Apex Legends Respawn Drops a NextLevel AntiCheat Update to Snare Cheaters

Respawn recently rolled out a savvy update to its anti-cheat system in Apex Legends, catching many cheaters off guard. If you’ve had trouble launching the game lately, you might want to keep it on the down-low. On September 11, a new feature was introduced that makes Apex unplayable when certain third-party programs are running in the background.

This subtle yet effective move by Respawn’s security team comes at a crucial time as the cheating problem has worsened in recent seasons. The team recently revealed that hundreds of thousands of accounts are being banned every month for cheating. Just a few months ago, a highly publicized cheating incident during an ALGS match spooked many players. This new update aims to block a range of tools, from custom shaders to crosshairs, that allow players to gain an unfair advantage.

For more about what’s currently happening in the gaming world, check out our article on the latest Apex Legends Season 22 updates or dive into everything you need to know about the current meta in Apex Legends.

Respawn’s Anti-Cheat Update on Apex Legends

On September 13, Respawn released a statement on their Twitter account, warning that the anti-cheat update from September 11 would block any programs offering unfair advantages. If you’re having trouble launching the game, it is advised to disable any third-party programs running in the background, as these tools might interfere with the game.

Even though Respawn didn’t specify which programs are targeted by this update, many players have reported that even minor scripts, such as those enhancing vibrance or contrast, are being blocked. It’s likely that these aren’t the only tools affected by the update, and recent Reddit discussions, along with a slight increase in crash reports on sites like Apex Legends Status and Down Detector, confirm that several players have struggled to launch the game post-update.

The update seems to have caught many players off guard, but with over 100,000 accounts being banned each month for cheating, it’s hard to give the benefit of the doubt to those experiencing issues following this announcement.