Linux Is Gaining Ground in Video Games: Epic Games and NVIDIA Go on the Offensive
A few days after GOG’s announcement, the trend is confirmed: Linux appears to be gradually moving beyond its status as a niche platform in the world of PC gaming. Following Valve and its SteamOS, several major players are now beginning to take this ecosystem seriously. The latest sign of this trend is that Epic Games is preparing an official version of its Epic Games Store for Linux. The news was quietly confirmed by a team member during an AMA held on the store’s official Discord server.
For Linux gamers, this announcement could represent a significant development. Until now, access to the Epic Games Store has largely relied on community-driven solutions like the Heroic Games Launcher, which allow Windows games to run using Wine or Proton. Epic Games notes, however, that its project will not be limited to a simple port of the Windows launcher: the company aims to further integrate its store into the Linux ecosystem. No specific date has been announced yet, but this prospect is particularly exciting for users—especially those of the Steam Deck. However, it does not guarantee the arrival of games like Fortnite on SteamOS, as the main obstacle remains the issue of anti-cheat measures, particularly Easy Anti-Cheat.
The Epic Games Store launcher is expected to arrive on Linux soon © VideoCardz
Meanwhile, NVIDIA has just taken a concrete step forward with GeForce NOW. After several months in beta, the native app for NVIDIA’s cloud gaming service is now available in its final version for Linux. Launched in beta in January 2026, it officially supports Ubuntu 24.04 and later versions, though there’s still no word on other Linux distributions. NVIDIA also offers an official Flatpak repository, which should make both installation and future updates easier. Users no longer need to go through their browser every time to access GeForce NOW.
This release also includes technical improvements designed to make game streaming more responsive. NVIDIA has optimized Frame Generation directly in the cloud to minimize the latency it can introduce, particularly at 1440p and 4K at 60 or 120 frames per second. Server-side optimizations have also been announced for Performance plan subscribers, particularly for games that are heavily CPU-dependent. With the simultaneous release of a stable Linux client and these improvements, NVIDIA is sending a clear message: Linux is gradually becoming a platform that major players in the video game industry can no longer afford to ignore.
