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GTA 5 No Longer Supported on Steam Deck: What’s Going On?
September 21, 2024In a surprising move, Grand Theft Auto 5 has been marked as “unsupported” on Steam Deck, leaving many players wondering what happened. The issue seems to stem from Rockstar’s recent updates to its anti-cheat software, which isn’t configured to support Steam Deck. While GTA 5‘s story mode remains playable, GTA Online has been rendered inaccessible on the handheld console.
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Why the Change?
The crux of the problem lies in Rockstar’s decision to update its anti-cheat system, BattlEye, to combat long-standing cheating issues in GTA Online. Unfortunately, this update has led to incompatibility with Steam Deck. According to a statement from Rockstar, “this game’s anti-cheat is not configured to support Steam Deck,” resulting in GTA Online no longer functioning on the device.
It’s important to note that the Steam Deck supports BattlEye in other games, but Rockstar has not yet worked with Valve to resolve the issue for GTA 5.
What Still Works?
Although GTA Online is currently unavailable, the good news is that the single-player story mode of GTA 5 remains playable on Steam Deck. Players can still roam Los Santos and dive into the narrative, but those hoping to join online heists or races will have to wait.
For now, Rockstar has directed all technical support queries regarding this issue to Valve, signalling that the ball might be in Valve’s court to figure out a solution.
Is a Fix on the Horizon?
At this point, there’s no clear indication of when, or if, GTA 5 will be fully supported on Steam Deck again. Given that both Valve and Rockstar are major players in the gaming world, it’s possible that a resolution could be reached down the line. However, as of now, there has been no official word on any potential fix.
Until then, players are left with the single-player experience on Steam Deck and the hope that GTA Online will return to the platform in the future.
The Bigger Picture: Steam Deck and Anti-Cheat Issues
This situation isn’t just about GTA 5. It also highlights the broader compatibility challenges that handheld devices like the Steam Deck face, particularly when it comes to multiplayer games requiring anti-cheat software. Anti-cheat systems are a key aspect of maintaining fair play in online gaming, but their configurations don’t always sync well with handheld gaming devices.
Given that games like GTA Online rely heavily on robust anti-cheat measures to maintain a healthy online ecosystem, the current standoff between Valve and Rockstar shows that there’s still work to be done to make Steam Deck a more viable platform for multiplayer games.
What’s Next for GTA Fans?
With Grand Theft Auto 6 slated for release in Fall 2025, the spotlight is slowly shifting away from GTA 5. As we move closer to the launch of GTA 6, it’s unclear whether Rockstar will prioritize fixing the Steam Deck compatibility issues for GTA 5, especially as excitement for the new game builds.
For now, Steam Deck users can still enjoy the rich, single-player world of GTA 5—but those hoping for multiplayer fun will need to keep an eye on updates from Rockstar and Valve.
While games are fun, it’s highly important to note that there’s more to life than sitting countless hours playing video games – there’s a purpose and more to life; seek out that purpose more often!
