Qualcomm, known for powering laptops with long battery life through its Snapdragon chips, is making a significant push into gaming by enabling Fortnite on its platform. On Thursday, the company announced that the popular multiplayer title would become available for Windows on Arm devices running Snapdragon processors. Alongside this, Qualcomm is also working to integrate Epic’s Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) software, a crucial step in making competitive multiplayer gaming viable on Snapdragon systems.
Kernel-Level Easy Anti-Cheat Enhances Snapdragon Gaming, Compatibility Remains a Work in Progress
Easy Anti-Cheat is critical because many major multiplayer games rely on it to prevent unfair play. Simply including such software isn’t enough—it must operate efficiently, preferably at the kernel level, to reduce performance impact on the CPU. Qualcomm claims it has achieved this integration, ensuring that the anti-cheat software runs seamlessly on Snapdragon chips without degrading overall system performance.
Qualcomm Brings Fortnite and Easy Anti-Cheat to Snapdragon PCs in Bold Gaming Platform ExpansionHistorically, most PC games have been developed for x86 CPUs, leaving Arm-based platforms like Snapdragon with limited compatibility. Qualcomm has made strides in changing this by optimizing select games such as Control and continuing efforts to improve broader compatibility. However, the company has recently tempered its earlier promise that most games would “just work” on Snapdragon X Elite, instead acknowledging that game optimization is an ongoing process.
Expanding Game Support: Qualcomm Empowers Developers with Easy Anti-Cheat SDK Integration
The integration of EAC isn’t just about Fortnite. Qualcomm and Epic plan to release a Windows on Snapdragon-compatible version of the Easy Anti-Cheat SDK, allowing other game developers to support their titles on Snapdragon-powered devices. With this, Qualcomm is making a platform-wide push, aiming to empower developers and expand the library of playable games on Windows on Arm.
Qualcomm has shown a willingness to quickly adapt its platform to support key third-party software, including Google Drive and various VPNs. Dave Durnil, head of Snapdragon Studios, emphasized the company’s dedication to gaming, highlighting collaborations with other anti-cheat systems like BattleEye and Roblox’s built-in protections. “We’re all in on gaming — PC gaming,” Durnil stated, reinforcing Qualcomm’s strategic shift toward making Snapdragon a more robust platform for gamers and developers alike.
