Rockstar Games Removes GTA 5 Online Support from Steam Deck Following Cheating Controversy – Full Details

Grand Theft Auto V (GTA 5), a popular game on Valve’s Steam Deck, was recently listed as “unsupported” for the handheld device. This comes after developer Rockstar disabled Steam Deck compatibility for online play, which broke support for the game. Previously, GTA 5 was one of the top 10 most popular games on the platform, and had been in the top 20 for over two years.

Rockstar Games’ Decision Regarding Anti-Cheat Compatibility

The issue revolves around Rockstar Games’ decision not to make new anti-cheat software for GTA Online available on Steam Deck. Similar to decisions made by developers of other games like Fortnite and Roblox, Rockstar Games has decided to reduce support for the Linux-based portable device, according to a report from The Verge . However, unlike those titles, which never brought multiplayer support to the platform, Rockstar’s move removes a previously available online feature for players. This decision, according to Rockstar Games, is due to Valve’s Steam Deck’s lack of support for BattlEye, the anti-cheat software required for GTA Online.

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Still, there are unanswered questions about why Rockstar Games didn’t enable BattlEye for Steam Deck. Valve enabled BattlEye support on its handheld device years ago, which allowed several games to run smoothly with the software. According to Valve, activating a game with BattlEye for Steam Deck is a simple process. However, Rockstar has not responded to questions about why it hasn’t done so for GTA Online. Valve has also not commented on whether there have been any changes to the anti-cheat system that would affect this compatibility.

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There have been suggestions that developers may be hesitant to allow Linux users access to anti-cheat mechanisms, as it could lead to potential security holes. Some in the industry have also suggested that economics may play a role in these decisions.

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Single player mode still available

For now, players can continue to enjoy GTA V’s single-player mode on Steam Deck. The Rockstar Games FAQ confirms that while Story Mode remains playable, GTA Online will remain unavailable on the device.