Denuvo seems like it will be in all games, as it surges in popularity. However, Skate comes from EA, a publisher that is known to want to have full control over its games.
While it seems silly, if you look at the other games with EA, there seems to be a reluctance to follow trends. EA has other ways to keep gamers from taking their games for free. Luckily, the game didn’t follow that 2026 rumor, so we can get it now.
Does Skate Have Denuvo?
The upcoming game Skate game doesn’t use Denuvo at all. Instead, it’s going with EA’s own in-house anti-cheat system called EA Javelin Anticheat. This is a pretty big deal because it means that while Denuvo might be absent, there’s still a very intrusive anti-cheat in place to make sure online matches are fair.
EA Javelin Anticheat is a serious kernel-level anti-cheat solution. What that means is it operates at the deepest and most privileged level of your operating system. This gives it extensive access to your system processes, which is supposedly necessary to catch more advanced cheats. This is probably why Skate won’t be supported on Linux, SteamOS, or the Steam Deck for its Early Access launch.
It’s a consistent move by EA, since their Javelin system actively blocks Linux platforms, and they even updated other anti-cheat systems to exclude Linux support in games like Apex Legends. On top of the anti-cheat, Skate is also using some other anti-tamper measures.
It sounds like they’re using digital watermarking to identify any leaked footage before the game is officially out. So, while you won’t have to worry about Denuvo, there are still a lot of other things at play when it comes to security and platform compatibility with this game.
Why Is Skate Using Javelin Anti Cheat?
If you’ve been following the news about the new Skate game, you’ve probably heard that it’s going to use a kernel-level anti-cheat called EA Javelin Anticheat. This is part of EA’s push to keep things fair and make sure nobody’s cheating, especially with the game being online-only. The game’s early access really showed off how this anti-cheat works.
I’ve been looking into it, and the reason they’re going so hard with this is because cheats have gotten crazy advanced. We’re not talking about simple hacks anymore; these new “ring zero aimbots” and other cheats are operating at the deepest level of your computer’s operating system, the kernel. They can literally see everything, and if an anti-cheat system isn’t also at that level, it’s basically blind.
So, to fight fire with fire, EA’s anti-cheat needs to have that same kind of unrestricted access just to be able to tell what’s going on. Honestly, it makes sense when you think about it. If you want to stop the most sophisticated cheats, you have to be at their level. EA has been pretty transparent about this, saying it’s all about “positive, fair play” and creating a level playing field. And they’ve had some pretty good results, too, claiming that their Javelin system has blocked over 33 million cheat attempts with a 99% accuracy rate. That’s a huge number, and it shows they’re serious about this.
This is why Skate won’t have an offline mode, and why it won’t be supported on Linux, SteamOS, or the Steam Deck. It’s a tough trade-off for a lot of players, but it’s one they’re making to keep the online experience secure. We’ve seen other big games like Valorant and Fortnite do the same thing, so it looks like this is just where the industry is heading to keep up with cheaters.
How Does Javelin Anti Cheat Work in Skate?
Javelin Anticheat works with Skate by running at the deepest level of your computer’s operating system, which is the kernel. Experts say that’s because many of today’s most advanced cheats, like “ring zero aimbots,” also use kernel-level access to read your computer’s memory directly. To catch these sophisticated cheats, the anti-cheat software has to be on the same level; otherwise, it would be completely blind to what’s happening.
When you launch Skate, the Javelin Anticheat activates with full kernel, admin, or user access to your system. While the game is open, the anti-cheat has comprehensive access to your PC. This includes the ability to scan your RAM, keep an eye on background processes, look at your visual and file systems, and even check your in-game chats. If it finds anything that looks like a cheat, it can collect evidence, flag your account, and potentially lead to a permanent ban.
EA says that as soon as you close the game, the anti-cheat system shuts down. While the game is running, Javelin Anticheat has almost unrestricted access to your system. While developers say this is necessary to fight advanced cheating, it definitely comes with its own risks for users.
The Javelin Anticheat has been really effective, blocking over 33 million cheat attempts across 2.2 billion PC gaming sessions since 2022, with an accuracy rate of over 99%. That’s pretty impressive. However, the downside of this kernel-level anti-cheat is that Skate won’t support Linux, SteamOS, or the Steam Deck for its Early Access launch.
EA has been moving a lot of its older games to this new system, and it consistently blocks Linux platforms. On top of the anti-cheat, Skate also has other anti-tamper measures, like digital watermarking, to help identify leaks of pre-release footage. It just shows how serious EA is about keeping its games secure and fair.
