The North American esports final of the immensely popular online shooter game, Apex Legends, has been delayed indefinitely due to allegations of hacking.
In a shocking turn of events, the North American esports final of the immensely popular online shooter game, Apex Legends, has been delayed indefinitely due to allegations of hacking. Players participating in the prestigious tournament raised concerns after encountering instances of cheating, prompting organizers to prioritize the integrity of competitive gaming.
Renowned Apex Legends players, Genburten and ImperialHal, brought the issue to light by sharing compelling evidence of cheats infiltrating their gameplay.
Genburten uncovered a “wallhack,” exposing the whereabouts of other players, while ImperialHal fell victim to an aimbot, which automatically targeted opponents. Such illicit practices are strictly prohibited in major esports competitions and can result in severe penalties, including bans.
The tournament organizers have emphasized the paramount importance of upholding the event’s “competitive integrity” but have refrained from divulging further details regarding the alleged hacking incidents. Nevertheless, the emergence of video clips showcasing cheat modes in action has caused turmoil among participants and spectators alike.
Upon encountering the hacks, both Genburten and ImperialHal promptly alerted others and were advised to exit the game to prevent further disruption. The Anti-Cheat Police Department, a volunteer group dedicated to combating cheating in online games, suggested that hackers might have exploited a vulnerability, potentially gaining access to players’ devices.
This vulnerability, known as remote code execution (RCE), has raised concerns about the security of players’ systems, although it remains unclear whether it originated from the game itself or specialized anti-cheating software.
In light of the situation, the Anti-Cheat Police Department has urged caution among players, advising them to refrain from participating in games protected by Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) or any Electronic Arts (EA) titles until the issue is fully resolved. Additionally, they have recommended changing passwords on Discord and enabling two-factor authentication on other accounts for individuals who participated in the Global Series tournament.
While regular players express apprehension about the safety of their devices, there has been no official confirmation regarding potential risks.
Addressing suspicions that Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC) software may have been compromised, its developers conducted thorough investigations but maintained confidence in the absence of any RCE vulnerability. They have pledged ongoing collaboration with partners to address any further concerns and ensure the integrity of the gaming experience.
Apex Legends, a free-to-play, team-based battle royale shooter developed by Respawn Entertainment, has enjoyed immense popularity since its launch as a formidable competitor to Fortnite. Recently celebrating its fifth anniversary, the game is owned by Electronic Arts (EA), which made headlines with the cancellation of a Star Wars-themed first-person shooter from Respawn Entertainment.
As the esports community eagerly awaits further updates on the situation, the postponement of the North American esports final of Apex Legends underscores the critical importance of maintaining the integrity of competitive gaming and addressing security vulnerabilities to uphold fair play and player confidence.