The Epic Games Launcher is a popular platform for purchasing and playing games, similar to Steam, Origin, and Uplay. While Epic Games provides native versions of their launcher for Windows and macOS, they do not provide an official one for Linux. Fortunately, Linux users have the power of the community and some tools at their disposal to run the Epic Games Launcher. This guide will show you how to install and use it on your Linux machine using Wine and Lutris.
Step-by-step Guide
Install Wine
Wine is a compatibility layer capable of running Windows applications on Linux.
On Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386
sudo apt update
sudo apt install wine64 wine32 wine-stable
On Fedora:
sudo dnf install wine
On Arch Linux/Manjaro:
sudo pacman -S wine
Install Lutris
Lutris is an open-source gaming platform that makes it easier to install and manage games on Linux. It provides automated installation scripts, including one for the Epic Games Launcher.
On Ubuntu/Debian:
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:lutris-team/lutris
sudo apt update
sudo apt install lutris
On Fedora:
sudo dnf install lutris
On Arch Linux/Manjaro:
sudo pacman -S lutris
Install Epic Games Launcher through Lutris
- Open Lutris.
- In the search bar, type “Epic Games Launcher” and select it from the dropdown.
- Click on the “Install” button.
- Follow the on-screen instructions. Lutris will handle the rest, including the installation of the appropriate Wine version and other dependencies.
- Once installed, you can launch the Epic Games Launcher from Lutris.
Potential Issues and Troubleshooting
Launcher not starting: Sometimes, after an update or for various reasons, the Epic Games Launcher might fail to start. If this happens, you can try right-clicking on the Epic Games Launcher within Lutris and selecting “Wine Configuration” or “Wine Tricks” to adjust settings or install additional dependencies.
Graphics drivers: For the best gaming experience, make sure you have the latest graphics drivers installed for your GPU. This is especially crucial for users with NVIDIA graphics cards.
Game compatibility: While many games from the Epic Store will work on Linux through Wine, not all of them will. It’s always a good idea to check for Linux-specific compatibility or issues on forums or websites like ProtonDB, which, while primarily focused on Steam’s Proton, can also provide insights for games from the Epic Store.
Requirements
- A working Linux installation.
- An internet connection.
- Some experience using the terminal.
Conclusion
Though the Epic Games Launcher doesn’t have a native Linux version, it is still accessible to Linux users thanks to tools like Wine and Lutris. While it may require a bit more setup than on Windows, once up and running, many of your favorite games from the Epic Store can be enjoyed on your Linux machine.