A popular game among Steam Deck users has encountered a significant obstacle: Grand Theft Auto 5 and its online counterpart, GTA Online, are no longer supported on Valve’s handheld PC. This change, implemented with the release of Update 1.69, is due to the integration of BattlEye Anti-Cheat software for GTA Online. While BattlEye’s aim is to curb cheating in the open-world MMO, it has unfortunately resulted in the loss of Steam Deck compatibility.
This change from verified to unsupported under the Deck Verified program means that Valve considers GTA 5 unplayable on the Steam Deck. While players can still access the single-player campaign, GTA Online is off-limits, making the game essentially unsupported. This news is sure to disappoint many players, as GTA 5 remains one of the most popular PC games, even after almost a decade. It currently ranks 11th on Steam Deck’s top-played list for the past year, boasting over 100,000 concurrent players on Steam.
The addition of BattlEye, a comprehensive and widely-used anti-cheat software, was implemented on Tuesday. While BattlEye can identify IP addresses, hardware, and other information from potentially cheating players, it’s unclear why the software presents such a hurdle for Steam Deck compatibility. Back in 2021, BattlEye announced its support for Proton, the Steam Deck’s OS layer that enables the Linux-based system to run Windows games. According to The Verge, BattlEye continues to work and should be relatively simple to activate.
Valve emphasized in 2021 that BattlEye integration for games only requires developers to contact BattlEye for activation, with no additional work needed. Several games, such as Rainbow Six Siege, Destiny 2, and The Crew 2, have successfully enabled BattlEye on Steam.
However, it seems that other game launchers, such as the EA launcher, often face difficulties running on the Steam Deck. This is likely the reason why Dragon Age: The Veilguard will not require the EA launcher to run on Steam.
According to a Reddit user who contacted Steam support, Valve is actively working with Rockstar to resolve this issue. As a gesture of goodwill, Rockstar has implemented substantial discounts on the game. The game’s premium edition is currently available at a 25% discount, while the premium edition and Great White Shark Card bundle is discounted by 66%, bringing the price down to $20.
While this is certainly a setback for Steam Deck users, it appears that a solution is in progress, and players can look forward to potentially regaining access to GTA Online on the handheld device in the near future.
