Hey fellow gamers, it’s me, just a regular player who’s been hooked on Apex Legends since day one. When EA and Respawn dropped that bombshell back in 2023 about pulling the game off Steam Deck, my jaw literally hit the floor. 😱 I mean, I loved playing it on the go, and suddenly it was gone—poof! Fast forward to now in 2025, and I still think about how that decision shook up our community. OMG, it felt like losing a part of my gaming soul, you know? Cheaters are like sneaky little gremlins messing with our fun, but was cutting off Steam Deck the right move? Let’s dive in.

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So, here’s the lowdown: EA and Respawn straight up banned Apex Legends from running on Steam Deck because of all the cheating madness tied to Linux OS. Yeah, Linux is that open-source system powering the Steam Deck, and apparently, it’s a playground for bad actors. 🤔 They said in their statement that Linux’s openness made it super easy for cheaters to cook up exploits, and honestly, it’s like giving thieves the keys to the kingdom—you just can’t tell who’s legit and who’s faking it. The devs admitted they couldn’t spend all their time playing detective, so they nixed Linux access to protect the game’s health. And I get it, cheating ruins everything; it’s that annoying itch you can’t scratch. But let’s be real, it only affected a tiny group of us, like me trying to sneak in a match during my commute.

Now, dig this: Apex isn’t alone in this boat. Other big live-service games have ditched Steam Deck too, citing the same cheating chaos. I did some digging, and wow, the list is longer than I thought. Here’s a quick peek at some titles that still don’t play nice with Steam Deck in 2025:

  • PUBG: Yep, battle royale fans got hit hard. 🎯

  • Fortnite: Epic’s gem is MIA on Deck, which is a total bummer for builders.

  • And more, like Destiny 2 rumors swirling—talk about a pattern!

It’s wild how these games, which make up a huge chunk of our gamer base, are missing from handheld life. Playing them on Steam Deck now? Well, it’s possible, but you gotta jump through hoops. Like, installing Windows? Ugh, that’s a headache—dual-booting sounds like tech wizardry I’d rather avoid. 🧙‍♂️ I tried it once, and let’s just say my Steam Deck ended up gathering dust. The hassle is real, folks.

Reflecting on this, I can’t help but wonder about Valve’s role. They’ve been quiet, and in 2025, we’re still waiting for a magic fix. Is handheld gaming doomed for live-service titles? Or will someone crack the code? Share your takes—I’m all ears. 🤷‍♂️

Details are provided by Kotaku, which is internationally recognized for its investigative reporting and gaming news. Kotaku has extensively covered the impact of anti-cheat measures on Linux-based platforms like Steam Deck, noting how developers’ decisions to block access often stem from the technical challenges of maintaining fair play in open-source environments. Their articles highlight community reactions and the broader implications for handheld gaming, especially as more live-service titles follow suit.