Epic Games has started closing a long-standing gap for Arm-based Windows gaming by making its Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) system compatible with Windows 11 on Arm devices powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X family — a change that paves the way for Fortnite and other EAC-protected multiplayer titles to run on Copilot+ Arm laptops and notebooks. (theverge.com, arstechnica.com)
Windows on Arm has come a long way from the early days of poor emulation and missing drivers. Recent Prism updates and better Arm-native tooling have improved application compatibility significantly, but one stubborn technical barrier remained: kernel-level anti-cheat systems. These runtimes and drivers operate at a low level of the operating system and usually depend on x64 kernel interfaces that do not translate cleanly through Prism’s emulation layer. That meant many popular multiplayer games simply would not run — not because the game logic failed, but because the anti-cheat refused to initialize. (arstechnica.com, xda-developers.com)
The new EAC Windows-on-Arm compatibility is explicitly targeted at that problem. Epic and Qualcomm say they worked together to bring an Arm-native anti-cheat client and supporting SDK to Snapdragon X devices, allowing the anti-cheat component to run properly on Arm hardware while the rest of the game can be either native Arm or run with the Prism translation where appropriate. (windowscentral.com, theverge.com)
Microsoft has introduced developer tooling like Arm64EC, which allows a hybrid composition of Arm-native and emulated components, and has patched Prism with improvements that make many x86 apps work better on Arm. However, Arm64EC and Prism alone don’t solve kernel-driver incompatibility. What Epic and Qualcomm did was produce an Arm-compatible EAC client — including native components where necessary — and expose that via the EOS SDK so games can call and initialize the proper client for Arm devices. (arstechnica.com, xda-developers.com)
However, this is not a panacea. Performance differences caused by emulation, the continuing need for other anti-cheat vendors to provide Arm support, and the constant vigilance required when kernel-mode code is involved mean the transition will be incremental. Users and developers should proceed with cautious optimism: the anti-cheat gate has been opened, but the broader work of porting, optimization, and thorough testing remains.
Key takeaways:
Source: Thurrott.com Epic Games Brings Easy Anti-Cheat to Windows 11 on Arm
Background: why anti-cheat matters for Windows on Arm
Windows on Arm has come a long way from the early days of poor emulation and missing drivers. Recent Prism updates and better Arm-native tooling have improved application compatibility significantly, but one stubborn technical barrier remained: kernel-level anti-cheat systems. These runtimes and drivers operate at a low level of the operating system and usually depend on x64 kernel interfaces that do not translate cleanly through Prism’s emulation layer. That meant many popular multiplayer games simply would not run — not because the game logic failed, but because the anti-cheat refused to initialize. (arstechnica.com, xda-developers.com)The new EAC Windows-on-Arm compatibility is explicitly targeted at that problem. Epic and Qualcomm say they worked together to bring an Arm-native anti-cheat client and supporting SDK to Snapdragon X devices, allowing the anti-cheat component to run properly on Arm hardware while the rest of the game can be either native Arm or run with the Prism translation where appropriate. (windowscentral.com, theverge.com)
What Epic announced and what it means
The core announcement
- Epic is adding Windows-on-Snapdragon (Windows on Arm) support to Epic Online Services Anti-Cheat, commonly known as Easy Anti-Cheat.
- Fortnite will be among the first titles to ship with the new support, and Epic will distribute the capability to other developers via an updated Epic Online Services (EOS) SDK so studios using EAC can add Arm support to their games. (pcgamer.com, windowscentral.com)
What Epic’s move unlocks
- Multiplayer compatibility: Hundreds of games that depend on EAC could now be updated to run on Snapdragon-based Windows laptops and mini-PCs.
- Developer tooling: An updated EOS SDK is the distribution vector — studios will receive an Arm-compatible anti-cheat client and integration guidance rather than having to reverse-engineer a solution.
- Market impact: The change reduces one of the major friction points keeping competitive and online games off of Windows-on-Arm, potentially increasing the attractiveness of Snapdragon X-powered Copilot+ PCs for gamers. (hothardware.com, windowscentral.com)
The technical picture: why this was hard and how Epic solved (or mitigated) it
Kernel drivers, emulation, and Arm64EC
Anti-cheat systems often include kernel drivers that inspect system state, protect game memory, and detect tampering techniques. Those drivers traditionally target x64 kernel interfaces; Windows’ Prism emulator translates user-mode x86/x64 binaries to run on Arm, but translation of kernel-mode drivers is not supported. That means an x64 anti-cheat driver simply cannot run through emulation. (arstechnica.com)Microsoft has introduced developer tooling like Arm64EC, which allows a hybrid composition of Arm-native and emulated components, and has patched Prism with improvements that make many x86 apps work better on Arm. However, Arm64EC and Prism alone don’t solve kernel-driver incompatibility. What Epic and Qualcomm did was produce an Arm-compatible EAC client — including native components where necessary — and expose that via the EOS SDK so games can call and initialize the proper client for Arm devices. (arstechnica.com, xda-developers.com)
What developers will need to do
Epic has said developers will need to update their games to use the Windows-on-Arm-compatible anti-cheat client and bootstrapper shipped in the new EOS SDK. That generally means:- Updating the game’s EOS/EAC package to the latest SDK release that contains Arm support.
