Apex Legends Removes Steam Deck Support Due to Cheating Surge
Electronic Arts (EA) has ended support for Apex Legends on all Linux-based systems, including the popular Steam Deck handheld console. This decision, detailed in a recent blog post by EA Community Manager EA_Mako, cites the escalating problem of cheating on the Linux platform.
EA characterizes Linux as a haven for cheaters, stating its open-source nature facilitates the creation and deployment of hard-to-detect cheats. The company claims the rate of cheat development on Linux is disproportionately high relative to the number of players using the platform.
The flexibility of Linux also allows malicious actors to effectively mask their cheats, making enforcement extremely difficult for EA. EA_Mako emphasized the difficulty in reliably distinguishing legitimate Steam Deck users from those employing cheats, given that Linux is the default operating system on the device.
EA acknowledges the impact on Linux users, but maintains the decision was necessary to protect the integrity of the game for the vast majority of players on other platforms. The company weighed the relatively small number of legitimate Linux users against the broader negative impact of unchecked cheating.
The inability to effectively differentiate between legitimate and cheating users on Linux ultimately led to this drastic measure. While disappointing for some, EA asserts this is a crucial step to ensure fair play for the wider Apex Legends community.
This change affects only Linux users; players on other supported platforms remain unaffected.
