Epic Games News: SteamOS Launcher and the Jazz Jackrabbit Row

If you’re searching “epic games” this week, it’s most likely because of two stories. First, Epic has confirmed that its new, native Linux version of the Epic Games Launcher will support SteamOS, the operating system on Valve’s Steam Deck. Second, Gears of War designer Cliff Bleszinski has publicly disputed Epic’s claim that it fully owns Jazz Jackrabbit, a character that recently showed up in Fortnite.

Below is what has actually been confirmed, what is still unclear, and what it means if you play on a Steam Deck or another Linux PC. Everything here reflects reporting as of November 10, 2026, and some of it is likely to change.

The Epic Games Launcher is coming to SteamOS

What Epic has confirmed

Epic’s plan for a native Linux launcher first came out in August 2026, when an Epic staff member mentioned it during a Discord AMA. No release date was given at the time, only “soon” (Slashdot).

Since then, Epic has released a new Epic Games Launcher Preview on Windows, macOS and Linux. On Linux this is a native build, not the Windows launcher running through Wine or Proton.

The SteamOS part was confirmed in early November. Epic’s communications director, Jake Jones, told GamingOnLinux that the launcher is still in Preview and that Epic wants to support as many Linux distributions as it can, naming SteamOS alongside Fedora, CachyOS and Omarchy. The Verge, Notebookcheck and Borncity all picked up the story after that.

What is still unknown

A few important details are missing from Epic’s statements so far:

• No release date. Epic has not said when SteamOS support will ship.
• Gaming Mode support. It is not yet clear whether you’ll be able to use the launcher from SteamOS’s Gaming Mode or only from Desktop Mode.
• Packaging. According to GamingOnLinux, the Preview’s Linux packaging has already changed once (from an AppImage to a .deb package), and Epic says it is still evaluating formats. Expect this to shift before a final release.

What it will and won’t change on Steam Deck

This is the part that is easy to misread. A native launcher handles the storefront and your library: browsing, buying, downloading and managing games. It does not make Windows games run natively on Linux. Those games will still need a compatibility layer like Proton or Wine, just as they do today.

Why Fortnite still isn’t coming to Steam Deck

Fortnite is the obvious question, and the answer for now is no. Reports on Epic’s plans say Fortnite stays off the Steam Deck because the device does not currently meet the security requirements of Epic’s anti-cheat (Borncity). Other games that rely on similar anti-cheat protection could be affected in the same way. Epic has not announced a timeline for changing this.

What Steam Deck owners should do right now

If you want to play your Epic library on a Steam Deck or another SteamOS device, here is a sensible approach:

1. Don’t expect an official SteamOS build yet. As of today, Epic has announced intent, not a release. Watch Epic’s official channels and the Epic Games Store site for the launch.
2. Check game compatibility before buying. Since Windows games will still run through a compatibility layer, look up whether a specific game works on Linux, and especially whether it uses anti-cheat that blocks Linux, before spending money on it.
3. Keep your account secure. Only download the launcher from Epic’s own website. Never enter your Epic login on third-party sites that promise early access or “SteamOS versions” of the launcher.
4. Keep Fortnite expectations realistic. If Fortnite is your main reason for wanting the launcher, it won’t help on Steam Deck until Epic changes its anti-cheat position.

Some reporting also points to the community-made, open-source Heroic Games Launcher as the way many Linux users currently reach their Epic libraries. It is not an Epic product, so Epic does not support it, but it is a widely used option while the official client is in Preview.

The Jazz Jackrabbit rights dispute

What happened

The other reason Epic is trending is a public disagreement with Cliff Bleszinski, the designer best known for Gears of War, who spent around 20 years at Epic before leaving in 2012. Jazz Jackrabbit, a 1994 MS-DOS platformer, was one of Epic’s earliest hits, and Bleszinski is credited as a co-creator alongside Arjan Brussee.

According to Power Up Gaming, Bleszinski posted on X that Epic claims it fully owns the rights to Jazz Jackrabbit and won’t change its position, even after lawyers were involved. He also said he doesn’t have the paperwork to prove otherwise. His argument: Epic still pays him royalties from sales of the game on GOG, which, in his view, suggests some kind of contract exists.

Where Fortnite comes in

Jazz appeared in Fortnite Chapter 7 Season 4 as a Sprite, the season’s helper creatures, with Jazz-themed variants giving players movement abilities such as an extra mid-air jump (Destructoid). Coverage of the dispute, including IGN’s, frames it around this Fortnite appearance, with Bleszinski pointing out that Epic is happy to use the character in its biggest game.

What we don’t know

• There is no confirmed lawsuit. Some headlines describe a “legal tussle,” but we found no court filing. What has been reported is a rights disagreement in which lawyers were consulted.
• The contract hasn’t been made public. Neither side has published the original agreement, so it is not possible to say who is right.
• Epic’s side. We found no detailed public statement from Epic responding to Bleszinski’s account.

Bleszinski has said that any future Jazz-style project from him would be a “spiritual sequel” rather than a revival of the original character.

The bottom line

For most players, the SteamOS news is the one that matters. Epic has committed to supporting SteamOS with a native launcher, which should make managing an Epic library on a Steam Deck much more straightforward once it ships. But it is still a Preview with no release date, Windows games will still run through Proton or Wine, and Fortnite remains off the Deck because of anti-cheat. The Jazz Jackrabbit story is an interesting piece of gaming history playing out in public, but until the contract details surface, it is one person’s account against Epic’s stated position.