Rust's Anti-Cheat Policy Leaves Linux and Steam Deck Users in the Cold

Facepunch Studios has unequivocally stated its ongoing refusal to provide official support for its popular survival game, Rust, on Linux operating systems or via Valve's Proton compatibility layer. This decision is primarily driven by concerns regarding the integrity of Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) on these platforms and the potential for a surge in illicit activities. The studio maintains that allocating resources to support a smaller user base on Linux and Proton would disproportionately strain their anti-cheat efforts, which are already heavily invested in safeguarding the Windows player experience. This firm stance has generated considerable frustration within the Linux and Steam Deck gaming communities.

The debate surrounding Rust's compatibility with Linux and Proton has been a persistent one, intensified by the upcoming release of Valve's Steam Machine. Despite demonstrations by community members showing Rust's technical capability to run on Linux when EAC is disabled, Facepunch COO Alistair McFarlane has reiterated that this workaround is precisely why official support cannot be extended. The studio’s position highlights the intricate balance between expanding platform accessibility and ensuring a fair gameplay environment, a challenge compounded by the persistent ingenuity of cheat developers.

The Stance on Linux and Proton Support

Facepunch Studios has explicitly stated its unwavering position against officially supporting Rust on Linux or through the Proton compatibility layer. This decision stems from a deeply rooted concern over the efficacy of their anti-cheat system, Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC), when deployed in these environments. The studio contends that Linux, despite its technical capabilities, presents an additional 'vector' or pathway for cheat developers to exploit, thereby compromising the integrity of the game's anti-cheat measures. This apprehension is not new; Facepunch previously withdrew official Linux support in 2019 due to similar concerns regarding the difficulties of maintaining robust anti-cheat protections across multiple operating systems, particularly given the relatively smaller Linux player base.

The developers emphasize that extending support to Linux and Proton would not only introduce new vulnerabilities that cheaters could exploit but also divert valuable resources from the ongoing battle against cheating on the dominant Windows platform. They argue that their anti-cheat team is already engaged in a continuous struggle to counter new exploits and that broadening their focus to include less-populated platforms would significantly multiply this challenge without providing substantial benefits to the majority of their player base. This strategic decision, while disappointing to many in the Linux and Steam Deck communities, is presented as a necessary measure to maintain a secure and fair gaming experience for the broader Rust community.

Anti-Cheat Concerns and Community Response

The core of Facepunch's decision lies in their assertion that Linux environments and Proton compatibility layers inherently make anti-cheat enforcement more complex and less effective. Alistair McFarlane, the COO, has openly expressed skepticism about any game developer's ability to effectively manage anti-cheat on Proton or Linux without a highly specialized and dedicated in-house team. He posits that even then, success in this area remains elusive for most. This perspective is rooted in past experiences, where the studio observed a higher incidence of cheaters exploiting vulnerabilities on Linux when it was officially supported, leading to its eventual discontinuation.

The gaming community, particularly those advocating for Linux and Steam Deck compatibility, has voiced considerable frustration over this stance. Many players, yearning for the ability to play Rust on their preferred platforms, point to technical demonstrations showing the game running flawlessly on Linux with EAC disabled. However, Facepunch clarifies that this unofficial functionality does not address the fundamental security concerns that arise when EAC is actively engaged across diverse system configurations. The studio maintains that expanding support would inadvertently open new avenues for cheat developers, creating a continuous and unsustainable arms race that would ultimately detract from the overall player experience on all platforms, including Windows.