Project ideas from Hacker News discussions.

Ubisoft's FOR HONOR will block SteamOS / Linux players starting September 10

📝 Discussion Summary (Click to expand)

1. Refund / consumer‑rights debate
Many commenters argue that if a game stops working on a platform after purchase, the buyer deserves a refund, while others stress personal responsibility and the “caveat emptor” principle.
- “If I paid for a product and I did not get it… selling it incurs no cost on you and I have received none of the benefit of the transaction.”tempfile
- “You paid for a Windows product. The product still works on Windows, right?”john_strinlai
- “I view what has happened much more like ‘they set my shirt on fire’ than ‘I broke my own shirt’.”tempfile

2. Technical feasibility of anti‑cheat on Linux
The discussion centers on whether effective anti‑cheat can run on Linux, noting that Easy Anti‑Cheat (EAC) works but lacks kernel‑level protections, making it easy to bypass.
- “EAC supports Linux, but by doing so you're disabling a number of security features since you're making the anti‑cheat run entirely in userspace.”tapoxi
- “EAC is functionally useless on Linux and can be defeated by anyone with the ability to sudo or to boot a modified operating system.”altairprime
- “From what I understand Easy Anti Cheat… makes it very easy for developers to run on Linux… it is one of the anti-cheat providers that had decent Linux support since the beginning.”trashb

3. Ubisoft’s anti‑consumer reputation and user boycott
Repeated sentiments highlight a loss of trust in Ubisoft, citing its subscription‑only push, falling stock price, and deliberate blocking of Linux.
- “I've gotten very comfortable not owning Ubisoft games.”AlexandrB
- “Apparently so have other gamers considering that Ubisoft's stock price has fallen over 90% in the last five years.”Hamuko
- “Nothing makes more comfortable than not playing Ubisoft games.”Everdrive

4. Responsibility of platform holders (Valve/Steam) to warn or compensate
Commenters debate whether Steam should prevent sales of Windows‑only titles to Linux users or handle refunds when compatibility is removed.
- “Valve should … pop up a dialog during purchase saying 'This game requires Microsoft Windows…'”tapoxi
- “A totally reasonable ask is that people read the system requirements already visible on the store page of every game.”john_strinlai
- “Valve sells the game and handles refunds.”tapoxi (referring to money flow)


🚀 Project Ideas

Linux Anti-Cheat Compatibility Scanner

Summary

  • Automatically tests a game's anti-cheat implementation under Proton/Wine to detect whether it functions or blocks Linux users.
  • Provides developers and players with a clear compatibility report before purchase or after updates.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Linux gamers, Proton maintainers, game publishers
Core Feature CI/CD‑style test runner that launches the game in a containerized Wine/Proton environment, hooks anti-cheat calls, and logs success/failure
Tech Stack Docker, Wine/Proton, Python pytest, eBPF for syscall tracing, Web UI with React/Node
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby

Notes

  • HN commenters complained about Ubisoft disabling Linux anti-cheat and losing access; this tool would give objective data to support refund claims or pressure publishers (see tempfile, Telaneo).
  • Could be integrated into ProtonDB or SteamDB to surface anti-cheat status, informing purchase decisions and reducing frustration.

RefundHelper for Broken Linux Game Updates

Summary

  • Browser extension that detects when a Steam game update removes Linux compatibility (e.g., anti-cheat disabled) and guides the user through filing a refund, even outside the usual 2‑hour window.
  • Automatically gathers evidence such as patch notes, community reports, and launch logs.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Linux gamers who purchase games via Steam
Core Feature Detects version change, compares against known‑working ProtonDB signatures, creates a pre‑filled Steam support ticket with refund justification
Tech Stack Chrome/Firefox extension (JS), Steam Web API, ProtonDB scraped data, optional backend (Firebase) for caching
Difficulty Low
Monetization Revenue-ready: Subscription $2/mo for premium auto‑file & tracking

Notes

  • Users like Telaneo and happymellon expressed desire for refunds when games stop working on Linux after updates; this tool automates the tedious process.
  • Provides practical utility by reducing friction and could spark discussion about consumer rights on HN.

OpenLinuxAntiCheat (OLAC)

Summary

  • An open‑source anti‑cheat middleware that works on Linux using eBPF‑based kernel attestation and secure boot verification, offering parity with Windows‑level protection without rootkits.
  • Designed as a drop‑in replacement for Easy Anti‑Cheat/BattlEye for indie and AA studios targeting Linux.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Game developers using anti‑cheat, Linux‑focused studios, modders
Core Feature eBPF sensor that monitors critical game processes, attests via TPM/secboot, and reports trustworthy state to game servers
Tech Stack Rust (ebpf library), C/C++ bindings, TPM2‑tss, gRPC server, CMake build
Difficulty High
Monetization Hobby (open source) – optional commercial support licenses

Notes

  • HN debate highlighted that EAC is ineffective on Linux and that developers feel forced to block Linux due to anti-cheat limitations (see trashb, altairprime). OLAC would address the technical blocker.
  • Could become a community‑driven alternative that publishers can adopt, reducing the need to ban Linux players and addressing cheating concerns.

LinuxGameCompatibility Hub

Summary

  • A community‑driven database (like ProtonDB) focused specifically on anti‑cheat and Linux support status, featuring per‑patch reports, refund‑eligibility flags, and integration with Steam library.
  • Users can vote, submit logs, and see whether a game’s anti‑cheat works under Proton/Wine or native.

Details

Key Value
Target Audience Linux gamers, Steam Deck owners, community moderators
Core Feature Searchable table of games with columns: Native Linux, Proton status, Anti‑cheat functional, Known issues, Refund eligibility (based on publisher statements)
Tech Stack Svelte frontend, PostgreSQL backend, Steam Web API, Dockerized CI for automated testing, OAuth via Steam
Difficulty Medium
Monetization Hobby (ads optional) or Revenue-ready: Sponsored placements for developers

Notes

  • Commenters asked for clearer labeling and accountability when games are sold as Windows‑only but later break on Linux (see tapoxi, john_strinlai). This hub would surface that info.
  • Encourages discussion on HN about anti‑cheat fairness and could influence publisher behavior via public pressure.

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