Microsoft plan to end kernel-level anti-cheat could be massive for Linux Gaming
Microsoft is shifting security measures out of the Windows kernel to enhance security and improve Linux gaming compatibility, particularly by removing kernel-level anti-cheat software, though developers remain cautious.
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Microsoft has announced a significant shift in its security strategy, moving security measures out of the Windows kernel. This change, prompted by the recent Crowdstrike incident, aims to enhance security while potentially facilitating Linux gaming. By eliminating kernel-level anti-cheat software, which has hindered the compatibility of many games on Linux platforms like the Steam Deck, Microsoft hopes to make it easier for developers to enable Linux support. The new approach would require anti-cheat solutions to operate with user access, making them less intrusive and more compatible with translation layers such as WINE and Valve's Proton. Despite the potential for improved Linux gaming experiences, developers remain cautious about enabling compatibility. Microsoft’s new security platform will focus on resilience and tamper-proofing, addressing performance needs and collaboration with security vendors. While this shift could open doors for Linux gaming, it remains to be seen how anti-cheat vendors will respond and whether they will continue to restrict access for Linux users.
- Microsoft is moving security measures out of the Windows kernel to enhance security and facilitate Linux gaming.
- The removal of kernel-level anti-cheat software could improve compatibility for games on Linux platforms like the Steam Deck.
- Anti-cheat solutions will now operate with user access, making them less intrusive and easier to emulate.
- Developers are still hesitant to enable Linux compatibility despite the potential for improved gaming experiences.
- Microsoft's new security platform will focus on resilience, tamper-proofing, and collaboration with security vendors.
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2 commentsI actually think it's a good idea to charge at least a small amount of money for online games, so that when cheaters are banned they will have to pay real money to remake their accounts.
In a previous game I worked on, there were freely available and easy to use cheats. This completely ruined the online experience. At one point I wrote a small script to detect an irregularity used only by the cheaters, and the number of people who were banned was astounding. Of course the cheaters patched their cheat within a week and we were back to square one.
We don't even need to compete online as others can.
Unfortunately [EA,] games like FIFA are unplayable even offline in Linux (with Proton WINE) due to anti-cheat FWIU.
EU has a new "preserving PC games" directive. Will any of these games work without versions of Operating Systems that there are no security patches for anymore?
The "Stop Destroying Videogames" petition is open through 2025-07-03: https://citizens-initiative.europa.eu/initiatives/details/20... :
> This initiative calls to require publishers that sell or license videogames to consumers in the European Union (or related features and assets sold for videogames they operate) to leave said videogames in a functional (playable) state.
OS-kernel-integrated anti-cheat makes a game unplayable offline today.
Those probably won't archive well.
VirtualBox supports a "virtual TPM" device so that Windows 11 will run in a VM.
Internet Archive has so many games preserved with DOSbox, in HTML5 and WASM years later.
We shouldn't need a 120 FPS 4K (4k120) sunshine server remote desktop for gaming with old games.
> Specifically, the initiative seeks to prevent the remote disabling of videogames by the publishers, before providing reasonable means to continue functioning of said videogames without the involvement from the side of the publisher.
The initiative does not seek to acquire ownership of said videogames, associated intellectual rights or monetization rights, neither does it expect the publisher to provide resources for the said videogame once they discontinue it while leaving it in a reasonably functional (playable) state.
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