I’m curious about how we can realistically tackle the ongoing anti-cheat problems in gaming. Are there any initiatives or ideas that could genuinely help improve the situation? Here are a few thoughts I have, but keep in mind I’m not a programmer, so I might be off base:
1. Implementing a whitelisted kernel compared against a digital signature during gameplay.
2. Using Secure Boot, similar to how Battlefield 2042 is handling it.
3. Creating a Free and Open Source Software (FOSS) kernel module that could work with existing anti-cheat systems.
For Linux gaming to be sustainable, it really needs to be harder to cheat than on Windows, all while still fitting with the Linux philosophy.
5 Answers
Honestly, the future may lie in better behavioral analysis that is done server-side. There’s so much cheating happening with external hardware and software that kernel-level solutions can’t fully counteract. As technology evolves, server-side monitoring will likely become the go-to solution, even if it’s a slower process for the industry to accept.
Here’s a harsh reality: the only way to see a shift toward less invasive anti-cheat methods is if gamers start caring enough to stop playing titles that implement intrusive software. Most players don’t mind installing these anti-cheats as long as they can access popular games. It’s kind of a vicious cycle until companies see a drop in users.
Let’s be real, anti-cheat is about control and monitoring — something that really clashes with the open spirit of Linux. The best solution might just be a creative rethink of game design and networking that minimizes the need for invasive client-side checks. Rethinking how games handle data between users could be key to creating fair environments.
Game companies should definitely consider focusing on server-side anti-cheating methods. If games are designed with less trust in the client side, it would make cheating harder regardless of the OS. While tougher to implement, this method doesn’t rely on the user’s operating system and tends to be more effective.
One major factor is just increasing the market share of Linux. If more gamers switch over, game developers will start paying attention and maybe put more resources into creating anti-cheat solutions that work well on Linux. This isn’t just a tech issue; it’s really about getting people to recognize Linux as a viable gaming option. If more users adopt it, the industry will have to adapt too.
