this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2026
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Javelin, their kernel-level anti-cheat solution, might be heading to Linux.

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[–] Omega_Jimes@lemmy.ca 47 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Looks like I won't buy EA games on a whole new CPU architecture

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 8 points 1 week ago

Now I get to not buy their games by choice!

[–] dashdsrdash@awful.systems 42 points 1 week ago

Ah, one of those "good news" bits that means the opposite.

[–] Cassa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 23 points 1 week ago (1 children)

ah. kernel-level means fuck off.

ew. get better server-level protection. stop being lazy

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech -5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

Literally no where does it say they're attempting to modify the kernel.

[–] Cassa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 20 points 1 week ago (2 children)

"Javelin, their kernel-level anti-cheat"

this. this right here. kernel-level = bad.

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 5 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It's an assumption that because they use the kernel in Windows that they're going to do the same in Linux. It's not feasible for them to. Even if they did somehow convince all the maintainers that they deserve kernel access (and let's remember we're in a post-crowdstrike world and they're messing with the same kernel base code that runs all containers and servers out there supporting the entire internet), they would still need to take into account that people can just fork the kernel and compile their own.

This is one single job posting where they are investigating how they could do it. Don't be so quick to grab the pitchforks.

If a company the size of EA is willing to consider that Linux might be worth supporting, that's legit a huge win for us. The power of the open source kernel will keep everything else in check.

[–] Dojan@pawb.social 10 points 1 week ago

If a company the size of EA is willing to consider that Linux might be worth supporting, that's legit a huge win for us.

Is it? I'm personally OK with the Trump dynasty and Saudis not fiddling anything of mine, or honestly anything at all.

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 2 points 1 week ago (2 children)

It’s an assumption that because they use the kernel in Windows that they’re going to do the same in Linux.

If they don't, then it would be easy to do undetectable cheats using a Linux PC with kernel-level cheats.

[–] Cassa@lemmy.blahaj.zone 4 points 1 week ago

no. They could do server-side anti-cheats 🤷 it's hard, but not that hard. they just prefer to get backdoor access to computers. stop spreading their propaganda

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

There are multiple solutions to this problem, and one job posting does not mean they are suddenly forcing changes into the linux kernel, the kernel that literally runs the entire internet, countless businesses, and governments to prevent cheating.

The facts are that we have a single job posting from EA where they want to investigate how it could be done.

There is a best case and a worst case scenario, with so many thousands of options in between. Immediately assuming the worst case here isn't doing anything. All probability says it will probably be something in the middle.

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

suddenly forcing changes into the linux kernel, the kernel that literally runs the entire internet, countless businesses, and governments

Of course that would never happen.

They'd just require some 'EA anti-cheat' kernel module to be present, or their game will refuse to run. So you'd have to install and activate that module in order to play their game. But there would be no need to modify any computer that doesn't play their game ... so as long as you're not trying to play games on your internet server, the server is safe.

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Sounds like maybe you should apply

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 2 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I am in no way qualified to be writing kernel modules from scratch!

Hm... Which means I'm perfectly qualified to work at EA! I should apply!

When it ends up being really shitty and broken, you'll know why.

[–] Cethin@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago

IIRC EAC is also usually called kernel-level AC. It isn't on Linux though.

[–] CaptObvious@literature.cafe 0 points 1 week ago

Found EA’s PR account

[–] OwOarchist@pawb.social 10 points 1 week ago

I'm not so sure that kernel-level anticheat on Linux is really a good thing...

[–] cholesterol@lemmy.world 8 points 1 week ago

I would much rather dual-boot than have them mess with the Linux kernel.

[–] Toneswirly@beehaw.org 5 points 1 week ago

Good thing EA has nothing worth playing! Or piracy; either one!

[–] sidebro@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago (2 children)

I may be tempted to buy their new Battlefield game if they'd support Proton/Linux, but that's a big maybe. Probably nothing else.

[–] favoredponcho@lemmy.zip 4 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

The only reason I installed windows was to play a few games like this. I otherwise do not use the windows install for anything. Login, play the games, log out, log into Linux and do everything else I would on a computer.

[–] sidebro@lemmy.zip 6 points 1 week ago

I used to do the same but I stopped dualbooting about a year ago and have been 100% Linux since then. I am not going back to Windows, even for games.

[–] scrubbles@poptalk.scrubbles.tech 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Battlefield is pretty much the only big online game I enjoy anymore, and since I switched legit it's the only game that I haven't been able to play. It'd be great if they can figure out some way to make it work. Cheaters are such a huge problem in battlefield that I understand why they won't bring it to Linux without knowing how to set up an anti-cheat solution. Battlefield 5 was just unplayable because of the constant bots and cheaters.

[–] sidebro@lemmy.zip 2 points 1 week ago

Such a shame what cheating is doing to the market. Some part of me likes the idea of getting the cheaters outta there, but another is going "hold up, what about Linux?".

[–] SharkAttak@kbin.melroy.org 4 points 1 week ago

This sounds as much 'good news' as Prof. Farnsworth's "Good news, everyone!"

[–] warmaster@lemmy.world 3 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago)

I believe Linux is around ~4 games away from becoming globally mainstream:

  • EA's FC series (FIFA)
  • Activision's Call of Duty series
  • Epic's Fortnite
  • Roblox (playable RN but 2nd class experience)

One more game would be great for those people that play them and are interested in moving away from consoles and/or Windows.

[–] superglue@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 1 week ago (1 children)

I wonder if this means Madden will work on Linux at some point in the future.

That would just make Linux worse