Summary
Respawn Entertainment has revealed that Linux OS is no longer supported forApex Legends, including on the Steam Deck. While the developer says this change will make stopping cheaters easier, the decision will disappoint those who enjoyed playingApex Legendson the operating system.
It is no secret thatApex Legendshas a problem with cheaters. Ever since the game was released at the beginning of 2019, Respawn has had to fight an uphill battle against cheaters and hackers who attempt to ruin the fun and competitive integrity of the battle royale. After numerous complaints from the community, the developer has put extra emphasis onaddressing the cheating issue inApex Legendsand claimed new efforts would be put into play over the coming months to combat the problem. Recently, players learned of a new anti-cheat-related change.
In anew developer update, Respawn announced that Linux users on PC and Steam Deck can no longer playApex Legends. According to the developer, the game’s competitive integrity is a “top priority” in decision-making, and removing support for the Linux operating system will help with this initiative. While Linux provided another option to run the game, the “openness” of the operating system was a substantial vulnerability, providing a potential avenue for “a variety of impactful exploits and cheats.”
Linux Users Were Only a Small Part of Apex Legends' Player Base
When making this decision, Respawn noted that it weighed the number of players using the Linux operating system versus the overall population for the game. Despite player numbers forApex Legendsdeclining on platforms like Steamin recent months, the size of the game’s player base on Linux devices was still very small in comparison. However, the dev update noted this segment of players still managed to find their way into a considerable number of games, making the risk of cheating significant.
Ultimately, this low player count and high cheating risk caused Respawn to drop Linux support. Even though this change is doubtlessly disappointing toApex Legendsplayers who used to play on Linux, the decision not to support a competitive shooter on the operating system is not unusual. Other popular competitive games, includingFortniteandValorant, do not support Linux. In addition, there is a workaround forApex Legendsplayers on Steam Deck. Respawn pointed out that players could still access the game on Valve’s handheld system by installing Windows.
WhileApex Legendscontinues to combat cheaters, Season 23 of the battle royale game is right around the corner. While not many details about the upcoming season are known, the developer has already started teasing it. Hopefully, the new seasonal update will include moreanti-cheat measures to makeApex Legendsmore enjoyablefor those who continue to play.
Apex Legends
WHERE TO PLAY
Conquer with character in Apex Legends, a free-to-play* Hero shooter where legendary characters with powerful abilities team up to battle for fame & fortune on the fringes of the Frontier.Master an ever-growing roster of diverse legends, deep tactical squad play, and bold new innovations that go beyond the Battle Royale experience—all within a rugged world where anything goes. Welcome to the next evolution of Hero Shooter.This game includes optional in-game purchases of virtual currency that can be used to acquire virtual in-game items, including a random selection of virtual in-game items.
