CachyOS developers are working on a dedicated Linux kernel designed to meet Epic Games’ new Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) Linux v2 security requirements. The proposed kernel, named linux-cachyos-eac, will be optional, allowing users to retain their existing performance-focused kernels without adopting additional security restrictions.
The development is documented in a draft pull request on the official CachyOS GitHub repository, opened by developer Peter Jung. The proposed kernel introduces configuration changes intended to satisfy EAC Linux v2’s requirements for kernel integrity, module signing, and system security. However, the implementation remains under development, and compatibility with EAC v2-protected games has not yet been established.
Epic announced EAC Linux v2 on October 14, 2026, outlining plans to improve anti-cheat protection on Linux using existing operating system security features rather than a dedicated anti-cheat kernel module. The company intends to test the system with Fortnite before making it available to additional game developers.
The new implementation requires a signed Linux kernel and kernel modules, TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, measured boot, and IOMMU support. It also requires kernel lockdown in integrity mode, disabled kexec functionality, and an active BPF Linux Security Module.
These requirements create additional configuration challenges for distributions such as CachyOS, which ships customized kernels with performance optimizations. Epic also requires trusted signing keys, meaning kernel configuration changes alone are insufficient to establish compatibility.
The CachyOS proposal addresses several technical requirements through a separate kernel configuration. Its development commits include changes for mandatory kernel module signatures, lockdown enforcement, BPF security support, and IOMMU settings. Work also includes PKCS#11-based signing, a signed systemd-boot package, and NVIDIA driver module packaging.
Keeping these changes in a dedicated kernel is particularly important because some restrictions affect normal Linux functionality. During the GitHub discussion, a CachyOS contributor highlighted potential limitations involving hibernation, kernel crash dumps, PCI passthrough, and certain kernel configurations.
Users who rely on those features would therefore have a reason to continue using their regular CachyOS kernel. Epic’s own EAC Linux v2 documentation explicitly supports maintaining a separate boot entry for protected games, rather than requiring users to keep their entire system in a restricted configuration.
CachyOS must also address Epic’s trusted signing key requirements. Epic plans to maintain a list of recognized distribution signing keys and has invited Linux maintainers to coordinate their inclusion. The company says existing custom keys can still be used for other boot configurations, provided the protected gaming session satisfies its verification requirements.
The initiative follows broader changes in Linux gaming support, including Linux kernel 7.3 improvements affecting gaming hardware and drivers. While those developments focus on hardware functionality and performance, EAC Linux v2 addresses a separate obstacle: access to multiplayer games whose developers require stronger anti-cheat protections.
Epic says its updated anti-cheat will use a systemd service and eBPF programs that operate while a protected game is running. Developers already supporting the older Linux EAC implementation will be able to retain it or adopt the newer version.
For CachyOS users, the proposed kernel could eventually provide a dedicated boot option for games requiring EAC Linux v2 without imposing its restrictions on everyday use. The GitHub pull request remains a draft, however, and no final release date or confirmed list of compatible games has been announced.
