Blocking Linux / Steam Deck in Apex Legends led to a ‘meaningful reduction’ in cheaters

Again in October 2024, Respawn announced they were blocking Apex Legends on Linux platforms (together with Steam Deck). Apparently this has labored fairly nicely for them.

Within the newest Apex Legends: Takeover Dev Replace video on YouTube they went over varied particulars on what they’re doing to enhance the sport. Steven Ferreira, Recreation Director on Apex Legends, mentions within the video at about 2 minutes in: “A few months in the past we blocked Linux entry to Apex. And we’re happy to report that we have seen a significant discount within the quantity of dishonest just lately.”

Again in early December 2024, additionally they made a submit on X/Twitter to indicate a continued discount in dishonest:

Does this imply Linux customers / gamers are cheaters or cheat extra than gamers on different platforms? Properly, no. The problem is principally that cheat makers wish to run their exploits on Linux at any time when they’ll, so blocking Linux as a platform is the simplest and bluntest instrument sport builders need to fight the issue. On Home windows, they’ve kernel-level entry for his or her anti-cheat that they do not have on Linux as nicely (though the advantage of that’s debatable).

The same situation happened with survival game Rust, as famous by developer Alistair McFarlane again in 2022:

Once we discontinued linux help in 2019, one of many core causes was how the dishonest neighborhood was exploiting the Linux platform. That is to not say that dishonest was tremendous widespread on Linux, nevertheless it was safer for cheat builders.

Presumably that is why GTA Online was blocked as nicely though it additionally makes use of anti-cheat that helps Linux.

Anti-cheat is simply going to stay a problem for Linux gaming for a very long time it appears, till we see extra Steam Decks getting offered and usually used, together with SteamOS expanding onto more devices. It should be the large elephant within the room if Valve did build a living room Steam Console.

Try anti-cheat game compatibility on our dedicated page.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.