Electronic Arts (EA) has banned all Linux-based systems, including the Steam Deck, from accessing Apex Legends due to a surge in cheating. This decision, explained by EA Community Manager EA_Mako, stems from the inherent vulnerabilities of the open-source Linux platform, which allows for the creation and deployment of undetectable cheats. The blog post details how the flexibility of Linux makes it a haven for cheat developers, leading to a disproportionate amount of resources being dedicated to combating this issue on a relatively small player base.
The open nature of Linux, coupled with the Steam Deck's default use of this operating system, creates an insurmountable challenge for EA in distinguishing legitimate players from cheaters. There's currently no reliable method to differentiate between a genuine Steam Deck user and a cheat masking itself as one, forcing EA's hand.
This difficult decision, while impacting a segment of the Apex Legends community, was deemed necessary to protect the integrity of the game for the vast majority of players. EA weighed the loss of Linux users against the overall health of the game and concluded that maintaining fairness and combating cheating outweighed the inconvenience to Linux-based players. The blog post emphasizes that players on other platforms will not be affected by this change. While disappointing for some, the move is intended to ensure a fair and enjoyable experience for the broader Apex Legends community.
