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this post was submitted on 03 Mar 2026
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Look, I don't enjoy EA, they've killed several of my franchises, but what we shouldn't do is demonize them for attempting to migrate to Linux. If a huge gaming company is taking Linux seriously it's something we should celebrate. It means we're making an impact
Absolutely. Valve took Linux seriously and it's helped Linux gaming immensely. But you can argue a few things - Valve are private and can still do what they want without an obligation to shareholders. Linux gives them better control of the software on their own devices, so they can tailor the experience exactly how they want. Investing in proton made it so people are willing to buy and use these devices, as the game library becomes nearly identical to windows.
A company like EA, a monolith at this point and historically one of the most profit driven, greedy, arguably scummy companies in gaming, if they're investing in Linux support that means they see dollars and other companies will follow suit. They're specifically looking at their anti cheat software according to this picture which would bring in their competitive shooters, the type of game that is largely missing on Linux.
If their anti cheat supports Linux, others like Easy anti cheat may push to support Linux, and developers like facepunch have even less of a leg to stand on when it comes to ignoring Linux. Unless EA does something like "You must be using our new EA Linux distro for our anti cheat to work" I can't see this being a bad thing.
They aren't being demonized for 'taking Linux seriously.' They are being demonized for the horns, forked tongue, spade-tipped tail, ichorous blood, and subservience to satan that are everything they have done before now. When the guy who moved in at No.1 and raped their daughter, then moved in at No.3 and raped their daughter, and then did it again at No.5 is showing up at your house at No.7, it might be called 'great news' that someone is finally interested in finally renting out that room you've had available for the last several years, but if you let them in, they're just going to rape your daughter. It's what they do.
I don't think that people are demonizing them for attempting to migrate to Linux.
I'm pretty sure (because of my own reaction to this news, as well as the other comments) that it's to do with people's dislike of kernel-level anti-cheat and EA's attempt to bring that to Linux.
Which also doesn't make sense to me, we already have a few anti-cheats on Linux
Yes, I'm sure we do, but while things like Battleye and Easy Anti-cheat, and so on do work on Linux to an extent, but they don't really have access to the Linux kernel.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43058730
I'm willing to celebrate.. if it's a net positive in the end. Linux gamers being able to play big titles, or game with Windows-using friends is good. Having to run DRM/adware/rootkit "anti-cheat", subscriptions and dark patterns is very bad.
My outlook on the modern games industry is very low overall and I don't see how to fix it. If I could do anything I'd instead promote and invest into "open source" games (software freedom respecting games).
That would all depend on both the Linux kernel accepting that to the upstream (which, let's remember crowdstrike), and each distro not removing it. I sincerely doubt that is what this role is. This role is much more likely how to make anti cheat work in linux somehow without kernel access.
The kernal provides tools to inspect the system that userspace-only probably never can. So "works" here would be not crashing when it cannot investigate. The dev of the game Rust (which previously supported Linux) has brazenly said game devs are not serious about anti-cheat if they support Linux. Rust still has cheaters on Microslop Windows as kernal access isn't even enough. Linux is better of not chasing the delution that is modern client side anti-cheat.
Exactly! This is exactly what we want, more big players on linux.
Of course the kernel level anti-cheat is another thing that needs to be addressed, but a big company acknowledgig the importance of linux is a huge victory to me.
Speak for yourself. I'd rather shit companies no matter how big or small not be a part of the Linux ecosystem. Do I want development absolutely but not at the sacrifice of core values. EA is a shit company. Full Stop. They have nothing good to provide.
But you can still choose to not interact with their software. What's the problem?
The kernel is the brains of the any Linux OS. It has access to every aspect of your system. Which is why they (EA) wants access. I would like to think you wouldn't put a device in your brain to have some 3rd party to monitor your entire body for bad actors.
Having this level of access to your system would allow them to see all the processes and files, scan them and create a fingerprint that's linked to your account. With the levels of violations that all governments are conducting in our lives it would be a small feat for EA to divulge this fingerprint for not only their own profits, directed ads and marketing, but anyone who would ask including government entities.
That is only one level. One other aspect is performance hits. Adding this kernel level monitoring will also take clock cycles away from your real needs. Slowing down and interrupting the functions of your system potentially breaking things. This along with adding attack vectors for other nefarious actors to penetrate your system and take full control.
You are correct I do have a choice not to use their poorly implemented code. And I definitely will never use it. The final point I will add is if this were to happen it becomes a slippery slope for other companies to add their own kennel level "security" code. All you have to do is look at any other system. Next thing you know the last light of OS freedom will be extinguished.
Not to forget that EA is iirc getting bought by the Saudis so government entities would already be involved from the beginning
Absolutely!
And the focus on ARM caught me off-guard too, I wonder if they're looking out for future handhelds being ARM or what.