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Ubisoft just broke their games on Linux desktop and Steam Deck

By - | Views: 127,946

Update 21:17: Looks like Proton developers have updated the "bleeding-edge" Beta for Proton Experimental, that works around the issue. Note: using it can cause other issues, the Beta doesn't have a lot of testing, you've been warned.

If you go into the Properties on Proton Experimental in your Steam Library, and opt into the "bleeding-edge" Beta, then set your Ubisoft games to use Proton Experimental it will fix it for now until a proper Proton update is out. 

Update 22:11: Valve released a Proton Experimental (no Beta needed) fix for this.


Original article below

Third-party launchers on Steam are once again being a massive nuisance. First it was EA breaking everything on Linux and Steam Deck and now it's Ubisoft telling everyone to hold their beer.

Valve fixed the EA App in Proton after a while, and it's likely we're going to need to wait on a fix from Valve again for whatever Ubisoft changed in the latest Ubisoft Connect update.

When you go to launch any game on desktop Linux or Steam Deck that uses Ubisoft Connect, it will do an update and then you'll be greeted with this:

That picture above is from my Fedora Linux desktop trying Ghost Recon Breakpoint today.

After testing The Division 2, Watch Dogs Legion, Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Ghost Recon Breakpoint on my Steam Deck too, they all also gave the exact same problem as you'll see in the screenshot below from my Steam Deck:

So it seems that every title that uses Ubisoft Connect, is now left broken on Linux desktop and Steam Deck. This comes only two weeks after Ubisoft fixed The Division 2 for Steam Deck / Linux. Meanwhile, Breakpoint still needs manual fixes.

Why do developers and publishers keep forcing these absolutely useless third-party launchers on us? Never once have I, or anyone I've spoken to, actually wanted them. They only ever cause problems and solve basically nothing that Steam cannot already do directly.

I've logged an official bug report with Valve and notified their developers about it.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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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. Find me on Mastodon.
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69 comments
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Mohandevir Feb 1, 2023
Quoting: STiAT
Quoting: Mohandevir
Quoting: zgilletThis is why I like having and Xbox Series S as a side console as well as a gaming PC and a Deck. Any of these BS jump-through-hoops games usually are on Game Pass, and I'll just bypass all this and play them there.

Doing similar with GeForce Now. This said, the few Ubisoft games I have and played (AC Origin, AC Odyssey and Immortals: Phoenix Rising), I bought them on sale and never found the energy to finish them... They all feel... Souless? ... Empty? ... Like trying too hard? I can't put the finger on it... I've been spoiled by Witcher 3 and God of War, I guess. The only EA or Ubisoft game that I might miss, if ever a launcher issue lingers on, is Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order (EA).

GeForce Now ... I really struggled with their setup (no copy/paste, didn't remember the steam account, ...).

And filling in my paswords without copy/paste is essentially impossible, especially since I do not have am english keyboard.

Maybe it got better in the past year, but I decided to buy a gaming rig since I could not find an adequate streaming service. My connection with 250 mbit fibre would be good enough depending on the servers location (preferrably central europe).

I don't have that password issue since it's probably better when it's run on an Nvidia Shield or Android box (GeForce app), like I do. It remembers all accounts, it even permits family share. But yeah, I understand what you mean.

It's just a personal choice of mine. I prefer to stick with Steam (saves carrying over to any device).


Last edited by Mohandevir on 1 February 2023 at 11:36 pm UTC
StalePopcorn Feb 1, 2023
I was going to reply stating I'd just played an hour of Far Cry 5 and have Proton Experimental but completely forgot that I've 'Bleeding Edge' Experimental.
legluondunet Feb 2, 2023
FYI, on Lutris, Ubisoft Connect still functional, even after update.
slaapliedje Feb 2, 2023
Quoting: christofinWhy do they force their launchers? Because these recycled Steam releases are literally just advertisements for the Ubisoft launcher, where they REALLY want you to end up at in the long-run.

Seriously, the Steam releases we've been getting have forced DRM and forced Uplay, no Steam Achievements, no trading cards, just no effort in whatsoever. They're just there so you have to put Uplay on your computer.

Case in point: The racing game they just announced yesterday has a nice little EGS logo at the end of the trailer. Ubisoft doesn't give a single crap about their Steam customers. These rereleases of old games is just another ploy to nickel and dime Steam users.
I honestly think they put them there because they actually can't get them to sell anywhere near the numbers that they sell on Steam. Their attempt at making some games exclusive to Uplay (or whatever the hell they call it these days) seems to have failed enough that they eventually give up after a time and just release on Steam, but having to actually make something that'll skip their shitty launcher... too much effort when you can just have it loaded up in the background anyhow. They also tie a LOT of stuff to their launcher / online stuff (like their own achievements, etc). It's all kind of trash. Unfortunately they do make a type of game I like to waste hours of my life playing... I should just read more books :P
Abedsbrother Feb 2, 2023
Quoting: legluondunetFYI, on Lutris, Ubisoft Connect still functional, even after update.
Not for me.
legluondunet Feb 2, 2023
Quoting: Abedsbrother
Quoting: legluondunetFYI, on Lutris, Ubisoft Connect still functional, even after update.
Not for me.

Do you use default Lutris Wine version 7.2-2?
See here:
https://twitter.com/LutrisGaming/status/1620922182443630592


Last edited by legluondunet on 2 February 2023 at 12:33 am UTC
scaine Feb 2, 2023
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Well, as of midnight in the UK, Wed evening / Thu morning, it's working again. A new Proton experimental just landed and I've just tested it - all good again. But seriously, Ubi... what a joke they are.
Grogan Feb 2, 2023
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I only just recently got Far Cry 4 working after years of wanting to. I had pretty much given up on Ubisoft games (except for old bollocks free ones, from back when they were one of my favourite game companies)

A while back I bought Assassin's Creed Odyssey. I had been watching my nephew playing it and I was all psyched for it. It just kept asking me for a non existent license key. In a Ubisoft FAQ, they were basically saying it wasn't their problem and that there are no license keys for the Steam purchased copies. The Uplay client was opening, and I could even see other tied games I owned in there, but the new one would just not activate. That kind of put me off, so I didn't even try to solve it. I just sent it back for refund, disappointed.

They are so afraid that someone is going to play their game without paying for it, that they cause all that aggravation and get people to stop buying. Also, as said in this very discussion, the people that pirate it will have a better experience. As usual, the harder you squeeze, the more that will slip through your fingers :-)

It's not just Linux users that have trouble with their DRM mechanisms either, it has caused unnecessary problems for people on Windows too.


Last edited by Grogan on 2 February 2023 at 2:12 am UTC
Abedsbrother Feb 2, 2023
Quoting: legluondunet
Quoting: Abedsbrother
Quoting: legluondunetFYI, on Lutris, Ubisoft Connect still functional, even after update.
Not for me.

Do you use default Lutris Wine version 7.2-2?
See here:
https://twitter.com/LutrisGaming/status/1620922182443630592
Ubi Connect wouldn't (and doesn't) launch using Lutris Wine 7.2.2. I had to use Lutris-GE-Proton7-35 until today's update. Now nothing works.
Lanz Feb 2, 2023
I don't buy any Steam games that use a third party launcher. Full boycott. Vote with your wallet.
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