I really like gaming on my Steam Deck, but it surely’s turning into more and more irritating to see large video games bypass the hand held all as a result of some anti-cheat software program would not play good with Linux. This sense is renewed following the discharge of F1 25, a franchise that can be unplayable on the Steam Deck for so long as EA persists with its proprietary anti-cheat software program.
Regardless of being one of the best gaming handheld, there is not any doubt that the Steam Deck has its drawbacks. One large problem is the age of its AMD chip, which incorporates the CPU and GPU, and is now struggling to maintain up with trendy triple-A video games similar to Doom The Darkish Ages. Regardless of this, anti-cheat is the largest menace to the Steam Deck’s dominance, because it’s already had a huge effect on the sport library. We’re additionally prone to see the Steam Deck 2 ultimately launched with higher {hardware}, but it surely will not have the ability to repair this anti-cheat disaster.
Anti-cheat software program causes compatibility points with Linux due to kernel-level variations between Home windows and Linux. Most builders perceive the attraction of the a lot bigger consumer base on Microsoft’s working system, leaving Linux and Steam Deck avid gamers out within the chilly.
Probably the most notable titles at the moment unplayable on the Steam Deck, both completely or with massive components of content material lacking, embrace Grand Theft Auto 5, the EA Sports activities FC collection, Apex Legends, Future 2, Rainbow Six Siege, and even Fortnite. These are a few of the greatest video games on this planet, and for essentially the most half, they’re full non-starters on the Deck.
The issue is so outstanding that there’s even a web site devoted to monitoring video games with anti-cheat software program and their compatibility with Linux and different area of interest working methods. It is referred to as Are We Anti-Cheat But? Over 1,100 video games are tracked, and there’s even a helpful breakdown of which suppliers are used and what number of video games nonetheless run in some capability, regardless of operating an anti-cheat system.
We are able to see that 15 video games in complete use EA anti-cheat, and none of them work on the Steam Deck in any capability, whereas 365 video games are tracked utilizing Simple anti-cheat with solely six of these video games deemed incompatible, however a futher 193 are categorized as “damaged”, that means any on-line side of the sport is locked away as a result of anti-cheat system.
Within the grand scheme of issues, Are We Anti-Cheat But solely lists 41 complete video games which can be “denied” on account of anti-cheat, however 633 are “damaged.” This totals 674 video games that do not work as supposed on account of anti-cheat software program, an enormous quantity, and it consists of a few of the greatest video games round.
There’s a want for anti-cheat software program, that is not up for debate, however it is time to discover options to this downside that do not exclude people who find themselves shortly turning into a considerable a part of the market – Steam Deck or SteamOS customers.
This is hoping that, because the Steam Deck continues to win over avid gamers and SteamOS makes its solution to much more handhelds now that it is entered an open beta part, builders rethink nonchalantly excluding Linux customers.
On your probability to win one in all Valve’s handhelds, you’ll be able to take a look at this Nvidia Steam Deck OLED competitors. For those who’re already a Deck proprietor, you’ll be able to take a look at our picks for one of the best Steam Deck video games, the place we have picked out 30 unbelievable titles that run natively on the console.
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