Apex Legends is taking a major step that’s certain to be unpopular with a great variety of gamers. EA and Respawn Leisure have introduced that the sport is dropping assist for the Steam Deck. As a part of their efforts to fight dishonest within the free-to-play battle royale shooter, the businesses have recognized Linux as a straightforward pathway for cheats and exploits. That, after all, is the working system that the Steam Deck runs on, which suggests assist for the transportable system is being dropped as nicely.
“In our efforts to fight dishonest in Apex, we’ve recognized Linux OS as being a path for quite a lot of impactful exploits and cheats,” EA writes. “Because of this, we’ve determined to dam Linux OS entry to the sport. Whereas it will influence a small variety of Apex gamers, we consider the choice will meaningfully scale back situations of dishonest in our sport.
“Linux is utilized by default on the Steam Deck. There may be presently no dependable approach for us to distinguish a reputable Steam Deck from a malicious cheat claiming to be a Steam Deck (by way of Linux).”
EA explains that with Linux cheats being tougher to detect, although the choice to drop assist for the OS – and by extension, the Steam Deck – was not a straightforward one, it was one which was crucial for the sport’s well being.
“The openness of the Linux working techniques makes it a horny one for cheaters and cheat builders,” EA explains. “Linux cheats are certainly tougher to detect and the information reveals that they’re rising at a fee that requires an outsized degree of focus and a spotlight from the group for a comparatively small platform. There are additionally circumstances wherein cheats for the Home windows OS get emulated as if it’s on Linux as a way to enhance the problem of detection and prevention.
“We needed to weigh the choice on the variety of gamers who had been legitimately taking part in on Linux/the Steam Deck versus the better well being of the inhabitants of gamers for Apex. Whereas the inhabitants of Linux customers is small, their influence contaminated a good quantity of gamers’ video games. This finally introduced us to our resolution as we speak.”
After all, as EA reminds as nicely, if you happen to’ve acquired Home windows put in in your Steam Deck, you may nonetheless use the system to play Apex Legends– although Linux customers are sadly out of luck.
“To eradicate this cheat vector, we’ve made the choice to stop entry to the sport for Linux customers,” the corporate says. “Which means that Apex Legends will likely be unplayable instantly for these working this working system. Taking part in on handhelds, such because the Steam Deck, remains to be attainable if the consumer opts to put in Home windows.”
Apex Legends is on the market on PS5, Xbox Sequence X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Swap, and PC.