Steam Deck: Ubisoft Connect - Install, Separate Game Launchers, Artwork & MUCH MORE! (2024 Edition)

This is the complete deluxe edition of my Ubisoft Connect installation tutorial!

No more jumping to sub-videos; fully updated with all the latest tricks and tips.

We will help you configure Dolphin, use centralized game storage to protect your game installs and teach you how to make stand alone steam entries so you can you use multiple proton versions, specialized controls on a per game basis and more.

Note: This is a longer video because I've combined several other smaller support videos - this video is about not only "doing" but "teaching" as well.

This is intended to play games purchased from Ubisoft - not Steam. If you do not own Ubisoft Connect games purchased from them, this video may not apply to you. If you own the game on Steam? Install it from Steam.

Location of Proton/Non-Steam Folders:
/home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/

Videos Mentioned
Dolphin Tricks and Tips (New for 2023)

Decky Loader - A Plugin System for Steam Deck (And My Favorite 3 Plugins)

Chapter Jumps:
00:00 - Intro
00:06 - Bumper
00:15 - Pre-requisites; Setting up Dolphin
01:27 - Pre-requisites; Setting up Centralized Game Storage
01:49 - Downloading Ubisoft Connect
02:10 - Installing Ubisoft Connect
03:26 - Changing Steam Launcher from installer to UC
05:29 - First Run / Sign In / Flickering Screen Issues
07:14 - Installing Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (Disk Space Failure Discussion)
09:30 - Symlinking Centralized Storage to Ubisoft Connect
12:11 - Testing Centralized Storage (Successful install)
13:00 - Creating Individual Steam Launcher for PoP (Failure Edition)
14:00 - Fixing the broken steam launcher for PoP (Success Edition)
16:00 - Artwork (Working with the SteamGridDB Plugin)
16:35 - Closing Discussion
#ubisoft #ubisoftconnect #steamdeck #steamdeckoled #steam #linuxgaming #princeofpersiathelostcrown #thirdpartylockers

[NJ-Tech]

FINALLY! So much searching on the internet for a straight answer on how to do this and you answer my prayers today! Thanks you, sir!

[RussellTrapp]

The magic of SYMLINKS! :) Great video. Its awesome that you go through and explain the science behind the magic. Best videos ever!

[DENOhritko]

Thank you, man
This guide is one of the best I've seen overall, every detail is explained and showed

[Zombie_Juice]

Dude thank you much! Had Ghost Recon: Breakpoint installed via UbisoftConnect and while previously I was able to launch the game I was only able to launch Breakpoint via DirectX. Wanted to launch the Vulkan version as it seems to run smoother. This guide has allowed me to now be able to launch the Vulkan version! Was about to give up but this guide saved me. Thanks again man.

[WiltzzRobbie]

Thank you for a very detailed information. I just installed AC odyssey and it works due to this video. Grateful for this!

[Amos_Huclkeberry]

Found your Reddit post after trying to play a game, found a YouTube video, was irritated when I realized I had to watch other videos of yours, I soon understood why, and you gained a new subscriber. Thanks, bro!

[MattBee]

You're by far and away the most clear explainer about anything I've ever seen on youtube. Many thanks.

[tacticalturtl]

Saved me such a head ache (after two days of fighting with it). Thank you for the easy and detailed walk through.

[Dr_McKay]

I followed the guide but the programme opens on the “activate a key” screen which I cannot get out of when in gaming mode

[Massacre]

Thank you so much. Was having issues starting Prince of Persia and your fix helped me

[Gramzyypc]

Trying to log into ubisoft and the screen is just blank with the spinning wheel at the bottom right???

[MatEsp]

Great Scott. Finally I know why games couldn’t be installed in other launchers as well. You are awesome.
Could I link to my internal storage and in that folder link to my different SDCards as well?

[Tugennov]

I am LOVING your work related to the Steam Deck. Thank you! This video is exactly the sort of thing I'm looking for. There are multiple ways to install other stores/launchers like Epic, GOG, Amazon, EA, etc. and it can be hard to figure out what is best. Because of your expertise, I'm wondering what you think the BEST method are for installing games on the Steam Deck from these alternatives to the Steam store? I'm hoping that there is a method for each alternative store/launcher that will keep cloud save functionality when that is a feature. I think a "Best Method" to these stores, like this Ubisoft Connect video, could be a good series of videos for you to do. THANK YOU!

[LordAlderaan]

BE AWARE!!! The trick with the linked prefix folder at 14:26 is brilliant! HOWEVER, if in the future you ever remove the non-steam game from Steam (i.e. in this case if you remove The Lost Crown from Steam) it will DELETE the CONTENT of that linked folder and thus the content of the original Ubisoft Connect prefix. Which will stop working. So before removing the non-steam game from Steam make sure you first remove the folder link manually in Dolphin. Deleting the folder in Dolphin will just remove the link.

[MatEsp]

Thanks a lot. Could you turn down the background music a bit I is hard to follow your train of thought for non native speakers;-)

[theodororolfsson]

Can't get past the login screen on ubisoft, the keyboard is blocked and corekeyboard doesn't work... is there some way past this problem without buying a keyboard?

[sanakalex]

Tank you for a video. But where is Beta switch? I can't find it on my deck, I've tried desktop mode, gaming mode, played with different resolutions... but still no way to switch to beta

[limboslam]

So I followed this word for word and did it all shot for shot, all without keyboard or mouse, and stopped at 12:00. Because I scroll down for a second and find a video you "specifically made" for breakpoint alone. Did it that way, so I guess I have two ubisoft connects now, and loaded it up. It crashed. Did it again, it played. I really over did everything just because I didn't know that vid existed. So I have a question. Everything you did in this video up to just before installing the demo, I did. even got the Ubisoft Connect to go to the C: games folder. I found that other Protontrick video you did, and did it that way. Do I just find a way to undo everything I did or just leave it all be and no performance side effects will occur. Cause I'm pretty sure I have two ubisoft connects now, if that means anything.

[roninchaos]

I don’t understand anything past 14:22. I downloaded ghost recon breakpoint and it’s I’m the games folder. It hasn’t generated another folder in the comp data folder that I can see. Then when the big block of text goes on the right hand side, the video becomes impossible to follow with getting the game executable setup to launch the game.

I understand I need to trick the system into thinking Ubisoft connect is in the same folder as breakpoint’s .exe but at 14:22 the video becomes super hard to follow. Why are you deleting that one folder? WHERE are you dragging the link you are then renaming after that?

[autoxguy]

So it seems there are multiple ways to accomplish having non steam games be able to be launched individually from their launcher.

What you showed is one way.

Another way seems to install the game so it's within the ubisoft folder in its prefix like normal, but then also add the game exe to steam separately (in order to launch the game directly), then either fake the prefix name (make a symbolic link) like you show OR put the steam compata data path command to point to ubisoft connect prefix ID as a game exe launch command (rather than creating a symbolic link).


Do this sound accurate?