GTA V player numbers on Steam Deck plummet after online support axed
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Grand Theft Auto V has seen a sharp decline in popularity on the Steam Deck following the introduction of BattlEye anti-cheat software. We recently reported on the cut support for GTA Online, and while the game can still reportedly be played in single-player, its online component is no longer compatible with the popular handheld. We can’t say we didn’t see this coming, but it’s interesting to see the impact it has made so far.
This development has left many Steam Deck owners disappointed, as the online multiplayer mode is one of the big draws for a game that is now over a decade old. The decline in GTA V’s popularity is evident in the Steam Deck Top Played charts, where the title has dropped 11 places to 17th despite a 66% discount.
No official support on Steam Deck
BattlEye, a widely used anti-cheat software in popular titles like Rainbow Six Siege and PUBG, was added to GTA Online to combat the cheating that had plagued the game. While the software has been effective in reducing cheating, it has inadvertently caused issues for Steam Deck users. This led to the game getting the ‘unsupported’ tag – this means that players who rely on the handheld console for their gaming experience are unable to enjoy the full potential of GTA V. However, on the bright side, users report that you can disable BattlEye to access Story Mode at the very least.
The removal of online support for GTA V on the Steam Deck is a blow to many players who have invested in the handheld console and enjoyed playing the game on it. While the single-player campaign remains accessible, the lack of online features significantly diminishes the overall experience.
The incident highlights the challenges that can arise when new features are introduced to existing games. In this case, the addition of BattlEye, while intended to improve the gaming experience, has clearly had unintended consequences for Steam Deck users. If the numbers continue to drop, Rockstar Games may be forced to find a solution soon to bring players back. According to Valve, BattlEye is indeed compatible with Proton for Steam Deck, but it’s a matter of communication to enable support.
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Overall, it is becoming clear that GTA V’s Online Mode was a driving force behind the game’s impressive staying power on the charts. However, without it, the game loses some of its replay value.
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