Uplay issues on your Steam Deck? Here's how to get your Ubisoft games working again!

You're probably familiar with this scenario: Full of anticipation, you install a Ubisoft classic like Assassin's Creed Syndicate or Unity on your Steam Deck. You sit back, click "Play," and... nothing happens. Or worse: An outdated Uplay login window stares back at you, refusing to accept your credentials. Frustrating, right? You'd think the Templars had sabotaged the servers.

Don't worry, you don't have to throw your Steam Deck out the window. The problem usually lies with the outdated Uplay client that older games try to force. The good news: there's a solution! With a few simple steps in desktop mode, we'll force the game to cooperate and get the modern Ubisoft Connect working. We'll show you step by step how to become a master assassin once again.

The problem: Why old Ubisoft games are not working on the Steam Deck

The core of the problem is a generational conflict in the software. Many older Ubisoft titles were developed when "Uplay" was still the company's own launcher. Uplay has since been replaced by the more modern "Ubisoft Connect." While newer games use this automatically, the older titles often haven't been updated. They stubbornly try to launch the old Uplay client, which no longer works on the Steam Deck.

The symptoms are varied, but always annoying:

• The game doesn't even start and you end up back in your Steam library.
• A black screen appears and nothing else happens.
• A strange, empty window with no content appears in desktop mode.
• The old Uplay login window appears, but it doesn't work.

The solution is to essentially give the game a helping hand and provide it with the correct, up-to-date launcher. And that's exactly what we're doing now.

Step 1: Manually install Ubisoft Connect using ProtonTricks

Our first tool of choice is "ProtonTricks". This useful tool allows us to access a game's Proton directory - think of it like the "engine room" for Windows games on the Steam Deck. Here, we'll install Ubisoft Connect manually.

Here's how to proceed:

1. Switch to desktop mode: Hold down the power button on your Steam Deck and select "Switch to Desktop".
2. Install ProtonTricks (if you haven't already): Open the "Discover" store (the blue shopping bag icon). Search for "ProtonTricks" and install it. It's quick and easy.
3. To launch ProtonTricks: Open ProtonTricks from the start menu. It may take a moment for your game list to load. Please be patient; the loading bar is more of a suggestion than an exact science.
4. Select the correct game: Scroll through the list and select the problematic Ubisoft game (e.g., "Assassin's Creed Syndicate"). Click "OK".
5. Install the application: In the next window, select the default option ("Select the default wineprefix") and click "OK". Then select "Install an application" and confirm again.
6. Find and install Ubisoft Connect: You will now see a long list of programs. Scroll down until you find "ubisoftconnect". Check the box next to it and click "OK".
7. Perform the installation: Again, patience is key! After a while, the official Ubisoft Connect installer will start. Simply click through the installation as if you were doing it on a Windows PC.

Great! You've just installed the modern Ubisoft Connect client directly into the "engine room" of your game. The first and most important step is done. But hold on, don't be too hasty - there might still be a small stumbling block in the way.

If you now switch back to gaming mode and launch the game, you might see a black screen or a frozen window again. This is because the new client requires a more modern version of Proton to run correctly. But we have a solution for that too.

Step 2: Proton Experimental as a savior in times of need

Proton Experimental, as the name suggests, is the experimental version of Valve's compatibility layer. It often contains the latest fixes and improvements that are later incorporated into the stable versions. For our Ubisoft problem, it is often the key to success.

Here's how to activate Proton Experimental:

1. Back to gaming mode: Switch from the desktop back to the familiar gaming interface.
2. Open game settings: Navigate to the Ubisoft game in your library. Select it, but don't launch it. Instead, press the gear icon on the right and go to "Properties…".
3. Force compatibility: Go to the "Compatibility" tab.
4. Select Proton Experimental: Check the box next to "Force the use of a specific compatibility tool for Steam Play". In the dropdown menu that appears, select "Proton Experimental".

That's it! Close the menu and launch the game. You should now see the modern Ubisoft Connect splash screen, be able to log in, and finally dive into the game. Cloud synchronization and all other features should also work as expected.

Conclusion: Back to adventure!

Admittedly, it's a bit of a detour, but with this two-step method, you can breathe new life into old Ubisoft gems on your Steam Deck. You've not only solved a problem, but also learned a valuable skill for future tinkering with your handheld. After all, tinkering and optimizing is half the battle, isn't it?

Now that the software is running smoothly, nothing stands in the way of your adventure.

Have fun gaming!