- Replacing or patching any embedded anti-cheat bootstrapper with the Arm-aware version so the client properly installs and initializes on Arm devices.
- Testing the integrated solution on Snapdragon X hardware and under realistic multiplayer conditions.
What to expect for Fortnite, players, and studios
Fortnite on Snapdragon X: practical expectations
- Fortnite is slated to be among the first games to use the new EAC support on Snapdragon X devices. Epic has framed Fortnite as a “battle test” to iron out issues that may emerge on real hardware and across real-world networks. That means Fortnite players on Arm PCs should see support sooner than most other titles. (pcgamer.com, windowscentral.com)
- Performance will vary. Emulated x64 game code (if the game itself is not ported to Arm) will still run through Prism; EAC support removes the anti-cheat blocker but does not magically convert an x64 build into a high-performance Arm app. Titles that are ported to Arm or built to use Arm64EC mix-and-match will perform much better. (xda-developers.com)
What studios need to weigh
- Updating to the EOS SDK with Arm support is straightforward for some teams and more complex for others, depending on engine, build pipelines, and the presence of other kernel-level hooks.
- Studios using other anti-cheat solutions (for example, some titles use vendor-specific or proprietary kernel solutions) will not get automatic compatibility from Epic’s work; those teams must either port their anti-cheat solutions or accept that their games won’t run on Arm devices unless they take separate action. (windowscentral.com, tech.yahoo.com)
Strengths of Epic’s approach
- Centralized, tested SDK: By shipping Arm support in the EOS SDK, Epic reduces repeated effort across studios and ensures a standardized integration path.
- Real-world validation via Fortnite: Using a high-volume title to stress-test the new client will surface edge cases faster and make the SDK more robust for third-party developers.
- Industry impact: The removal of the anti-cheat blocker lowers a key barrier for competitive and e-sports titles to consider Windows-on-Arm as a supported platform, opening the door for broader ecosystem support. (hothardware.com, pcgamer.com)
Risks, caveats, and unresolved questions
1) Performance and complexity when emulation is involved
Even with EAC support, games compiled only for x64 will still rely on Prism for translation. Emulation can be impressive but is not free: CPU overhead, differences in instruction scheduling, and platform-specific optimizations can degrade performance. Developers and players should not automatically expect parity with x86 laptops; the experience will range from excellent in some e-sports titles to underwhelming in heavy AAA engines unless a native Arm build is provided. (xda-developers.com)2) Stability and Windows update compatibility
Easy Anti-Cheat has historically interacted with Windows updates and kernel enforcement features in ways that caused compatibility issues (for example, past interactions with Windows 11 24H2 and kernel security controls). Systems with incompatible or older EAC drivers have been blocked from receiving certain Windows updates until fixes were applied. The new Arm client should be tested against the full matrix of Windows security features (Memory Integrity, hardware-enforced stack protection, Secure Boot, TPM requirements) to avoid destabilizing systems. Users updating to the latest Windows releases should verify that their EAC-enabled titles are using updated anti-cheat builds. (windowscentral.com, easy.ac)3) Security, privacy, and kernel-level trust
Kernel-mode anti-cheat modules necessarily operate with high privilege. That always raises questions about the potential for unintended side effects, privacy concerns, and expanded attack surface. While EAC is an industry-standard product with long deployment history, porting kernel components to new ISAs requires careful code review and testing to ensure there are no regressions or new vulnerabilities introduced in the Arm client. Epic’s handling of this — both technically and in developer guidance — will be crucial to maintaining trust. (easy.ac, easy.ac)4) Platform fragmentation and support fragmentation
Not all anti-cheat vendors are moving at the same speed. Epic’s rollout helps EAC titles, but titles protected by competing solutions (or proprietary kernel hooks) remain blocked until their vendors provide Arm support. That fragmentation could produce a mixed reality where some major titles are playable and others are not, complicating expectations for prospective Arm gaming customers. (windowscentral.com)5) Unverified claims — Nintendo Switch 2 support
Some secondary reporting (for example, a roundup on Thurrott) stated that the newest Easy Anti-Cheat release “also supports the Nintendo Switch 2.” That specific claim could not be independently confirmed in Epic or Nintendo developer channels at the time of reporting and lacks corroborating official release notes from Epic or Nintendo. Until Epic or Nintendo publish explicit documentation or SDK release notes naming Switch 2 support, that assertion should be treated as unverified. Epic’s broader EOS SDK already includes console crossplay capabilities and Switch support in prior SDK releases, but Switch 2–specific EAC integration requires explicit confirmation. Flagged as unverifiable pending an official Epic/Nintendo announcement. (thurrott.com, easy.ac)Developer guidance and practical steps
Epic’s public-facing support pages and EAC installation docs offer concrete, immediate guidance on how the anti-cheat service is installed, repaired, and updated on Windows systems. Developers and advanced users should be aware of the following operational points:- Easy Anti-Cheat provides a shared service executable (EasyAntiCheat_EOS.exe / EasyAntiCheat_EOS_Setup.exe) and supports command-line operations for install, repair, and removal. This is the mechanism games use to install or update the EAC service. Epic’s published support pages document the repair and uninstall flows. (easy.ac, epicgames.com)
- For Arm support specifically, studios should:
- Adopt the updated EOS SDK release that contains Windows-on-Arm EAC binaries.
