Qualcomm Expands Gaming Ambitions With Fortnite and Anti-Cheat Support
Qualcomm is making another push to strengthen Windows on Arm gaming, addressing a long-standing issue that has held its Snapdragon-powered devices back: game compatibility. On Thursday, the company announced that Fortnite will soon be supported on Windows on Snapdragon systems, alongside the integration of Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC)—a crucial move that could help bring more multiplayer games to the platform.
While Fortnite’s addition is a big win, the real breakthrough is Easy Anti-Cheat compatibility. Many multiplayer games require anti-cheat services to prevent hacking, but for them to function efficiently, they must operate at a kernel level—ensuring security without significantly impacting performance. Qualcomm says it has now made this possible on Windows on Arm, meaning that more developers could bring their games to Snapdragon-based PCs.
Historically, gaming on Windows has been dominated by x86 processors, leaving Arm-powered PCs struggling with software compatibility. While some titles, like Control, have been successfully adapted, the majority of PC games still require significant optimization to run on Snapdragon processors. Qualcomm previously claimed that the Snapdragon X Elite would support most games, but the company has now shifted its messaging, acknowledging that game optimization will remain an ongoing effort rather than a one-time solution.
That said, Easy Anti-Cheat support marks a turning point for gaming on Snapdragon-powered PCs. Qualcomm has also been working with other anti-cheat providers, including BattlEye and the security technology built into Roblox, in an effort to ensure that more games can run without compatibility issues.
In a statement, Qualcomm emphasized the significance of this move:
“Hundreds of today’s multiplayer games—including Fortnite—rely on Easy Anti-Cheat to counter hacking and cheating in multiplayer PC games. In addition to releasing Windows on Snapdragon anti-cheat support for Fortnite, we will bring this support to developers through an Epic Online Services SDK release. This will enable developers using Easy Anti-Cheat to bring this compatibility to their own games.”
Beyond gaming, Qualcomm has actively tackled software compatibility issues, including those affecting Google Drive and VPN applications, to make Windows on Snapdragon a more seamless experience.
Speaking to reporters, Dave Durnil, Qualcomm’s global head of gaming and Snapdragon Studios, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to PC gaming and its ongoing efforts to improve the ecosystem.
“We’re all in on gaming—PC gaming,” Durnil declared.
With Fortnite’s arrival and enhanced anti-cheat support, Qualcomm is laying the groundwork for better gaming performance on Snapdragon-powered Windows devices. While the transition to full game compatibility will take time, this move brings Windows on Arm one step closer to being a serious contender in the PC gaming market.