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Epic Games does not provide a native Linux version of the Epic Games Launcher. Its supported desktop systems are Windows 10 64-bit, Windows 11, and macOS 13.5 or later.
Linux users can still access most of their Epic library. The easiest method is Heroic Games Launcher, an open-source client that signs in to Epic directly and uses Wine or Proton to install and run the Windows versions of games. Lutris and Bottles are useful alternatives when you specifically need the official Windows launcher.
Which method should you use?
| Method | Best for | How it works |
|---|---|---|
| Heroic Games Launcher | Most Linux users and Steam Deck owners | Connects directly to Epic and runs games with Wine or Proton |
| Lutris | Users who need the Windows Epic launcher | Installs the official Windows launcher inside a Wine prefix |
| Bottles | Users who prefer isolated Windows application environments | Installs Epic Games Store into a managed Wine bottle |
Start with Heroic unless a particular game requires the Epic launcher itself or another Windows launcher. Heroic avoids an extra launcher layer and usually requires less maintenance.
Method 1: Install Epic games with Heroic
1. Install Heroic
On a distribution with Flatpak and Flathub configured, run:
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- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
flatpak install com.heroicgameslauncher.hglYou can also download Heroic as an AppImage or use another package from the official Heroic downloads page.
On Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode, open Discover, search for Heroic Games Launcher, and install the Flatpak version.
2. Sign in to Epic
- Open Heroic.
- Click Log in in the left sidebar.
- Complete the Epic sign-in process in the window that appears.
Heroic uses Epic’s authentication process and stores an authentication token rather than your Epic password. After signing in, select Library to view your Epic games.
Use the alternative browser login if necessary
The embedded login window may fail on some systems, particularly when browser cookies, two-factor authentication, or an Epic login session causes a problem. Heroic provides a browser-based alternative:
- Start the Epic login process in Heroic.
- Choose the link to open the Epic Games Store in your browser.
- Sign in to Epic in the browser.
- Copy only the displayed AUTHORIZATION CODE.
- Paste the code into Heroic and click Login.
Do not paste your Epic password into a third-party form. The alternative flow is intended to use the authorization code shown by Epic.
3. Install Proton-GE or Wine-GE
A fresh Heroic installation may not include a Windows compatibility runner. Install one before installing a game:
- Open Wine Manager from Heroic’s left sidebar.
- Click Proton-GE at the top.
- Download the newest numbered Proton-GE release or Proton-GE Latest.
Heroic also supports Wine-GE and Wine-Lutris. Proton-GE is a sensible first choice for most games, but compatibility can vary by title.
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- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
4. Install an Epic game
- Open Library.
- Select the game you want to install.
- Click the small down-arrow install button, or open the game page and click Install.
- Choose the directory for the game files.
- Choose a Wine prefix path if Heroic asks for one.
- Click Show Wine Settings.
- Select the Proton-GE version installed through Wine Manager.
- Click Install.
The game directory contains the downloaded game files. The Wine prefix is a separate virtual Windows environment that behaves like a Windows C: drive. It stores Windows configuration, dependencies, and sometimes game-related data. Keeping each game in its own prefix can make troubleshooting easier.
5. Launch the game
Return to the game’s page in Heroic and click Play. If the game does not start, do not immediately reinstall it. First try a different Proton-GE version, check the game’s ProtonDB reports, and review Heroic’s game log.
Heroic also includes links to ProtonDB and maintains known fixes for some games. To enable automatic fixes, open:
Settings → Advanced → Experimental Features
Then enable Auto install known fixes.
6. Add the game to Steam
To launch a Heroic game from Steam or Steam Deck Game Mode:
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- Open the game’s page in Heroic.
- Click the three vertical dots in the upper-right corner.
- Choose Add to Steam.
You can also open Settings and enable Add games to Steam automatically. On Steam Deck, the shortcut appears in Steam’s Non-Steam section when you return to Game Mode.
Install Epic games on another drive
The Heroic Flatpak is sandboxed. It can normally access /media and /run/media, but it may not be able to see a custom mount point or a directory on another drive.
Use Flatseal to grant access:
- Install Flatseal:
flatpak install com.github.tchx84.Flatseal- Open Flatseal.
