Support us on Patreon to keep GamingOnLinux alive. This ensures all of our main content remains free for everyone. Just good, fresh content! Alternatively, you can donate through PayPal. You can also buy games using our partner links for GOG and Humble Store.
We do often include affiliate links to earn us some pennies. See more here.

Update #1 - 14:31 UTC: Rockstar have now put up an official FAQ for BattlEye where they state:

Is BattlEye compatible with Steam Deck?

Steam Deck does not support BattlEye for GTA Online. You will be able to play GTAV Story Mode but unable to play GTA Online.

Note: GTAV and GTA Online are not officially supported on Steam Deck and all technical support questions should be directed to Valve’s Steam Deck support content and community.

I'm still currently waiting for an official statement from Rockstar on any plans to enable it, since BattlEye as mentioned below is supported on Linux / Steam Deck.

Update #2 - 18/09/24, 9:30 UTC: Rockstar press did not reply, but their support team did. They simply copied the new FAQ entry noted above, and when pushed just told me to use their feedback form and closed up my ticket asking about it. Typical support-level reply.

I've emailed Valve press to see if they have anything they would like to say on the situation.


Original article below:

Surprisingly, Rockstar have now added BattlEye anti-cheat to Grand Theft Auto V / GTA Online, and sadly it seems they have not enabled the support for Linux desktop and Steam Deck with Valve's Proton. The game is currently rated Steam Deck Playable.

When you try to play online, you might stay in for a minute or so but then abruptly you get this and you're kicked:


Pictured - my test of GTA V Online on Kubuntu 24.04

Hopefully this is just an oversight, since BattlEye does have Linux platform support. I've reached out to Rockstar in a few places to ask about it, to see if they do plan to enable Proton support for BattlEye.

Even if it wasn't intentionally blocked, let's say they overlooked enabling it, this once again just goes to show that the Steam Deck and Linux gaming have ways to go before bigger developers and publishers actually do some proper testing.

Considering it's one of the most played games on Steam overall, it will be quite a loss if it's intentionally not being enabled. It's also one of the most played games on Steam Deck specifically too, so it would make this banner on the Steam page look a bit silly if it stays broken:

The single-player story mode continues to work though.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
17 Likes
About the author -
author picture
I am the owner of GamingOnLinux. After discovering Linux back in the days of Mandrake in 2003, I constantly came back to check on the progress of Linux until Ubuntu appeared on the scene and it helped me to really love it. You can reach me easily by emailing GamingOnLinux directly.
See more from me
43 comments
Page: 1/5»
  Go to:

mZSq7Fq3qs Sep 17
View PC info
  • Supporter
GTA Coops are one of the most fun experiences that I've had online. It is a shame that they are so married with online, cause I could not care less about GTA Online as a whole. I miss the times when allmost all games had their own dedicaded servers available and you could just host your own server.
neolith Sep 17
Quoting: mZSq7Fq3qsI miss the times when allmost all games had their own dedicaded servers available and you could just host your own server.
Good god, yes! I am SO annoyed by the fact that community maintained servers are going the way of the dodo...
dvd Sep 17
I used to play a lot on GTA:SA servers. It was my first multiplayer experience in my teen years. Couldn't care less now about Rockstar's online though. Tried it once or twice in the past, but there is no magic to it.
_wojtek Sep 17
Quoting: neolith
Quoting: mZSq7Fq3qsI miss the times when allmost all games had their own dedicaded servers available and you could just host your own server.
Good god, yes! I am SO annoyed by the fact that community maintained servers are going the way of the dodo...

Isn't this because of the publishers/developers wanting to keep tight grip on the game? And everything having to be connected and "massive"? Quite often local clan would be more than enough to have fun...

Which reminds me - if anyone still hasn't signed up for https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ / https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home -- now's the time! :)
Liam Dawe Sep 17
Quoting: _wojtek
Quoting: neolith
Quoting: mZSq7Fq3qsI miss the times when allmost all games had their own dedicaded servers available and you could just host your own server.
Good god, yes! I am SO annoyed by the fact that community maintained servers are going the way of the dodo...

Isn't this because of the publishers/developers wanting to keep tight grip on the game? And everything having to be connected and "massive"? Quite often local clan would be more than enough to have fun...

Which reminds me - if anyone still hasn't signed up for https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ / https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home -- now's the time! :)
The reason is pretty simple: money. They want more of it.

How do you get more money from online games? Lock them down, force people into only your servers and then you can do:

- DLC
- Micro-transactions
- Skins
- Etc etc
neolith Sep 17
Quoting: _wojtekIsn't this because of the publishers/developers wanting to keep tight grip on the game? And everything having to be connected and "massive"? Quite often local clan would be more than enough to have fun...
I recon it is...
It has made me personally invest a lot less time, money and effort into playing MP games though.

QuoteWhich reminds me - if anyone still hasn't signed up for https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ / https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home -- now's the time! :)
Yes, this cannot be mentioned enough.
Joom Sep 17
Quoting: neolith
Quoting: mZSq7Fq3qsI miss the times when allmost all games had their own dedicaded servers available and you could just host your own server.
Good god, yes! I am SO annoyed by the fact that community maintained servers are going the way of the dodo...

There's quite a few indies that still allow self-hosting. They're mostly MMOs and survival games, but that's kind of how it's always been. My friends and I run servers for Abiotic Factor, Enshrouded, Palworld, Valheim, and we're thinking of kicking a Path of Titans server. We hate playing on pubs, and if a game offers a server, we try to opt for that.
Liam Dawe Sep 17
Article updated.
Pyrate Sep 17
QuoteIs BattlEye compatible with Steam Deck?
Yes, it is.
QuoteSteam Deck does not support BattlEye for GTA Online.
Untrue and misleading.
redneckdrow Sep 17
Quoting: neolith
Quoting: _wojtekIsn't this because of the publishers/developers wanting to keep tight grip on the game? And everything having to be connected and "massive"? Quite often local clan would be more than enough to have fun...
I recon it is...
It has made me personally invest a lot less time, money and effort into playing MP games though.

QuoteWhich reminds me - if anyone still hasn't signed up for https://www.stopkillinggames.com/ / https://eci.ec.europa.eu/045/public/#/screen/home -- now's the time! :)
Yes, this cannot be mentioned enough.

You know, I can't wait for a US based petition like this. I've signed several others (none of them were gaming-related, though) in the past, two of which worked. I'm still hoping the one for Audie Murphy to receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom goes through one of these days.
While you're here, please consider supporting GamingOnLinux on:

Reward Tiers: Patreon. Plain Donations: PayPal.

This ensures all of our main content remains totally free for everyone! Patreon supporters can also remove all adverts and sponsors! Supporting us helps bring good, fresh content. Without your continued support, we simply could not continue!

You can find even more ways to support us on this dedicated page any time. If you already are, thank you!
Login / Register


Or login with...
Sign in with Steam Sign in with Google
Social logins require cookies to stay logged in.