Respawn Blocks Apex Legends on Linux

Respawn has announced that those using Linux OS will no longer be able to play Apex Legends. That includes those playing on Steam Deck, where Apex Legends is currently available on the marketplace.

Respawn says its a decision made to fight issues with cheating in the game.

“In our efforts to combat cheating in Apex, we’ve identified Linux OS as being a path for a variety of impactful exploits and cheats,” the studio said. “As a result, we’ve decided to block Linux OS access to the game.”

The studio says that the move will impact just a “small number” of players. However, the move will “meaningfully reduce instances of cheating in [the] game.”

As far as the decision process, Respawn says that Linux’s “openness” makes it prime for cheaters and cheat developers. They also say that Linux cheats are harder to detect.

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“[T]he data shows that they are growing at a rate that requires an outsized level of focus and attention from the team for a relatively small platform,” they said.

“We had to weigh the decision on the number of players who were legitimately playing on Linux/the Steam Deck versus the greater health of the population of players for Apex. While the population of Linux users is small, their impact infected a fair amount of players’ games.”

For those on Steam Deck who can no longer play on the platform, Respawn says that there was “no reliable way” for them to “differentiate a legitimate Steam Deck from a malicious cheat claiming to be a Steam Deck.” If you still want to play Apex Legends on Steam Deck, you’ll have to replace Linux with Windows on the device.

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