GTA Online is stepping up its game against cheaters with BattlEye, giving PC players a fair shot at enjoying the game without hackers.
Cheaters have unfortunately been a part of Grand Theft Auto Online since it launched in 2013 on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3. However, the Xbox One and PlayStation 4 release kept most cheaters out, at least on consoles. The PC version is another story altogether, but after years of fighting the hackers, Rockstar Games wheeled out their latest weapon: BattlEye.
Since 2015, PC players have found themselves victimized by hacks and cheats, resulting in an overall "lesser" experience compared to consoles. This hasn't changed since despite anti-cheat efforts and ban waves, but Rockstar is hoping that it's not too late to make certain improvements with the introduction of a new anti-cheat system.
BattlEye was added to GTA Online as part of the latest update. It's one of the most popular anti-cheat programs on the market, used in titles like Destiny 2, Rainbow Six Siege, and Fortnite. It's a legitimate layer of protection that has already been working to keep some cheaters and hackers out of GTA Online.
The biggest benefit of BattlEye is the ability to ban entire user systems, so you can no longer just make new accounts to play GTA Online if you get banned for cheating or hacking. Such kernel-level anti-cheat is controversial, but undoubtedly effective.
While BattlEye can't completely eliminate hackers from GTA Online — can anything, though? — it's a good start. Luckily, Rockstar has made its implementation on most PCs as seamless as possible. It's almost entirely automatic.
After launching GTA Online via Steam, Rockstar Games Launcher, or the Epic Games Store, the game will prompt you to download a 1GB update, after which you will need to install BattlEye on your system. Just follow the on-screen instructions and you can boot up GTA Online like normal.
If you don't want to use BattlEye because of mods, or for playing on RP servers, the launcher has a check box where you can disable or enable the anti-cheat system. If you're using Steam, the launch argument "-battleye" works to disable BattlEye the same way.
Because mods are technically still cheats, you will need to turn BattlEye off if you want to use mods in single player mode. Don't attempt to load into GTA Online with BattlEye disabled, as all you'll get is an error message.
Unfortunately, while BattlEye is good for GTA Online, it has had a negative effect on certain users, particularly, those on Linux systems, which includes Steam Deck owners. This means that you can currently only play GTA 5 in single player on a Steam Deck, but you can't log on to your GTA Online account.
The good news is Rockstar and Valve are already working on a solution. If you'd rather not wait, some report receiving a refund for GTA Online on Steam by explaining they can no longer play the game on their device, even if they're well past Steam's refund policy.
Rockstar Games is currently working Grand Theft Auto 6, which is still set for a late 2025 release, as per Take-Two Interactive. In the meantime, PC gamers can look forward to the arrival of the Expanded and Enhanced Edition of GTA 5, presumably bringing with it certain exclusive features.
Ray was an instant fan of the GTA universe as a kid, ever since he first heard the iconic line “Hmm...nice bike.” He has subsequently spent countless hours in GTA worlds — warring, joyriding alongside Niko Bellic, and hanging with cousin Roman.
Of all the GTA titles that have consumed Ray’s gaming life for over a decade, he insists GTA IV reigns supreme. His articles and analysis provide diehard fans a mix of nostalgia for GTA’s golden age alongside hype about what’s new and what’s next.
While Ray loves to debate franchise favorites, his passion for all things Grand Theft Auto from the early 3D era to today is unmatched. For entertaining coverage celebrating GTA’s past, present and future from a day one devotee, read Ray’s stories.
