Epic Games has joined forces with Qualcomm to integrate its Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) system into Snapdragon Windows on ARM devices. While EAC was primarily developed for x64 architecture, its functionality had previously limited its effectiveness on ARM devices. This groundbreaking collaboration aims to enable Fortnite and potentially other multiplayer games utilizing EAC to run seamlessly on Snapdragon Windows platforms.
This article delves into the implications of this partnership for the multiplayer gaming landscape and what players can anticipate moving forward.
Enhancing Gaming Compatibility: Epic’s Alliance with Qualcomm
The concept of Windows on ARM is not entirely new, as ARM-based Windows devices have been available for some time. However, users often faced difficulties running x86 applications on these platforms. The introduction of Snapdragon X Elite laptops marked a turning point, featuring enhanced performance and improved compatibility for x86 applications.
Despite these advancements, gaming remained a challenge due to issues with anti-cheat software support. Anti-cheat solutions are crucial in the multiplayer gaming world, where they safeguard players from cheating and hacking. Many multiplayer titles were rendered unplayable on Snapdragon Windows devices because their anti-cheat technologies were not designed for ARM chips.
The strategic partnership between Epic Games and Qualcomm represents a significant leap towards addressing these challenges by adapting the Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) program for Snapdragon and other ARM-based Windows devices.
Looking Ahead: Epic Online Services SDK for Developers
In addition to EAC’s integration, Epic Games has announced plans to launch the Epic Online Services SDK. This initiative aims to assist game developers in ensuring that their multiplayer titles are fully compatible with Snapdragon Windows devices. However, it is important to note that games designed without Easy Anti-Cheat may encounter compatibility issues on these ARM platforms.
Popular titles such as Valorant and Call of Duty utilize their own anti-cheat systems, which means they will remain unplayable on Snapdragon Windows devices until their respective developers adapt these solutions for ARM compatibility. Nevertheless, the progress achieved thus far is a promising sign for the future of gaming on Snapdragon Windows devices.