Epic Games and Qualcomm Team Up to Tackle Anticheat Roadblock for Snapdragon X Gaming
When it comes to gaming on Qualcomm's Snapdragon X-powered Copilot+ PCs, many gamers have been vocal about their frustrations with the experience. However, I've had the pleasure of putting these devices through their paces firsthand, and I can confidently say that they offer a far more enjoyable gaming experience than most people give them credit for.
But despite my personal experiences, there is one major roadblock to gaming on Snapdragon X PCs: anticheat software. Specifically, Easy Anti-Cheat has long been a sticking point, with many popular games being unable to run smoothly due to compatibility issues. Fortunately, Epic Games and Qualcomm have announced a collaboration to address this issue, and the news could not come at a better time.
A Partnership to Bring Easy Anti-Cheat to Snapdragon X
"Hundreds of today's multiplayer games, including Fortnite, rely on Easy Anti-Cheat to combat hacking and cheating in multiplayer PC games," Epic Games explained. "In addition to releasing Windows support for anti-cheat on Snapdragon devices for Fortnite, we will bring this support to developers through an Epic Online Services SDK release." This means that game developers using Easy Anti-Cheat can now easily implement compatibility with Snapdragon X-powered PCs.
But the partnership doesn't stop there. The first title to benefit from this new feature is none other than Fortnite, which will be launching on Snapdragon X soon. While a specific release date has not been confirmed, it's clear that Epic Games sees this as a major milestone in their efforts to bring gaming to a wider audience.
"Battle-testing Windows on Snapdragon anti-cheat support with Fortnite will help ensure smooth implementations in other games," said Epic Games. This is a savvy move, as Fortnite is a great test bed for any new technology. By using one of the most popular games in the world to test their implementation, Epic Games can identify and address any issues before they become major problems.
A Common Enemy: Anticheat Software
Gaming on Snapdragon X is not unlike gaming on the Steam Deck in some regards. Both platforms have struggled with anticheat software, although for different reasons. While Steam OS is based on Linux, Windows-based anticheat doesn't just magically work due to compatibility issues.
However, Epic Games has been proactive in addressing these issues, supporting Steam Deck and now Snapdragon X-powered PCs. By working together with Qualcomm, they are helping to bring gaming to a wider audience and paving the way for other developers to follow suit.
The Future of Gaming on Snapdragon X
While there is still much work to be done before Snapdragon X becomes a major player in the gaming world, the partnership between Epic Games and Qualcomm is an important step in the right direction. With regular graphics driver updates and Microsoft's Auto SR upscaler already supporting the platform, it's clear that the stars are aligning for this technology.
As a journalist covering PC hardware and reviews, I've had the chance to experience the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus firsthand, and I can confidently say that performance is there. However, anticheat is still a major roadblock, so the impact of this partnership cannot be overstated. It's a huge step forward for gamers on Snapdragon X-powered PCs, and one that will likely pave the way for even more titles to follow in the future.
By supporting Fortnite on Snapdragon X and providing an SDK update for other developers, Epic Games is helping to bring gaming to a wider audience. With their continued efforts and Qualcomm's support, it's clear that the future of gaming on Snapdragon X is bright indeed.