Respawn is Hunting Apex Legends Console Players Using Keyboard/Mouse
The use of keyboard and mouse on console is something of a controversial practice which has begun to emerge in recent years as it becomes possible to to do on consoles. However, little has been done to address it by developers in most cases. This may soon change, at least for Apex Legends console users who use keyboard and mouse. Respawn is reportedly “investigating ways to detect if players,” are using a keyboard and mouse on consoles.
“Investigating Ways” to Detect Keyboard and Mouse Apex Legends Console Users
The note on Apex Legends console users who use keyboard and mouse was included in Respawn’s latest Reddit Check-in. While it did state that the studio was investigating the issue, and was seemingly opposed to it, it wasn’t left clear what the studio plans to do. “Our stance on this?” wrote Respawn, on the subject of keyboard and mouse use on consoles; “The short answer is: we don’t condone it. We are investigating ways to detect if players are doing it that we’re testing internally. That’s all we have to say on it for now but we’ll revisit this and talk about progress with detection and how we’ll address players that are using it in the near future.”
As such, it’s currently unclear how much of a problem Respawn considers this issue. It’s likely that the recent launch of Apex Legends Ranked Leagues has given the issue more impetus, as console players complain that keyboard and mouse users have an unfair advantage. While this complaint has its merits in standard multiplayer, it has more weight in a Ranked setting where the stakes are higher. Indeed, Respawn has previously laid out plans to address cheating and hacking in Ranked play.
For now, it’s unknown what Respawn plans to do if they are able to detect players on console using keyboard and mouse. Will they levy some sort of punishment or penalty against such players? Or, will they simply prioritise matchmaking those players together? The latter option seems more likely, especially as Respawn has suggested matchmaking cheaters together in the past.