Apex Legends is no longer supporting the Steam Deck, a move aimed at resolving a long-standing issue with the game’s Linux compatibility.
While many gamers playing Apex Legends on console or PC strive for excellence, a significant portion will opt for a more casual experience, whether on PC or Steam Deck, prioritizing fun and relaxation over competitive success. Although you may not be tech-savvy, it’s exciting news that Apex Legends is now officially available on Steam, making it possible for players to enjoy the game on Valve’s portable gaming device, the Steam Deck. Besides its announcement earlier this week, Respawn revealed it’s pulling out support for Linux, the operating system that powers the Steam Deck.
The blog post states that in their battle against dishonesty in Apex, they’ve identified Linux OS as a common pathway for numerous impactful cheats and exploits. As a professional editor, I would revise the sentence in the following manner:
Due to this reason, we have decided to block the Linux operating system from entering the game. While this decision might have a limited impact on some Apex Legends players, we believe it will significantly reduce instances of cheating in our game. The Steam Deck utilises Linux as its operating system by default. Currently, there is no reliable way to differentiate an authentic Steam Deck from a fraudulent impersonator posing as one, particularly when running on Linux.
Although rare, it’s not unprecedented to see massive titles like Fortnite, which have yet to support the Steam Deck, coexist with popular handheld performances, such as Apex Legends, which ranked among the top 50 most played games in the past year, according to GamesRadar.
While the blog post notes that playing on the Steam Deck is still possible, a workaround requires installing Windows on the system, which may not be an appealing option for everyone. Sorry, Steam Deck gamers! Respawn’s statement suggests that future anti-cheat updates are on the horizon, leaving players to wonder if the ban might be reversed at an unspecified point.