On Mar. 17, Apex Legends community was thrust into turmoil when reports surfaced of a significant hack occurring during a regional ALGS (Apex Legends Global Series) matchup. Allegations emerged that several professional players participating in the NA Pro League Split Finals had been provided with cheats, prompting a swift response from game developer Respawn Entertainment.
(Photo : Respawn Entertainment / Screenshot taken from Steam.)
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ALGS Competition Postponed Amidst Cheating Allegations
The integrity of the NA Pro League Split Finals was compromised as suspicions arose regarding the use of cheats by certain players. Consequently, Respawn announced the postponement of the competition while launching an investigation to ascertain the extent of the breach and identify responsible parties.
Easy Anti-Cheat Issues Statement Amid Fallout
In the aftermath of the hack, Easy Anti-Cheat, the company responsible for maintaining Apex Legends' anti-cheat measures, released a statement addressing the incident. The company asserted that it had conducted a thorough investigation into potential vulnerabilities within its system, specifically regarding remote code execution (RCE), and concluded that no such exploit had been utilized. Easy Anti-Cheat affirmed its commitment to collaborating with partners to provide ongoing support and address any emerging concerns.
The alleged hacker, reportedly contacted by the social media account Anti-Cheat Police Department, had claimed to utilize an RCE exploit to facilitate cheating among ALGS players. However, in light of Easy Anti-Cheat's statement, suspicions have shifted towards a potential source engine issue within Apex Legends.
Reactions from Easy Anti-Cheat and Respawn
Easy Anti-Cheat, renowned for its role in safeguarding various gaming titles including Dead by Daylight, Fortnite, Rust, and Apex Legends, rarely engages with social media or issues public statements. Consequently, its update regarding the Apex Legends hack marked a significant departure from its typical communication approach, being the first post in nearly five years.
Meanwhile, Respawn Entertainment has yet to issue an official statement regarding the hack, with only the Apex Legends Esports social media account acknowledging the incident and announcing the postponement of the North American finals.
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