Apex Legends is Dropping Linux and Steam Deck Assist

Apex Legends is taking a major step that’s positive to be unpopular with a great variety of gamers. EA and Respawn Leisure have introduced that the sport is dropping help 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, in fact, is the working system that the Steam Deck runs on, which implies help for the transportable machine is being dropped as effectively.

“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. “Consequently, we’ve determined to dam Linux OS entry to the sport. Whereas this may impression a small variety of Apex gamers, we consider the choice will meaningfully scale back cases of dishonest in our recreation.

“Linux is utilized by default on the Steam Deck. There’s at the moment no dependable means for us to distinguish a reputable Steam Deck from a malicious cheat claiming to be a Steam Deck (through Linux).”

EA explains that with Linux cheats being tougher to detect, although the choice to drop help 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 info reveals that they’re rising at a price that requires an outsized degree of focus and a spotlight from the group for a comparatively small platform. There are additionally circumstances by which cheats for the Home windows OS get emulated as if it’s on Linux with a view to enhance the issue of detection and prevention.

“We needed to weigh the choice on the variety of gamers who have been legitimately enjoying 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 impression contaminated a good quantity of gamers’ video games. This finally introduced us to our resolution at present.”

In fact, as EA reminds as effectively, for those who’ve obtained Home windows put in in your Steam Deck, you may nonetheless use the machine to play Apex Legends– although Linux customers are sadly out of luck.

“To eradicate this cheat vector, now we have made the choice to stop entry to the sport for Linux customers,” the corporate says. “Which means Apex Legends shall be unplayable instantly for these operating this working system. Enjoying on handhelds, such because the Steam Deck, remains to be doable if the consumer opts to put in Home windows.”

Apex Legends is offered on PS5, Xbox Collection X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Change, and PC.