Steam Deck Players Hit a Wall: Apex Legends Support Pulls Out

The Steam Deck, Valve’s handheld gaming marvel, has seen its fair share of ups and downs since its launch. But the latest news striking the gaming community is a notable setback for mobile gamers eagerly hoping to dive into the competitive waters of Apex Legends.

Due to rising concerns over cheating, Respawn has officially decided to discontinue support for the Linux version of this popular battle royale game on the Steam Deck. While reports suggest that many players enjoy their gaming sessions in a more relaxed setting, lying in bed and casually playing, this joy is now overshadowed by the cheaters disrupting the experience. As it currently stands, players can still access Apex Legends on their Steam Deck, albeit with a significant caveat—they will need to install Windows to continue playing.

An interesting twist for mobile gamers.

To combat the rampant cheating issue predominantly affecting Apex Legends, the team at Respawn candidly highlighted in their recent blog post:

“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. As a result, we’ve decided to block Linux OS access to the game.”
This decision, while regrettable for some, is viewed as a strategic move aiming to improve the overall quality of gameplay by reducing instances of malicious activity. Respawn further elaborated that differentiating between legitimate Steam Deck users and those exploiting cheats has become increasingly challenging.

From a wider perspective, this isn’t an isolated incident within the gaming environment. Many renowned titles, including Fortnite, have never extended their support to the Steam Deck. Nevertheless, Apex Legends positioned itself among the top 50 most popular games played on the device over the past year, signifying a notable player base that will now be affected by this policy change.

Further complicating matters, the developer’s recent changes have caused a stir within the gaming community. Players were left expressing frustration and disappointment particularly as they face challenges to switch operating systems just to continue enjoying Apex Legends.

Steam Deck’s potential felt in every gaming session.

The ongoing discussions about new measures to address cheating have sparked mixed emotions among players. Some hold out hope during this tumultuous time, as Respawn has mentioned, “We look forward to sharing future anti-cheat updates.” Optimism remains that perhaps a resolution could be on the horizon, one that simplifies gaming without the cumbersome need for technical skills or system changes.

With additional changes being proposed—such as doubling the battle passes and shifting towards real money purchases—concerns about the game’s direction are mounting. GamesRadar covered these developments recently, posing the question: is this a good direction for the game? Gamers are naturally interested—especially those who enjoyed playing Apex Legends on the Steam Deck without the hassle of modifying their device.

While it’s clear that the battle against cheating is an unending war, gamers prepare to adapt their tactics. For Steam Deck owners, the bittersweet reality is evident: the path to enjoying their favorite battle royale will require extra measures, steering away from the ease of the Linux interface they once relied on.

The crossroads of modern gaming and the Steam Deck.

In conclusion, as the blend of technology and gaming continues to evolve, the implications of these decisions ripple through various player communities. The Steam Deck remains a beacon of hope for portable gaming, but its compatibility with a beloved title like Apex Legends now stands on precarious ground. Will enough players take the leap to Windows for seamless gameplay? Only time will tell. But for now, it seems Steam Deck players must navigate through this new obstacle to return to the battlefield.