Unreal Engine is a complete time consuming pain in the backside to install on Linux.
I asked the Manjaro maintainers if they could add the various Unreal Engine versions to the Manjaro repository and their response was this.
“The end user has to accept the license and also Epic has to acknowledge and to accept user’s acceptance before the user will be able to download any part of Unreal Engine, regardless of if it’s binary or not.
Otherwise it’s a copyright infringement and a license violation, which can result in DMCA at best and a lawsuit if Epic would like.”
Given that I can install other proprietary software whether it be NVIDIA drivers, Edge, Teams, Davinci Resolve, Reaper DAW etc…Why have Epic games actively chosen to place barriers that other companies haven’t?
There seems to be a strong anti-Linux theme emanating from Epic Games in general and for the life of me I don’t understand why?
Whether it’s open source or not or has an EULA that has to be agreed to isn’t really relevant to the difference between installing on Windows vs Linux.
Epic Games refuse to provide binaries for Linux, and blocks anyone else from compiling and sharing them either. So we’re left with a situation whereby every has to compile the engine from scratch, and god help you if you want more than one version installed at the same time. This is not a Linux created issue, this is an Epic Games created issue.
The very fact that I can download the source and compile a .deb or .rpm means that Epic developers can do that too.
In terms of the EULA, Other non-open source much smaller in size than EPIC Games manage to incorporate a EULA into their installers and provide binaries.
Hopefully you can see where my confusion is coming from. There is a massive disparity between accessibility of the Engine between two different platforms, that has been created through an active choice by Epic Games. to not provide Linux binaries, for non-technical reasons (that I am aware of).
AFAIK Epic Games didn’t care about Linux in the past, but they seem to be changing now. The EAC (acquired by Epic Games before) has begun to support Linux. Maybe it’s time for Epic Games to support Linux more, like releasing a Linux version of Epic Games Store and Unreal Engine…
Valve has done a good job in Linux gaming, and the Linux users (who usually have more technical skills and are more likely to criticize or praise) have appreciated this. Their new game console is also based on Linux, and their continuous effort makes them escape from Microsoft’s own unfair platform.
I’ve got to take my hat off to Valve and their Proton fork of WINE, it’s impressive and has really made a massive difference, as it’s really opened up my Steam Library for Linux, and is offering me a full exit from Windows when Windows 10 support ends.