- Select Heroic Games Launcher.
- Scroll to Filesystem.
- Under Other Files, add the directory containing the drive or game library.
- Restart Heroic.
You can enter a path such as ~/Applications for a directory in your home folder. Make sure the drive is mounted before starting Heroic, and avoid disconnecting it while a game is running or updating.
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- Versatile compatibility: supports Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One X/S consoles and PC Win10 and above (including the game platform Steam).
- Precise control: features Hall joysticks and Hall triggers for a comfortable feeling, long service life and improved game accuracy.
- Plug and Play Convenience: Wired USB connection (removable) for easy setup and instant play without the need for additional drivers.
- Customizable experience: Includes 2 custom backbuttons that allow users to eliminate false triggers and improve their gaming experience.
- Impressive gameplay: Provides a pulsating vibration trigger and an asymmetric vibration grip motor for intense tactile feedback.
Method 2: Install the Windows Epic launcher with Lutris
Lutris can install the official Windows Epic Games Store launcher into a Wine prefix. This is useful when a game depends on launcher functionality that Heroic does not reproduce, although it adds another layer that can break after an Epic launcher update.
Install Lutris
For the Flatpak version, run:
flatpak install flathub --user -y net.lutris.LutrisOn Steam Deck, switch to Desktop Mode, open Discover, search for Lutris, and install it. The Lutris Flatpak includes the dependencies it needs and does not require you to install system Wine packages first.
Install Epic Games Store in Lutris
- Open Lutris.
- Use its search or add-games function.
- Search for Epic Games Store.
- Select the Epic Games Store entry marked as a Windows application.
- Click Install.
- Follow the installer prompts.
- Launch the new Epic Games Store entry and sign in.
The installer creates and configures a Wine prefix for the Windows launcher. If the launcher stops working after an update, check the Lutris installer and Wine runner options before deleting the prefix; deleting it also removes the launcher environment and may require a complete reinstall.
Method 3: Install Epic Games Store with Bottles
Bottles creates isolated Wine environments called bottles. Its installer catalog includes an Epic Games Store installer that applies the required dependencies and configuration automatically.
Install Bottles
flatpak install --user flathub com.usebottles.bottlesInstall the launcher
- Open Bottles.
- Create a bottle or select an existing one.
- Open Installers in the sidebar.
- Find Epic Games Store.
- Click its download or install icon.
- Wait while Bottles installs the launcher and dependencies.
- Start Epic Games Store from the bottle’s programs list.
Bottles is a good choice if you want to keep the Epic launcher separate from other Windows applications. Heroic is usually more convenient when your main goal is installing games directly from your Epic library.
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Fortnite
Fortnite does not work reliably through Wine or Proton. It may start, but its anti-cheat system disconnects Linux and macOS players. Changing Proton versions does not solve this limitation. A game-streaming service such as GeForce NOW is the practical Linux alternative.
Some multiplayer games
Proton supports certain anti-cheat systems, including Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye, but support must be enabled by the game developer for each title. Installing a game through Heroic, Lutris, or Bottles does not guarantee that online multiplayer will work.
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- WIRED OR WIRELESS, YOUR CALL — Connect the included 9' USB-C cable for zero-setup wired play on console and PC. Go wireless when you want the freedom to play from the couch, the desk, or anywhere in between.
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- MODERNIZED DESIGN — Experience sculpted surfaces and refined geometry designed around how you actually hold a controller. Stay on target with a hybrid D-pad and textured grip on the triggers, bumpers, and back case.
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Games requiring another launcher
An Epic purchase may require Ubisoft Connect, the EA App, or Rockstar Games Launcher. In that situation, you may need to install and sign in to the secondary launcher in the same Wine prefix as the game.
Heroic can add another launcher through Add Game, but this is not the same as Heroic’s direct Epic integration. The external launcher must be started from within Heroic, and the game may need additional configuration.
Common Heroic problems and fixes
Heroic opens as a blank or corrupted window
Close Heroic and remove its Electron GPU cache. For a normal installation, use:
rm -rf "$HOME/.config/heroic/GPUCache"For the Flatpak installation, use:
rm -rf "$HOME/.var/app/com.heroicgameslauncher.hgl/config/heroic/GPUCache"Reopen Heroic. If the window is still broken, start Heroic with the --disable-gpu flag. This disables GPU acceleration for Heroic’s interface, not for the games you launch.
