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In another clear case of anti-cheat woes for Steam Deck and Linux desktop gaming, The Division 2 is another broken game. Ubisoft continue their shift back onto Steam, with Tom Clancy's The Division 2 launching January 12. If you were excited to give it a run on Steam Deck though, or a Linux desktop, you're completely out of luck right now. Update: a fix was released.

The Division 2 uses Easy Anti-Cheat, and while that tech does support Linux and Proton, Ubisoft have seemingly not enabled it. That, or there's other technical issues currently with Proton and support for Easy Anti-Cheat. We've seen some issues in the past like glibc updates breaking Easy Anti-Cheat, so it could be related.

Currently, no matter the version of Proton picked either the official Proton or the community-made GE-Proton, The Division 2 will load until the Easy Anti-Cheat logo screen and then just get stuck in a loop trying to load it forever until you force-quit the game.

Shame, could have been a good fit for the Steam Deck.

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15 comments

Corben Jan 17, 2023
My way of playing the Division 2 would have been Stadia... it even had crossplay with PC players. I bought it on sale... well, got refunded.
It's available via GeForce Now, but currently only via Ubisoft or Epic, where I don't own the game. And it being borked on Steam, I guess I won't play it at all now.

We have other games to play...
mr-victory Jan 17, 2023
There is a slim chance that Ubisoft may have tried to add Linux EAC support but screwed it up so it could be fixed on our side. I am obviously very optimistic here.
Liam Dawe Jan 17, 2023
My way of playing the Division 2 would have been Stadia... it even had crossplay with PC players. I bought it on sale... well, got refunded.
It's available via GeForce Now, but currently only via Ubisoft or Epic, where I don't own the game. And it being borked on Steam, I guess I won't play it at all now.

We have other games to play...
I feel you there. I had it on Stadia too and quite enjoyed it there.
officernice Jan 17, 2023
Still waiting patiently for Hell Let Loose and Rising Storm 2.
Liam Dawe Jan 17, 2023
There is a slim chance that Ubisoft may have tried to add Linux EAC support but screwed it up so it could be fixed on our side. I am obviously very optimistic here.
If that's the case, there should be a .so in a wrong folder.
That's only for the old EAC, not the one from EOS. In this case, there is no .so file.
InhaleOblivion Jan 17, 2023
Thanks for the heads up. I almost bought this since they have a sale for it currently on Steam. Not surprised they didn't even add any Steam achievements or cards.
EagleDelta Jan 18, 2023
My way of playing the Division 2 would have been Stadia... it even had crossplay with PC players. I bought it on sale... well, got refunded.
It's available via GeForce Now, but currently only via Ubisoft or Epic, where I don't own the game. And it being borked on Steam, I guess I won't play it at all now.

We have other games to play...
I feel you there. I had it on Stadia too and quite enjoyed it there.

I can't speak for The Division 2, but I had Assassin's Creed: Odyssey on Stadia and Ubisoft just transferred it to my Ubisoft account. Did they not do that with The Division 2 (for playing it on GFN)?


Last edited by EagleDelta on 18 January 2023 at 1:32 am UTC
maggotinfested Jan 18, 2023
There is a slim chance that Ubisoft may have tried to add Linux EAC support but screwed it up so it could be fixed on our side. I am obviously very optimistic here.

Yeah, you shouldn't be. It's UbiSoft.
Termy Jan 18, 2023
I'm really not surprised they fucked this up - i mean, when is the last time, ubisoft did anything right? Compared to them, EA almost seems competent...
nenoro Jan 18, 2023
Like Ubisoft will make a move ?....

https://discussions.ubisoft.com/topic/109926/now-that-epic-has-released-eac-for-free-and-the-division-2-is-already-native-due-to-stadia-will-you-please-turn-on-eac-for-pc-linux-users

just sharing a dead post where we asked for ubisoft to make a move and no reply....

Ubisoft is pro "we don't give a fish about linux, all the money for denuvo and EAC old version"

And today they have announced a social movement to fight against overtime.... how to delay developments

it's not a surprise Ubisoft won't do a single move
rustybroomhandle Jan 18, 2023
Ubisoft don't even use any Steam features for their recent releases, instead just using their own launcher for cloud saves, achievements, social etc. So I can't imagine them doing much of anything to support Linux, Steam Deck.

Ubisoft are a bit dense though. Guillemot blames employees. Employees are going on strike. I wish them good luck. May they make the suits squirm.
fschaupp Jan 18, 2023
View PC info
  • Supporter
It's already reported to Ubisoft: pls support & comment at the thread to show Ubisoft the mass of interested gamers: https://discussions.ubisoft.com/topic/127418/the-division-2-not-playable-on-linux?lang=en-US&page=1
Edit: discussion forum got killed


Last edited by fschaupp on 26 April 2023 at 6:35 am UTC
Julian Jan 18, 2023
Ubi launched a hotfix for Steam Deck today, for some people it's WORKING!!! I'm going to try it on my Linux pc
mr-victory Jan 18, 2023
Ubi launched a hotfix for Steam Deck today, for some people it's WORKING!!! I'm going to try it on my Linux pc
Wow they really added .so file, it doesn't hurt to be optimistic. The file wasn't there before.
https://steamdb.info/depot/2221491/
File type: so: 1
rustybroomhandle Jan 18, 2023
Apparently it works now. I was wrong!
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