Cheating has been a persistent problem in Apex Legends, affecting players across all skill levels. Even some of the top-ranked players, such as the number one Predator player, faced bans after being reported for cheating by vigilant players.
This surge in bans aligns with a commitment made earlier in 2023 by Chris Bruzzo, EA Chief Officer, who emphasized that combating cheating is a top priority for the Apex Legends team. Bruzzo explained that eliminating cheating is essential for reducing toxicity within the game's community.
Respawn demonstrated its dedication to this cause by issuing a permanent ban to a player in February who had challenged the developers to do so. Now, more than 2,000 cheaters have faced consequences in the latest enforcement action.
On September 13, Respawn officially stated, "This morning, we banned 2,000-plus accounts that were using cheats. As a reminder, please report any suspicious player activity through our in-game tools."
The community welcomed this announcement, with some players expressing humor about their inability to log in that morning and others applauding Respawn's efforts.
However, some players remain dissatisfied with the in-game reporting process, highlighting the need for improvements to ensure effective reporting of cheaters.
It is hoped that this wave of bans will discourage cheaters from negatively impacting the experiences of other players. Nonetheless, history has shown that cheaters often persist in finding new ways to evade detection.