Epic has named SteamOS as a target for its rebuilt launcher, alongside Fedora, CachyOS and Omarchy, with an AppImage download returning this month. There's no date yet, and Fortnite on Steam Deck is still a separate fight.
Epic Games is coming for the Steam Deck, and this time it’s saying so out loud. The company’s rebuilt Epic Games Launcher, now in public Preview, is planned for SteamOS, the Linux-based operating system that runs Valve’s Steam Deck and Steam Machine. For anyone who has spent the last few years juggling third-party tools just to reach their free Epic games on a handheld, that is a big deal.
The confirmation came from Epic communications director Jake Jones in a statement to GamingOnLinux, which asked Epic exactly which Linux distributions it plans to support:
“The new Epic Games Launcher is still in Preview and we plan to support as many Linux distributions as possible, including Fedora, SteamOS, Cachy, Omarchy, and more. We’re testing and evaluating packaging formats for distribution, and we’ll restore AppImage this month.”
SteamOS is the name that jumps off that list, and the company it keeps tells you how serious this is. Fedora is one of the biggest desktop Linux distributions around. CachyOS has become a favorite of performance-chasing Linux gamers. Omarchy is the newer, enthusiast-heavy setup that has been picking up buzz. Naming SteamOS next to them says Epic sees Valve’s hardware as part of the PC gaming mainstream, not a curiosity.
Where the launcher stands right now
The new launcher entered public Preview on October 14 for Windows, macOS and Linux. Epic rebuilt it from the ground up for speed, and its own launcher page pitches it as “A new foundation. Now in Preview.” Epic’s own testing, as relayed by VideoCardz, clocked a startup time of 5.47 seconds against 10.07 seconds for Steam, though that comparison used different launcher versions and test conditions.
On Linux, the official support list today is narrow. Epic’s FAQ lists Ubuntu 22.04 LTS or newer and Debian 12 or newer, with Fedora “coming soon,” and says other distributions “may work but aren’t officially tested or supported.” The current download is a .deb package installed with sudo apt install ./EpicGamesLauncher-x86_64.deb. The Preview originally shipped as an AppImage, a single-file format that runs on almost any distro, before Epic swapped it out. Bringing that AppImage back this month is the practical first step for Steam Deck owners, because a .deb built for Debian and Ubuntu isn’t a natural fit for SteamOS.
The Linux minimum spec is light: a 64-bit x86-64 dual-core CPU at 2GHz, 4GB of RAM and 2GB of storage, plus an internet connection for setup. The launcher runs natively, but Epic’s FAQ notes that many games are Windows-only builds that may need a compatibility layer, so it tells players to check each game’s Linux compatibility before installing. Epic also warns that some social and account-management features from the old launcher aren’t in the Preview yet.
Fortnite is the asterisk
Here’s the part that will disappoint a lot of Deck owners: a launcher on SteamOS does not mean Fortnite on Steam Deck. Epic plans to bring Fortnite to Linux through the new launcher using a rebuilt anti-cheat it calls EAC Linux v2, and its Epic Online Services post lays out strict requirements, including a signed kernel, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot and measured boot. Epic’s own anti-cheat FAQ says the Steam Deck “does not support the required features for our EAC v2 solution, but we are actively talking with Valve and hope to support it in the future.” Epic plans to pilot EAC Linux v2 in Fortnite first, and it told The Verge in October that it has no timeline for Fortnite on Linux.
So the realistic version of this story is this: the store and your library are coming to SteamOS first, and the battle royale comes whenever Epic and Valve sort out security.
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Why this matters for PC players
Even with the asterisk, this is a genuine win, and it says a lot about where PC gaming is headed. Right now, playing your Epic library on a Deck means a community tool like Heroic Games Launcher, which is great work but lives outside Epic’s support. An official client means your purchases, cloud saves and progress come from the source. Epic says all of that carries over to the Preview.
It also fits a pattern we love to see. Every major PC storefront is getting faster, lighter and more open at the same time. Xbox rebuilt its own PC app this month to launch up to 60% faster, GOG Galaxy is also headed to Linux, as GamingOnLinux notes, and now Epic is putting its rebuilt launcher on Valve’s own operating system. When companies compete on making your library easier to reach, on whatever hardware you own, players win. That’s the Xbox philosophy on PC in a nutshell: play where you want, and let the best app earn your time.
The open question is how good it feels in practice. Epic hasn’t said how installation will work on SteamOS, whether the launcher will run in the Deck’s controller-friendly Game Mode or only in Desktop Mode, or when official support will land. Those details decide whether this is a convenience or a game changer. But a year ago, Epic on SteamOS was a hack. Now it’s on Epic’s roadmap, in Epic’s own words.
Images: GamingOnLinux; Epic Games (official launcher Preview page)
Sources
- GamingOnLinux: Epic Games comments on planned Linux distribution support (Nov 6, 2026)
- Epic Games: new Epic Games Launcher Preview page and FAQ
- Epic Online Services: Introducing Easy Anti-Cheat Linux v2
- The Verge: Epic is bringing Fortnite to Linux
- GamingOnLinux: Epic Games Launcher Preview arrives with native Linux support (Oct 2026)
- VideoCardz: Epic Games Launcher officially coming to Steam Deck, SteamOS support is confirmed
- OnPoint 4 Gamers: The Xbox PC app just got rebuilt to launch up to 60% faster
