Apex Legends Drops Steam Deck Support Amid Cheating Concerns

Apex Legends Drops Linux Support Due to Cheating Surge

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

EA characterizes the open-source nature of Linux as a significant vulnerability, stating it provides "a path for a variety of impactful exploits and cheats." The company highlights the difficulty in detecting these cheats, which are reportedly proliferating at an unsustainable rate. Furthermore, the flexibility of Linux allows malicious actors to effectively mask their cheating activities, making enforcement incredibly challenging.

The decision, while acknowledged as difficult, was deemed necessary to protect the overall player experience. EA_Mako explained the need to balance the relatively small number of legitimate Linux/Steam Deck users against the broader impact of rampant cheating. The inability to reliably distinguish legitimate Steam Deck users from cheaters using Linux further complicated the situation.

The technical challenges posed by the open-source nature of Linux and the difficulty in implementing effective anti-cheat measures were emphasized as key factors in EA's decision. The company stressed that this change only affects Linux users; players on other supported platforms will experience no disruption to their gameplay.

While this decision will undoubtedly disappoint some players, EA maintains it is a crucial step to maintain the fairness and integrity of Apex Legends for the vast majority of its players.