Cheating Concerns Prompt Removal of Apex Legends from Steam Deck

Electronic Arts (EA) has banned Apex Legends access for all Linux-based systems, including the Steam Deck, due to a surge in cheating. This decision, detailed in an EA blog post, cites the open-source nature of Linux as a significant contributor to the problem.

EA's community manager, EA_Mako, explained that the platform's openness makes it a haven for cheat developers, creating exploits difficult to detect. The increasing prevalence of these Linux-based cheats, disproportionate to the number of Linux users, necessitated this action. The flexibility of Linux also allows cheaters to effectively mask their activities, further complicating detection and enforcement.

The decision, while impacting a segment of the player base, was deemed necessary to protect the integrity of the game for the majority of players. EA highlighted the difficulty in reliably distinguishing legitimate Steam Deck users from those utilizing cheats, given that Linux is the default operating system on the Steam Deck. There's currently no effective method to differentiate between them, leading to the complete block.

Therefore, while regrettable for legitimate Linux and Steam Deck users, the ban aims to maintain a fair and cheat-free gaming experience for the wider Apex Legends community on other supported platforms. This change affects only Linux users; players on other platforms remain unaffected. The images included in the original article illustrate the announcement and its implications.