Apex Legends has faced yet another high-profile hacking incident, this time targeting some of the game’s most well-known pro players and streamers. On January 16, ImperialHal, Sweet, and Rogue had their EA accounts compromised, with hackers taking over their profiles to play ranked matches. In response, Respawn Entertainment has stepped in to address the breach.
Respawn Takes Action to Secure Accounts
Following the security breach, Respawn announced that the affected accounts were “temporarily banned” while the development team investigated the method of the attack. The studio has since implemented a security update to the game, and the compromised accounts have been restored. This swift response came just one day after Rogue publicly pleaded for assistance on X/Twitter.
While the situation appears to be resolved, the incident has disrupted the competitive race for the top leaderboard spot. The hacking led to unwanted bans for the targeted players and tainted ranked matches, impacting not just those directly affected but also others in their lobbies.
Apex Legends (image via Getty)Ongoing Hacking Issues in Apex Legends
Cheating and hacking are long-standing problems in Apex Legends, and this isn’t the first time prominent players have fallen victim. During an online ALGS regional final last year, ImperialHal and his then-teammate Genburten experienced a similar situation while streaming. Hackers infiltrated their accounts, enabling cheats such as aimbots and wallhacks.
Unlike the most recent attack, the previous hacker appeared to have a different motive—intentionally waiting until the trio was in a major event and leaving obvious traces to clear them of any wrongdoing. However, the latest attack has been more disruptive, with hackers taking over pro accounts entirely and wreaking havoc on ranked matches.
Hackers Cause Chaos in Ranked Lobbies
This time, the attackers seized full control of the compromised accounts, using the players’ names, ranks, and skins to enter ranked lobbies while employing cheats. Their actions ruined games for legitimate players and led to bans on the stolen accounts. This intrusion effectively derailed the leaderboard race, frustrating both the pros and their competitors.
Beyond the immediate impact on ranked matches, the hacking incident has highlighted a larger issue within Apex Legends. Rogue expressed his frustration with X, revealing that the situation has significantly affected his ability to stream. He also disclosed that hackers have gone as far as exposing his real-life address in-game, further escalating the severity of these breaches.
“The hackers brag about being able to do this to anyone, just for fun,” Rogue shared, emphasizing the lack of security measures in place to prevent such intrusions. This statement underscores the ongoing struggle against cheating and security vulnerabilities in Apex Legends.
Apex Legends (image via Getty)Another Setback for Apex Legends
Although this security breach has been addressed, it’s yet another issue for Apex Legends at a time when the game is already struggling with declining player counts. While this incident only impacted a few individuals, those affected are some of the most influential figures in the game. The broader issue of cheating, however, remains an ongoing battle.
Season 23 of Apex Legends is set to continue for another three weeks before concluding on February 11. With the game facing growing concerns over security and player engagement, fans are hoping for a more stable and enjoyable experience in the upcoming seasons. Whether Respawn can effectively tackle these problems remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—players are demanding better protection against hackers and cheaters.
