The September 17 update for GTA Online on PC introduces Anti-Cheat but in this process removes Steam Deck compatibility. This addition aims to enhance security and prevent cheating in the online mode. Rockstar has also provided options for players to disable BattlEye when playing Story Mode, giving them more flexibility. This can be done through the Rockstar Games Launcher or using the newly introduced launch argument, -nobattleye, for third-party launchers.
In addition to these security measures, the patch addresses several critical issues, including crashes that occurred during GTA Online sessions. Players were also facing problems accepting invites and joining others in multiplayer modes, both of which have been fixed to improve the overall online experience.
GTA Online September 17 Update Complete Patch Notes:
- General:
- Integrated BattlEye Anti-Cheat for GTA Online.
- Added an option in the Rockstar Games Launcher to disable BattlEye Anti-Cheat for Story Mode play.
- Introduced the launch argument -nobattleye to disable BattlEye Anti-Cheat for third-party launchers and Story Mode.
- Fixes:
- Fixed an issue that caused crashes while playing GTA Online.
- Fixed an issue preventing players from accepting invites or joining other players.
Due to the addition of Anti-Cheat in GTA Online for PC, it is no longer possible to play the game on Steam Deck. Rockstar Games has confirmed this on their official website in a FAQ detailing the new changes.
According to the FAQ, “Steam Deck does not support BattlEye for GTA Online. You will be able to play GTAV Story Mode but unable to play GTA Online.”
Previously, GTA Online was playable on Steam Deck along with GTA V Story mode, but this is no longer the case since the last update. It remains to be seen if Rockstar has any plans to address this issue in any future updates. However, considering most anti-cheat games are not compatible with Steam Deck, it is likely that this won’t change in the future.
BattlEye Anti-cheat does work with Linux and Valve’s proton integration, but Rockstar hasn’t added support for it. However, if you are playing the game on a Windows handheld like Rog Ally, or Steam Deck with Windows installed, GTA Online will continue to work fine.
