EA removes Apex Legends from Steam Deck to combat fraud.
Linux and Steam Deck users will no longer be able to play Apex Legends, as EA has decided to focus on eliminating cheaters in the game.
EA has decided to suspend access for Steam Deck players and those using Linux to its popular battle royale game, Apex Legends, effective immediately. This decision was announced in a statement on the game's forums, where a company spokesperson explained that the measure is part of its efforts to combat cheating.
The reason behind this action is that EA has identified that many of the cheats and vulnerabilities it seeks to eliminate stem from Linux distributions. As a result, the determination was made to block access for Linux users, which also affects Steam Deck, which operates by default with a Linux-based system. Although there is an option to play Apex Legends on Steam Deck by installing Windows, it will not be possible to do so through the default launcher.
Since its launch, EA has reported banning over 6 million accounts, with an average of more than 100,000 bans per month. Currently, the company uses Easy Anti-Cheat to monitor cheating in Apex Legends and other titles. It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time a major budget game has been removed from Steam Deck due to anti-cheat measures, as last month, Grand Theft Auto 5 and Grand Theft Auto Online were also removed following the integration of BattlEye Anti-Cheat.
In addition to this controversy, Apex Legends is in the midst of its new season, Saviors, which brings significant changes to the game. This season introduces a new character, Newcastle, and a significant event involving a giant monster that has appeared on the map known as Storm Point.
Apex Legends is also preparing for the launch of a mobile version, which promises to be an independent experience and not just a simple port of the original game, with promises of exclusive modes and heroes for mobile devices.
