Linux gaming has been rumbling along in the background for some time. However, this seems to be the year it reaches a wider audience, as proper Linux support has become a much-requested feature for many platforms.
Next up is the Epic Games Store/Launcher, it seems, as an Epic dev has responded to a user query about Linux support with an emoji saying “soon.” The conversation was spotted (and indeed, screenshotted) by Mr_Madafaka on Reddit.
“But not for the preview release,” says Onepercentnachos on the Epic Games Store Discord community server. “As you can imagine, we need to do more than simply have a build of the launcher that can run natively on Linux.”
Even some of our own team have made the leap into Linux in 2026, mostly due to sheer malaise towards Windows 11 and its tiresome ways. Linux is far from a fresh new face in the gaming space, but Microsoft’s previously ubiquitous OS seems to be losing ground.
Valve is in the process of adding more handheld support to the Linux-based SteamOS, too, and the Steam Deck is extremely popular. Or at least, it was before the new higher price began to take its toll.
(Image credit: Future)
Still, Linux gaming seems to be on the rise, and app developers are responding to the surge. GOG Galaxy for Linux is on its way, so it appears Epic doesn’t want to be left behind when it comes to native game launcher and storefront support. The more the merrier, and all that.
As things currently stand, the Heroic Games Launcher is the go-to way of interacting with the Epic Games Store and GOG through Linux, but it looks like gamers will be getting some new options in the not-too-distant future. That’s after GOG and Epic have twiddled the dials and fiddled with the knobs, of course—but any sort of progress counts, right?
