Electronic Arts has announced that it will immediately revoke access to its popular battle royale game, Apex Legends, for Steam Deck and Linux users as part of its ongoing efforts to address cheating issues.
In an update posted on the Apex Legends forums (as noted by The Verge), an EA representative explained that this decision was made in response to a significant number of cheating exploits linked to Linux-based installations. Since the Steam Deck operates on a Linux foundation (SteamOS is built on Debian and utilizes Proton for compatibility with Windows and Mac games), this effectively means that Steam Deck users will also lose access.
The spokesperson elaborated, “We had to consider the impact of Linux and Steam Deck players in relation to the overall health of the game’s community. Although the number of Linux players is relatively small, their presence has negatively affected the gaming experience for many others. This led us to our current decision.”
However, players can still enjoy Apex Legends on a Steam Deck if they install Windows, although it won’t operate through the default launcher. Additionally, PC users can continue to access the game on Steam without any restrictions.
Previously, EA reported that since the game’s launch, it has banned over 6 million accounts, averaging more than 100,000 bans per month. Anti-cheat measures in place involve Easy Anti-Cheat to oversee cheating across EA’s games.
This isn’t an isolated incident, as other major titles have faced similar restrictions. Last month, Rockstar removed both Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online from the Steam Deck following the integration of BattlEye Anti-Cheat, although the specific reasons for the incompatibility were not detailed.
