- Open Steam Library → search "Proton EasyAntiCheat Runtime"
- Ensure it is installed

Fix 2: Check developer support
- According to GamingOnLinux, enabling Linux support is basically a boolean toggle in the configuration.[reference:25]
- If the developer hasn't enabled it, the game won't work

Fix 3: Try different Proton versions
- Proton Experimental often includes the latest EAC fixes

Fix 4: Check the game's ProtonDB page
- Look for specific EAC workarounds

Fix 5: According to a Steam Community user, some games require you to go into the SDK Configuration settings menu on the EAC partner site and enable Linux as a client platform.[reference:26]

According to Tech Insider, Easy Anti-Cheat gives developers a choice between kernel-mode and user-mode deployment.[reference:27] On Linux, EAC runs in user-mode, not kernel-mode.[reference:28]

Outcome: Easy Anti-Cheat issues are resolved.

8. Troubleshoot BattlEye Issues

BattlEye is another major anti-cheat system. According to Bungie’s forums, BattlEye has officially supported Linux/Proton since 2021.[reference:29]

Fix 1: Verify BattlEye Runtime is installed
- Open Steam Library → search "Proton BattlEye Runtime"
- Ensure it is installed

Fix 2: Check developer opt-in status
- According to Tech Insider, BattlEye has worked directly with Valve to enable Linux and Proton compatibility on an opt-in basis.[reference:30]
- If the developer hasn't flipped the switch, the game won't work

Fix 3: According to Deadside's feedback page, enabling BattlEye for Proton requires no additional code or development work—just a simple request from the developers to BattlEye to "flip the switch" for the title.[reference:31]

Fix 4: Try Proton Experimental or Proton 11
- BattlEye compatibility is often better in newer Proton versions

According to Bungie’s forums, BattlEye on Linux is nothing but a userspace shared object—it is not a kernel module and doesn’t even have root permissions.[reference:32]

Outcome: BattlEye issues are resolved.

9. Kernel-Level Anti-Cheat: What Doesn’t Work

Some anti-cheat systems will never work on Linux. According to In Game News, many anti-cheat systems, such as Easy Anti-Cheat, BattlEye, and Riot Vanguard, rely on kernel-level monitoring.[reference:33]

Games that likely won't work on Linux:
- Valorant (uses Riot Vanguard kernel-level anti-cheat)
- Fortnite (Epic has not enabled Linux support)
- Call of Duty: Warzone (kernel-level anti-cheat)
- Destiny 2 (BattlEye but Bungie has not enabled Linux support)
- GTA Online (Rockstar does not support BattlEye on Linux)
- Battlefield 6 (EA Javelin kernel-level anti-cheat)

According to GamingOnLinux, some games that absolutely will not work (and likely never will) include Fortnite, Valorant and Warzone.[reference:34]

According to Bungie’s forums, Destiny 2 on Linux remains blocked because Bungie has not enabled BattlEye support for Proton.[reference:35]

According to Steam Community, Rockstar Games has officially stated that Steam Deck does not support BattlEye for GTA Online.[reference:36]

Outcome: You know which games are unlikely to ever work on Linux.

10. Alternative: Use GeForce NOW or Dual-Boot

If you absolutely need to play games that don’t work on Linux, there are alternatives. According to GamingOnLinux, NVIDIA GeForce NOW is supported on Steam Deck and is a good option if you can’t live without some games that block SteamOS/Linux due to anti-cheat.[reference:37][reference:38]

Option 1: NVIDIA GeForce NOW (Cloud Gaming)
- Works on Steam Deck and Linux
- Streams games from the cloud
- Bypasses local anti-cheat restrictions
- Available for many major titles

Option 2: Dual-Boot Windows
- Install Windows alongside Linux
- Boot into Windows for incompatible games
- According to Windows Forum, Windows 11 remains the lower-risk gaming choice for competitive anti-cheat titles.[reference:39]

Option 3: External GPU + Windows VM
- For desktop Linux users

According to Mirror, Marathon will likely run on the Steam Deck if you install Windows 11 on the device instead of SteamOS.[reference:40]

Outcome: You have alternative options for games that don’t work on Linux.

11. Frequently Asked Questions

What anti-cheat systems work on Linux?

Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye both support Linux through Proton runtimes, but it remains up to individual developers to enable this support.[reference:41] Valve Anti-Cheat (VAC) also works on Linux through Proton.[reference:42]

Why do some anti-cheat systems block Linux?

Many anti-cheat systems rely on kernel-level monitoring, which Linux restricts.[reference:43] According to GamingOnLinux, this is part of why many games choose to block Linux, because they can’t get into the kernel to provide the level of protection they specifically want.[reference:44]

How do I install Proton EasyAntiCheat Runtime?

Open your Steam Library, search for “Proton EasyAntiCheat Runtime,” and click Install.[reference:45]

How do I install Proton BattlEye Runtime?

Open your Steam Library, search for “Proton BattlEye Runtime,” and click Install.[reference:46]

Why does my game work on Steam Deck but not on desktop Linux?

Some developers allow SteamOS/Steam Deck but block other Linux distributions. According to In Game News, this is a deliberate choice to limit the environment to a known, controlled hardware set like the Steam Deck.[reference:47]

Can I bypass anti-cheat blocks on Linux?

No. According to GamingOnLinux, trying to work around or bypass anti-cheat could lead to account-level bans.[reference:48]

What is Are We Anti-Cheat Yet?

It’s a database tracking games that use anti-cheat and whether they work under Linux. According to GamingOnLinux, it’s another option for checking compatibility.[reference:49]

Does Proton Experimental fix anti-cheat issues?

Often yes. Proton Experimental includes the latest anti-cheat fixes and is recommended for games with anti-cheat problems.

What games will never work on Linux?

According to GamingOnLinux, Fortnite, Valorant, and Warzone are games that absolutely will not work (and likely never will) on Linux.[reference:50]

Where can I find more Linux gaming troubleshooting help?

Explore our Gaming Errors Hub and guides on Steam Deck game compatibility, Proton version guide, and how to use Protontricks.

12. Conclusion

Linux anti-cheat compatibility guide covers everything you need to know about playing competitive multiplayer games on Linux and Steam Deck. From installing Proton runtimes and checking compatibility lists to troubleshooting Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye issues, this guide provides all proven methods. According to GamingOnLinux, anti-cheat is a special case when it comes to Linux gaming with its own set of issues.[reference:51]

Start with the simplest fix — installing the Proton runtimes — and escalate to checking compatibility lists or using ProtonDB only if needed. According to Tech Insider, the community tracker Are We Anti-Cheat Yet now lists 642 of 1,166 games as broken on Linux.[reference:52] However, support has expanded significantly in recent years.[reference:53]

For more gaming troubleshooting, explore our Gaming Errors Hub and guides on Steam Deck game compatibility, Proton version guide, and how to use Protontricks.

With the right approach from this Linux anti-cheat compatibility guide, you can maximize your game library on Linux and Steam Deck.