Heroic says Wine cannot be found
An error such as:
No such file or directory: '.../bin/wine'usually means that system Wine dependencies are missing in a non-Flatpak installation. With the Flatpak version, completely close and restart Heroic first. An update while Heroic was still running can leave its runner detection in a bad state.
The Epic library or an installed game disappears
If Heroic reports:
ValueError: EGS ProgramData path does not existlog out of Epic in Heroic and sign in again. If that does not restore the library, Heroic documents this command as an alternative:
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Best Value
- Multi-Platform PC Gaming Controller: Working with Switch, PC, Android, and iOS devices via Bluetooth, wired, and wireless dongle connections.
- Hall Effect Joysticks: Delivering enhanced recentering performance for smoother control and superior anti-drift capability. Plus, with anti-friction rings.
- 2-Way Trigger Lock: With trigger stops, gamers can toggle between short and long pull positions. Additionally, gamers can activate hair trigger mode by pressing M+LT/RT (triggers must be in the long pull position).
- 1000Hz Polling Rate: This ensures that your inputs are registered almost instantaneously, minimizing lag and maximizing your performance during competitive play.
- Mechanical Circular D-pad: Designed for quick reactions and accuracy in every direction, this D-pad elevates your gaming experience with superior responsiveness.
Game videos are black or skipped
On Steam Deck and other Flatpak installations, open the game’s settings and enable Prefer system libraries. This can fix missing video codecs or black introductory videos.
Denuvo reports an anti-tamper error
Denuvo can trigger an anti-tamper error after repeated reinstalls, changing Wine versions, or creating multiple prefixes. Heroic’s documented remedy is to stop changing the prefix and wait approximately one day for the security restriction to reset.
Practical compatibility advice
- Use one stable Proton-GE version for a game rather than changing runners repeatedly.
- Check ProtonDB and Heroic’s game-specific known fixes before reinstalling.
- Keep the game files and Wine prefix on a drive with enough free space.
- Expect shader compilation, launcher updates, and anti-cheat behavior to vary by game.
- Do not assume that a game marked as playable offline will also support multiplayer.
FAQ
Can I install the official Epic Games Launcher on Linux?
You can install the Windows launcher through Lutris or Bottles, but Epic does not provide a native Linux launcher. For most users, Heroic is simpler because it connects directly to Epic without installing the official launcher.
Is Heroic Games Launcher safe to use with an Epic account?
Heroic starts authentication through Epic’s website and retains an authentication token rather than your account password. Use the official Heroic project or its Flatpak, AppImage, or package downloads, and use the browser-based authorization-code login if the embedded login fails.
Do Epic games run better with Wine or Proton?
There is no universal answer. Proton-GE is a useful first choice for many games, while Wine-GE or Wine-Lutris may work better for particular titles. Compatibility is game-specific, so check ProtonDB and the game’s Heroic settings.
Can I play Epic games on Steam Deck?
Yes. Install Heroic from Discover in Desktop Mode, install a Proton-GE runner, and add installed games to Steam with the game’s three-dot menu and Add to Steam. The shortcuts then appear under Steam’s Non-Steam games.
Can I install Epic games on an external SSD?
Yes. With the Heroic Flatpak, /media and /run/media are normally available. For another mount point, grant Heroic access through Flatseal under Filesystem → Other Files, then restart Heroic.
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The most common explanation is anti-cheat compatibility. Easy Anti-Cheat and BattlEye can work with Proton only when the developer enables Linux or Proton support for that game. Fortnite is a known exception and does not work through Wine or Proton.
The Bottom Line
For most Linux users, install Heroic Games Launcher, sign in directly to Epic, download Proton-GE through Wine Manager, and install games from Library. Add working games to Steam if you want a Steam Deck or controller-friendly shortcut.
Use Lutris or Bottles when a game specifically needs the Windows Epic launcher. Before buying or troubleshooting a multiplayer title, check its anti-cheat and Proton compatibility: the launcher can be made to run on Linux even when the game itself cannot.
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