The Humble 'Point Blank' Paradox: Why This Shooter Bundle Was A Steam Deck Goldmine (and What To Watch Out For)
The convergence of massive game collections like the Humble Bundle and the portable power of the Steam Deck has created a golden age for PC gaming on the go, but not every deal is as seamless as it seems. As of December 20, 2025, the recent Humble Point Blank Bundle—a collection of well-rated shooter games—sparked significant interest among Steam Deck users for its incredible value and high compatibility rate. This article breaks down the bundle's true worth for the handheld console, the crucial anti-cheat issues that still plague some titles, and what you need to know before buying any future shooter bundle.
The "Point Blank" name itself is a fascinating case of dual meaning in the PC space, referring both to a collection of diverse shooting games and a specific, smaller title within the bundle. Regardless of the naming confusion, the bundle, which offered over $176 worth of Steam games for a fraction of the price, was a massive win for charity and for gamers looking to instantly expand their portable library with verified or playable titles.
The Humble Point Blank Bundle: A Deep Dive for Steam Deck Owners
The Humble Point Blank Bundle, which ran from August 13 to September 5, 2025, was one of the most highly-rated bundles of the year for the Steam Deck community. It was explicitly marketed as a collection of "shooters in every size and flavor," and its value proposition was undeniable: a massive library expansion for a minimal investment.
Here is a breakdown of some of the key entitites and their known compatibility status on the Steam Deck, based on community reports and official Valve verification:
- Wild Bastards: Often cited as a standout title, this game was generally rated as Deck Verified or Playable, making it a smooth experience right out of the box.
- High On Life: A major AAA-level inclusion, this title was also highly compatible, often receiving a Deck Verified or Playable rating, showcasing the bundle's high-quality offerings.
- EXFIL: This game was a key point of discussion because it was rated as "Unsupported" on the Steam Deck, primarily due to its anti-cheat implementation.
- Pointblank (The Game): A separate indie title from developer Ibrahim Hisham, the official Steam Deck compatibility for this specific game was listed as "Unknown" as of a recent June 23 update.
- Other Shooters: The bundle included several other titles that rounded out the collection, with a strong majority of the total seven games being Steam Deck compatible.
The overall takeaway was that six out of the seven games included in the bundle were either Deck Verified or Playable, a phenomenal ratio for any Humble Bundle and a clear indicator of its value for portable gaming.
Why Anti-Cheat Remains the Single Biggest Hurdle
The experience of the Humble Point Blank Bundle perfectly illustrates the primary challenge facing the Steam Deck: anti-cheat software. The game *EXFIL*, for instance, was listed as ProtonDB Silver or Unsupported specifically because of its anti-cheat implementation.
The Linux operating system (SteamOS) used by the Steam Deck often struggles with proprietary, kernel-level anti-cheat solutions (like Easy Anti-Cheat or BattleEye) that are designed exclusively for Windows. These systems are programmed to look for specific Windows kernel calls and often flag the Linux environment as a potential threat, or simply fail to initialize.
This is not a fault of the Steam Deck hardware or the Proton compatibility layer, but a deliberate design choice by game developers and anti-cheat providers. For the Steam Deck to achieve its full potential with multiplayer titles, developers must actively enable Linux/Proton compatibility for their anti-cheat.
Key Anti-Cheat Entities & Concepts:
- Proton: Valve's compatibility layer that allows Windows games to run on Linux/SteamOS.
- Easy Anti-Cheat (EAC): A common anti-cheat that requires a simple developer flip of a switch to enable Linux support.
- BattleEye (BE): Another major anti-cheat system that also requires developer activation for the Steam Deck.
- Kernel Anti-Cheat: The most problematic type, as it deeply integrates with the operating system kernel, making it incompatible with Linux.
- ProtonDB: A community-driven database that tracks the compatibility of games on Linux/Steam Deck.
When evaluating any future Humble Bundle—or any Steam game—for your Steam Deck, always check the ProtonDB rating, especially for titles with known multiplayer or competitive elements, as they are the most likely to be affected by anti-cheat issues. The community notes often provide viable workarounds or confirmation of the anti-cheat status.
Beyond the Bundle: The Classic Point Blank FPS on Steam Deck
The search term "Humble Bundle Point Blank" also frequently leads to inquiries about the classic, popular free-to-play FPS game, *Point Blank* (developed by Zepetto). While this specific game was not the focus of the recent Humble Bundle, its status on the Steam Deck is a relevant point of topical authority for shooter fans.
The original *Point Blank* is primarily a Windows-based MMO FPS. Like many older or niche multiplayer titles, it relies on its own proprietary anti-cheat system. Historically, the game has not been officially supported for Linux or the Steam Deck. While dedicated enthusiasts may attempt to run it through compatibility tools like Lutris, the anti-cheat system is the ultimate gatekeeper.
The lack of official support means that even if the game's core files run, the anti-cheat is highly likely to prevent the game from launching or connecting to the server, often resulting in error codes. This is a common fate for many classic FPS titles that have not been updated to support modern Linux compatibility layers. For now, the classic *Point Blank* remains a challenging, unsupported title for the Steam Deck.
Future-Proofing Your Steam Deck Library with Humble Bundles
The success of the Humble Point Blank Bundle proves that Humble Bundles are an excellent, cost-effective way to acquire a large, compatible Steam Deck library. To maximize your value and avoid compatibility disappointment with future bundles, consider these tips, which serve as crucial entities in the Steam Deck ecosystem:
- Prioritize Deck Verified/Playable Titles: Always check the official Steam Deck compatibility status on the Steam store page for each game in the bundle.
- Consult ProtonDB: For games without an official rating, check the community-run ProtonDB for user reports, specific settings, and workarounds.
- Identify Anti-Cheat: If a game is a competitive multiplayer shooter, assume it has anti-cheat. Look for community confirmation that the developer has enabled EAC or BattleEye for Linux/Proton.
- Look for Indie Developers: Often, smaller indie studios (like the developers of the *Pointblank* game in the bundle) are more responsive to community requests and less reliant on aggressive, kernel-level anti-cheat.
- Embrace Single-Player Games: Single-player, story-driven shooters are almost always guaranteed to work perfectly on the Steam Deck, as they bypass the entire anti-cheat problem.
The Humble Point Blank Bundle was a superb example of a high-value collection that catered heavily to the Steam Deck audience. By understanding the nuances of compatibility, especially the ongoing battle with anti-cheat software, gamers can ensure that future Humble Bundle purchases are instant additions to their portable gaming arsenal, offering countless hours of entertainment on the go.
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