The most recent set of user accounts suggests that Ubisoft titles are failing to run correctly on the Steam Deck. As expected, the community has already uncovered a means of bypassing the predicament, but regrettably the cause of the problem is probably not going to be fixed anytime soon due to the way Ubisoft integrates its games with Steam.
A potential issue is seen with games that are protected by DRM or through gaming launchers. Particularly, Valve’s portable gaming PC has been facing difficulty with titles locked behind the Ubisoft Connect app. As a result, any attempts to play Ubisoft games on Steam Deck devices have been put to a stop.
Valve’s Steam Deck has an inherent disadvantage, which is that it does not support Windows. The most recent updates to Ubisoft Connect caused an issue with SteamOS’s Windows interpreter, Proton. Fortunately, Steam Deck users have determined that updating Proton Experimental and setting Ubisoft games to use it resolves the challenge.
Ubisoft has recently released a new update for Proton which is an experimental version, and it can be used now.
It is not necessary to go into the Steam Deck’s Desktop mode to switch a game or an app to the Proton Experimental translation layer. Rather, the option is located in the Settings menu of the title, on the “Properties” screen. Once there, the user has to check the “Force the use of a specific Steam Play compatibility tool” option and then select GE-Proton from the drop-down list.
The Steam Deck boasts a library of over 7,000 compatible games, plus unofficial support for many more, however, games requiring an external launcher may still be an issue. Updates from companies like Ubisoft could cause these games to become incompatible with Proton/SteamOS, leaving the users to find a solution. Fortunately, the Steam Deck community is ready to provide help and fixes.
Given the numerous issues that Ubisoft is currently facing, it is unlikely that the company is putting a lot of effort into Linux support or the Steam Deck. Although changing Proton versions on the fly is nothing major, those who are looking for a flawless gaming experience on the Deck should probably steer clear of Ubisoft titles for the time being.