- Replace the bootstrapper and client modules bundled with their game installers with the Arm-aware versions from the SDK.
- Test on target Snapdragon X hardware to validate driver/service initialization, game startup flow, and multiplayer behavior.
- Coordinate with QA to verify Windows security features like Memory Integrity and hardware-enforced stack protections, since some features have previously clashed with older EAC drivers. (easy.ac, pcgamer.com)
- Studios that rely on other anti-cheat vendors must liaise directly with those vendors to ensure compatibility; Epic’s work does not automatically translate to third-party anti-cheat solutions. (windowscentral.com)
Ecosystem and market implications
For Qualcomm and OEMs
Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X chips are central to Microsoft’s Copilot+ PC concept and to the vendor push for energy-efficient, AI-capable ultramobiles. Removing the anti-cheat barrier makes Snapdragon-based gaming on Windows credible for a larger set of users and use cases, improving the value proposition for OEMs shipping Copilot+ laptops. If more competitive and e-sports titles come to Arm, OEMs can market these devices to a broader audience beyond productivity buyers. (theverge.com, tech.yahoo.com)For Microsoft
Broader game support strengthens Windows on Arm’s narrative, increases the pool of compatible software, and helps Microsoft’s efforts to diversify PC hardware. Continued cooperation between Microsoft (for Prism/emulation improvements), Qualcomm (for hardware testbeds), and middleware vendors (Epic, BattlEye, others) is critical if Windows on Arm is to become a mainstream gaming platform. (xda-developers.com, arstechnica.com)For gamers
Players who already own Snapdragon X Copilot+ PCs can now expect better odds that major multiplayer titles will become playable. However, realistic expectations are necessary: not all games will be updated quickly, and emulated titles may still run slower than native x86 counterparts. Consumers should watch publisher announcements and SDK updates, and verify that the version of a game they plan to play includes the updated EAC client. (xda-developers.com, pcgamer.com)Final assessment: a decisive step with balanced expectations
Epic Games’ rollout of Windows-on-Arm support for Easy Anti-Cheat is a technically significant and commercially pragmatic move. It removes a major compatibility blocker and provides a repeatable SDK path for developers, while using Fortnite as a high-profile test case to accelerate real-world validation. The change materially improves the prospects for Windows-on-Arm as a credible gaming platform — especially for competitive and multiplayer titles that previously refused to run.However, this is not a panacea. Performance differences caused by emulation, the continuing need for other anti-cheat vendors to provide Arm support, and the constant vigilance required when kernel-mode code is involved mean the transition will be incremental. Users and developers should proceed with cautious optimism: the anti-cheat gate has been opened, but the broader work of porting, optimization, and thorough testing remains.
Key takeaways:
- Big win: EAC support on Windows on Arm removes one of the largest barriers to multiplayer gaming on Snapdragon X machines. (theverge.com, pcgamer.com)
- Developer action required: Games must be updated to use the EOS SDK’s Arm-aware client and bootstrapper; Epic is distributing the necessary tooling. (pcgamer.com)
- Performance caveat: Emulation still matters; native or Arm64EC-optimized builds will deliver the best experience. (xda-developers.com)
- Security and stability: Kernel-mode anti-cheat code requires careful testing against Windows security features — past EAC interactions with Windows updates underline the importance of thorough QA. (windowscentral.com, easy.ac)
- Unverified item: Claims that the same EAC release officially supports Nintendo Switch 2 are not corroborated in Epic/Nintendo developer channels and should be treated as unverified until an official announcement. (thurrott.com, easy.ac)
Source: Thurrott.com Epic Games Brings Easy Anti-Cheat to Windows 11 on Arm
