Apex Legends North American Final Delayed Amid Hacking Allegations

The eagerly anticipated North American esports final of the popular online shooter Apex Legends has been deferred due to allegations of hacking, stirring turmoil within the gaming community.

Players participating in the official regional competition raised alarm as clips surfaced depicting the activation of unauthorised cheat modes during matches, triggering widespread concern among competitors.

The organisers of the event expressed deep concern over the compromise of the “competitive integrity” of the contest, withholding further specifics pending investigation.

Renowned Apex Legends players, Genburten and ImperialHal, both shared footage revealing the intrusion of cheats during their gameplay. Genburten encountered a “wallhack,” divulging the locations of adversaries, while ImperialHal fell victim to an aimbot, automatically targeting opponents—actions strictly prohibited in major esports tournaments, often resulting in bans.

Both players promptly acknowledged the hacks and were encouraged by peers to discontinue their participation, indicating the severity of the situation.

The Anti-Cheat Police Department, a volunteer group dedicated to combating cheating in online games, indicated that hackers may have exploited a loophole granting access to players’ devices. The group cautioned against engaging in games protected by Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or any EA titles until the issue is resolved, emphasising the need for heightened security measures, including password changes and two-factor authentication.

While concerns loom regarding the safety of players’ systems, Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) reassured the community that there is no evidence of a Remote Code Execution (RCE) vulnerability within their software being exploited, pledging ongoing collaboration to address any potential threats.

Apex Legends, a free-to-play battle royale developed by Respawn Entertainment, has garnered a devoted following since its launch, challenging established titles like Fortnite in the competitive gaming sphere. Despite its popularity, EA, the game’s parent company, recently announced the cancellation of a Star Wars-themed project developed by Respawn, along with significant layoffs across the organization.

As the investigation into the hacking incident unfolds, the Apex Legends community remains on edge, eager for resolution and reassurance that the integrity of competitive gaming will be safeguarded.