Because installing a rootkit wasn't enough. This is the next level, because people were fine with kernel level rootkit anti-cheat. Give them a millimetre, they take a kilometre.
this post was submitted on 23 Jan 2026
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They want to turn our computers into phones, we of course will be welcome to pay enough to pretend that we own them, but really they'd rather we just rent them and treat them as disposable, because that's more profitable and we won't really own them anymore, the software providers do, and Microsoft plans to be chief amongst them. They will make it more convenient to use Microsoft Store until almost everyone does. Then they will make it hard NOT to use Microsoft Store. Then they will make it impossible. Meanwhile, Microsoft will monitor and decide everything that is allowed in the store. They will make the rules, they will tell you what you can and cannot do, just like Google and Apple do for phones. This is their goal, and Linux is the only way to escape it. Flee now, or be trapped inside Microsoft's walled garden of absolute control forever.
They won't stop until you are never allowed to own or control any technology ever again without their permission. This is not something you can avoid by just passively resisting and being smart enough to avoid their traps. They know you can find your way around it for now, and you will be able to for a long time. But first they're going to capture the 90% who don't. Then it will become the 99%, then the 99.9%. Your hacks will get harder and more convoluted. Eventually you'll have to make the choice to flee or to submit. And they're hoping you'll be so defeated and exhausted by that point that you'll choose the latter, because it's so much easier.
The worst aspect is the TPM and how it's being used by Microsoft. Now if you do something that changes the Windows partition for any reason, even a valid dual boot setup, you need to go to the Microsoft account settings and unlock your own computer in your hands from their servers. Luckily I exclusively use free software, so it doesn't apply to me.
While Linux does have something called Secure Boot, that's not what game devs are tapping into. They want Windows. There are ways to get around it with virtual machines or streaming, but essentially, there's no casual route to playing these games without Windows.
Throwing in on winslop right now is an absolutely bonkers decision. About as stupid as laying people off thinking that AI will "make up the difference."
It's not exactly like I'm going to play this anyway. But I wouldn't switch back to windows even for a game I liked, if they did scumbag shit like this.
Winbloat has the absolutely insecure "secure boot", meanwhile a properly secure Linux machine with libreboot (or any Android device) has something that sounds similar called verified boot. The difference is one of them is absolutely not secure and spoiler alert its the microslop one.
Ideally a modern Linux system should be able to implement FDE and a verified boot setup but sadly for software or hardware reasons that might not be possible for most setups
“…ree to play…” So already ad/lootcrate supported crapware.
No real problem I can see with this 🤣
my desktop, functional as it is, lets me play modern games, but it's old enough to not have tpm so I couldn't be able to play the game on it.
My steam deck with linux is not even on the table with these requirements.
I was going to be upset but then I saw it's a f2p hero shooter of sorts? I suppose it will be ai slopware with extremely predatory practices and an absolute cesspool userbase. I'll be fine without it.
Bro the game is absolute trash in its current state, if there is even any improvement that can be made. I'd have been more tempted to jump through hoops for BF6 honestly. Still didn't, but it was more tempting than this trash.
„Might not be a popular move“ is such a funny understatement. Kinda like saying the game will cost $100 but some gamers ”might“ not be able to afford that.
I wasn't super interested in this game to begin with, but I would have at least tried it.
Not happening now.
Weird choice considering its competitors (Overwatch/Marvel Rivals) both have Linux support.
Is it really not possible to implement server anti cheat?
btw VAC does not count as it is not effective at preventing cheaters from cheating.
Game-makers apparently never got the memo: never trust the client. Server-side is where it is at.
All this onerous client-side shit is just pushing away customers.
They'd rather have control than customers. This is not about making the game "cheat free", this is about conditioning the gaming public and normalizing this behavior. Even if they lose money doing it, it's an investment in their future plans.
A TPM... Wasn't that the requirement that killed a huge amount of momentum for Windows 11?
That makes sense. They're requiring custom signed boots that only boot to their audited OSs for esports?
oh no, its the fucking useless default keys that can boot fucking anything because shims and Wincrap are signed by it. Just alienating folks that don't want to deal with that crap. Morons, i swear.
It's nice, now we don't need to buy the game. BTW, is anyone here good at RTS games, I need tips.
I use a free money cheat and it makes a big difference for me.
are reportedly an effective way of dealing with cheaters
The last game using it was bot-overrun on release day. What was it's name?
Effective because way fewer people playing means fewer cheaters as a result!
