Apex Legends Cuts Steam Deck Over Cheating

Electronic Arts has restricted access to Apex Legends across all Linux-based platforms, including Valve's Steam Deck. Here's an in-depth look at EA's rationale behind withdrawing support for Linux users.

Permanent Restriction on Steam Deck Players

EA Flags Linux as Vulnerable Platform for Game Exploits

Electronic Arts has officially ended support for Apex Legends on Linux devices, citing growing security vulnerabilities. The gaming giant described the open-source platform as "an avenue enabling multiple significant exploits and cheating methods." This policy change affects all Linux users, including Steam Deck owners playing through Proton compatibility.

EA Community Manager EA_Mako clarified the decision in an official statement: "Linux's open architecture unfortunately makes it appealing for cheat development. Our security systems struggle with detecting Linux-based cheats, which are proliferating disproportionately compared to Linux's smaller player population."

The company expresses broader concerns about Linux's inherent flexibility, which enables sophisticated cheating methods that bypass traditional detection systems.

Sacrificing Minority Access for Game Integrity

EA_Mako recognized the gravity of this decision: "We carefully considered the impact on legitimate Linux players versus preserving fair gameplay for our entire community." The statement implies that protecting the majority player experience justified restricting Linux access.

EA also highlighted technical limitations: "Since Steam Deck operates on Linux by default, we currently lack reliable methods to distinguish genuine Deck users from cheat developers exploiting Linux systems," Mako explained, detailing the challenges posed by open-source platforms.

While controversial among Linux gaming advocates, EA maintains this decisive action safeguards competitive integrity for players across Steam and other supported platforms, which remain unaffected by these changes according to official communications.