The Finals is integrating kernel-level anti-cheat, but the team at Embark Studios has pledged to maintain support for Steam Deck and Linux users.

Embark Studios recently released Update 7.3 for The Finals, introducing a significant security enhancement aimed at combating cheating. “Many cheats leverage a kernel driver to exploit system memory, making them difficult to detect using traditional anti-cheat methods. Therefore, kernel driver anti-cheat will become essential for competitive multiplayer games going forward.”

In their Steam announcement, the developers emphasized that both SteamOS and Linux will still be supported. An update on their official Discord server stated, “We have no plans to drop support for SteamOS, Proton, Wine, or Steam Deck. We will do our best to ensure players can continue to enjoy the game!”

Another developer stated, “We closely collaborate with CodeWeavers to ensure quality assurance for each release since around Season 5. This helps us catch issues with Steam Deck early on.”

This commitment from Embark Studios comes as a relief to many, considering that kernel-level anti-cheat typically poses challenges for Linux users. Historically, many titles have dropped Linux support, so this move signals a positive trend in accommodating the Linux gaming community.

With the upcoming end-of-life for Windows 10, interest in alternative systems like SteamOS is rising, especially among gamers seeking stable platforms. Despite the uncertainties in the gaming industry, Linux players of The Finals can take comfort in the developer’s current support and promises.