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Today during the Ubisoft conference call where they discussed first-quarter 2021-2022 sales, Steam Deck got mentioned.

It's an interesting one, since Ubisoft has pretty much left Steam behind in favour of other stores like the Epic Games Store. The Epic store doesn't support Linux, and Epic currently have no intention to do so. So unless people are expected to manually load up Windows to replace SteamOS, companies like Ubisoft would need to bring their games back to Steam to give users a good experience.

During the conference call that we listened to today, a question was asked about the Steam Deck from one investor.

Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot replied to say "We're happy to see Steam Deck coming to the industry, it shows that it continues a flow of very innovative new hardware coming to the market and so we will look and see how big it becomes, but if it's big we will be able to put our games on it."

So in future if the device is a success, and plenty of people keep SteamOS 3 on it, we could see the likes of Ubisoft (and so perhaps other big publishers) ensure their games work nicely on it. Ubisoft actually already has Linux ports of some games, since they currently support Stadia (which uses Debian Linux) so it wouldn't be a huge stretch to bring those builds with some optimizations over to the Steam Deck. However, whether they decide to use native Linux builds they have direct control over, or rely on the Steam Play Proton compatibility layer we just don't know - and only time will tell on how it all goes on that.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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Keyrock Jul 20, 2021
If Steam Deck is successful enough it will force Epic, GOG, Ubisoft, and others to port their client to Linux, or at the very least Proton. Sure, there's nothing stopping anyone from installing Windows or whatever OS on the Steam Deck, even if the experience would be suboptimal due to running an OS not specifically designed for the device, but the vast majority of users will stick with SteamOS. Grandma buying a Steam Deck for little Billy isn't going to install a new OS on the handheld and neither is Billy... Well, I shouldn't make assumptions about Billy's tech skills, but you get the point. Valve is in no way encouraged to do the work with Proton to get Epic Store, GOG Galaxy, and so on working on Steam OS, since they'd rather you buy games from them, so if Steam Deck takes off then it falls to Epic, GOG, and so on to make their clients work on the Steam Deck.
elmapul Jul 20, 2021
Quoting: michaWhile I would love to see Ubisoft releasing new Games on Steam, that sounds really just a like a possibility for the far future. I mean for Ubisoft to consider Steam Deck to be "big" / a success, Valve needs to sell multiple millions, right? Sure it's what we & Gabe hope for. But aren't the all the reservation (not pre-orders!) worldwide more in the quarter million realm (SteamSpy)?

Anyway, I'm going through with my Steam Deck reservation and I hope for the best!


there are some leaked numbers that said 110k in just 90 minutes.
at this rate they can reach 1 million or 2 quickly.

but the issue is: people will just install windows on it.
i saw it happen before, the gov of my country tried to push linux foward years ago, and people just pirated windows and put on the computers instead.

to be fair we didnt had so many games back then, and many people dont know much about tech to be able to do that or want to learn how to do that if the "out of the box" experience dont suck
slaapliedje Jul 20, 2021
Doesn't UbiSoft still release games through Steam, they just require the Uplay to be launched? Just like Origin games?
Not sure why they don't all just give in and except their Valve overlords...

Ha, legit everyone hates Uplay and Origin anyhow... I know EA finally gave up and started to sell games through Steam again.
gradyvuckovic Jul 21, 2021
Well they're not ruling it out but by the sounds of it they won't be jumping on it at launch either. Not quite the reaction I'd hope for but also not completely negative either.
gradyvuckovic Jul 21, 2021
Quoting: finaldestThere is only one way to ensure that Ubi and other big publishers bring over their games and that is to support Valve and Linux by doing the following:-

Buy the Steam Deck.

I am doing my part, I have pre-registered for the top tier unit with a Q2 2022 order/delivery estimate. Cannot wait to get my hands on one. I have heard on the web that over 100k units have already been ordered. If this is true then this is an brilliant start.

Gonna buy mine the very moment it's available in my region.
slaapliedje Jul 21, 2021
Quoting: finaldestThere is only one way to ensure that Ubi and other big publishers bring over their games and that is to support Valve and Linux by doing the following:-

Buy the Steam Deck.

I am doing my part, I have pre-registered for the top tier unit with a Q2 2022 order/delivery estimate. Cannot wait to get my hands on one. I have heard on the web that over 100k units have already been ordered. If this is true then this is an brilliant start.
Looks like I got Q1 2022 for mine.
Lanz Jul 21, 2021
I would rather be without Ubisoft games than have UPlay ported to Linux.
Creak Jul 21, 2021
That's the problem with public companies: they aren't pro-active.

They don't get the potential of a platform or a device, they just see the figures. They'll only port on platform that are already selling millions (Nintendo, PlayStation, Microsoft), they don't have the luxury to believe in something and I think this is a shame.

That is the fundamental difference between Valve and Ubisoft. Valve is trying things that might fail, but at least they are trying. They are not merely following the market trends.
t3g Jul 21, 2021
Quoting: finaldestThere is only one way to ensure that Ubi and other big publishers bring over their games and that is to support Valve and Linux by doing the following:-

Buy the Steam Deck.

I am doing my part, I have pre-registered for the top tier unit with a Q2 2022 order/delivery estimate. Cannot wait to get my hands on one. I have heard on the web that over 100k units have already been ordered. If this is true then this is an brilliant start.

Buy the Steam Deck and keep the Linux based Steam OS 3.0. There are a lot of these "tech YouTubers" who keep telling people to wipe the Steam Deck and install Windows on it. Ignore them.
ElectricPrism Jul 21, 2021
In reality -- everything in the Ubisoft List WILL run on Steam Deck via Proton once the Proton AntiCheat is ready.

https://store.steampowered.com/developer/ubisoft/#browse

Or perhaps Ubisoft meant they are thinking about "supporting Proton", or doing "Native Ports" not necessarily "Proton-native Ports"
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