Physics can be entirely deterministic. What we believe is quantum physics can be the result of local hidden variables. Even multiple universes that are interfering with one another. Also the possibility that what we cannot measure as a repeating pattern under fixed conditions, is in fact following a pattern but not within our lifetimes to measure. There are so many possibilities that can make something appear random but in fact is truly deterministic.

Well, one of the three major interpretations of quantum mechanics is Superdeterminism, where there are hidden variables that make everything just appear to be quantum mechanical, and that's wacky enough to fit together with the idea the universe is a simulation.

Haven’t hidden variables pretty much been dismissed by loophole free bell experiments?

Only the theories that are local in euclidean space. If we allow the entangled particles to transmit information between each other, or use non-locality (the way quantum mechanics does by allowing wave function collapse at once in the whole space) then bell experiments do not pose additional restrictions.

Superdeterminism has nothing to do with the "universe is a simulation" hypothesis. Superdeterminism claims that contrary to Bell's assumption, the settings of the detectors and the hidden variable are not independent.

Andrei

I didn't say they were connected theoretically. I said they are aesthetically compatible. A simulation is something we can imagine as having its initial conditions set to produce a desired behavior, namely quantum mechanics.

The probability distribution is deterministic, but not the particular outcome.