Apex Legends Steam Deck Support Removed Due to Rampant Cheating

Apex Legends Removes Steam Deck Support Due to Cheating Surge

Electronic Arts (EA) has ceased support for Apex Legends on all Linux-based systems, including the popular Steam Deck handheld. This decision, detailed in a recent blog post by EA Community Manager EA_Mako, cites the escalating prevalence of cheats and exploits originating from the Linux platform.

EA characterizes Linux's open-source nature as a significant vulnerability, stating that it provides "a path for a variety of impactful exploits and cheats." The company highlights the difficulty in detecting these cheats, which are reportedly increasing at an unsustainable rate. Furthermore, the flexibility of Linux allows cheaters to effectively mask their activities, hindering EA's anti-cheat efforts.

The decision, while acknowledged as difficult, was deemed necessary to protect the overall player experience. EA_Mako explained that the impact on legitimate Linux users was weighed against the broader need to maintain a fair and cheat-free environment for the majority of Apex Legends players. The inability to reliably distinguish legitimate Steam Deck users from cheaters using Linux further complicated the situation.

The technical challenges inherent in policing cheats on open-source operating systems like Linux were emphasized. EA's inability to differentiate between legitimate Steam Deck users and those employing cheats disguised as Steam Deck users played a crucial role in the decision.

While this move will undoubtedly disappoint some players, EA maintains that preserving the integrity of the game for the vast majority of players across other platforms remains the priority. Players on Steam and other supported platforms will not be affected by this change.