Here on Linux, We're no stranger to rolling up our sleeves and diving into the terminal to get a game working. The latest GAMEHUB triumph comes from the world of CarX Street, where a recent update (v1.7.2) left Linux and Steam Deck players unable to launch the game due to an Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) error. But where there's a will, there's a sudo. Thanks to some sharp detective work by myself and Banshie, a fix has been found, tested, and shared. Here's how we cracked the case and how you can get back on the streets.

The Problem: A Case of Mistaken Identity

After the 1.7.2 update, EAC started looking for a critical file, easyanticheat_linux_x64.eac, in a very specific, hardcoded location: /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/... The problem? On a standard desktop Linux installation, the /home/deck directory doesn't exist. Even on the Steam Deck, where it does exist, the rest of the path the game was looking for was slightly different from the one Proton generated, causing the check to fail. The game simply couldn't find its own anti-cheat file.

The Fix: If the File Won't Go to the Path, Bring the Path to the File

The solution, discovered by digging through EAC logs, is to create the exact folder structure the game is expecting and then copy the existing EAC file into it. We've compiled the steps below, with specific instructions for both Desktop Linux and Steam Deck users. Massive shout-outs to users reaped_in_half and OuiOui for helping refine the process for desktop users.

Step 1: Locate Your Source EAC File (All Users)

First, you need to find the easyanticheat_linux_x64.eac file that Steam and Proton have already created. It's located deep within Steams compatdata folder (AppID 1114150). Navigate to the following path. The location of your Steam library might differ, but the structure from compatdata onwards should be the same. The default location is:

~/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/1114150/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/EasyAntiCheat/8b1d2f45fce8485787a8371415df6ba0/4a0693b348d940ad883cbb00/

Inside this folder, you will find easyanticheat_linux_x64.eac. Copy this file. You will paste it in the next step.

Step 2: Create the New Path & Paste the File

This is where the instructions diverge slightly for desktop and Steam Deck users.

For Desktop Linux Users

Since you likely don't have a /home/deck user, you'll need to create that directory and give your own user account permission to write to it. User OuiOui provided a clean set of terminal commands to get this done quickly. Open a terminal and run the following commands one by one:

Create the /home/deck directory:

sudo mkdir /home/deck

Give your user ownership of the new directory (Recommended & Safer): Replace $USER with your actual username.

sudo chown $USER:$USER /home/deck

(Alternatively, the community suggested sudo chmod 777 /home/deck, which also works but is less secure.)

Create the full folder structure the game needs:

mkdir -p /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/1114150/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/EasyAntiCheat/8b1d2f45fce8485787a8371415df6ba0/4a0693b348d940ad883cbb00/

Paste the easyanticheat_linux_x64.eac file you copied in Step 1 into the directory you just created in the command above.

For Steam Deck Users

The process is simpler on the Steam Deck as the /home/deck directory already exists. Open the Dolphin file manager in Desktop Mode. Make sure you can see hidden files (press Ctrl+H). Navigate to /home/deck/ and create the required folder structure. You can do this in one go with the mkdir -p command in the Konsole terminal:

mkdir -p /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/1114150/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/AppData/Roaming/EasyAntiCheat/8b1d2f45fce8485787a8371415df6ba0/4a0693b348d940ad883cbb00/

Paste the easyanticheat_linux_x64.eac file you copied in Step 1 into this final directory.

Step 3: Set the Steam Launch Options (All Users)

This is the final, crucial piece of the puzzle. In your Steam Library, right-click on CarX Street. Go to Properties, in the General tab, find the Launch Options box and enter the following command:

SteamDeck=1 %command%

You're Good to Go! That's it! Launch the game, and EAC should now happily find its file and let you into the game. As explained, Banshie and I figured this out by checking the EAC service log, noticing the file path error, and using mkdir -p and a file copy to satisfy the game's hardcoded demands.

Happy driving!

DAZZPHATTayy

GNU/Linux/Racing Enthusiast