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Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora has now released on Steam, and at least when it comes to AMD GPUs, it seems to be currently a no-go and just doesn't run with Proton on Steam Deck and Desktop Linux.

Testing on my Kubuntu 24.04 desktop across Proton 9 and Proton Experimental with an Radeon RX 6800 XT on Mesa 24.1.1 and Mesa 24.0.6 nothing makes it work. It will attempt to load, and then nothing happens and Steam reports it has just stopped running. Even trying the community-made GE-Proton 9-7, same thing again. There's a bug report on GitHub with others reporting the same.

It might be possible with an NVIDIA GPU, but I haven't tested.

As for Steam Deck, it just doesn't work there either from the Steam release. Testing again Proton 9 and Proton Experimental, it won't launch. Checked across SteamOS 3.5 Stable and the current SteamOS 3.6 Preview with the same issue. Even if it did run, the performance in the open world is simply unplayable constantly below 30FPS and a mess on Deck as shown in various videos of people who got the Epic or Ubisoft version of it to boot.

Hopefully at least for desktop Linux, a future Proton update might make it playable.

If you want to try your luck check out the Steam page.

Article taken from GamingOnLinux.com.
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14 comments

robvv Jun 19
I've been reading the comments on the Steam Store page and it seems that unless you have a Ninjascopic Fighting Platform (*), you aren't going to get far with this one. The reviewers also call it Far Cry with blue people!

There are a number of other cons, in particular: published by Ubisoft, contains Denuvo malware, always-online, in-game purchases and numerous bugs. Add to that a hefty price tag of £114.99 (without discount) if you want the Ultimate Edition (or £59.99 otherwise).

Ubisoft are obviously not interested in Steam Deck (or Linux) anyway, so personally I wouldn't give them the coverage.

* (c) PC Zone magazine.
Mohandevir Jun 19
Ubisoft scam... For my part this game does not exist, even if it ran A1 on Steam Deck.
finaldest Jun 19
I am comfortable with NOT buying....Sorry, renting this game for an unspecified time.
Stella Jun 19
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This is an example of a great IP that was ruined by a horrible publisher. I will never buy from Ubisoft ever again, they're just one publisher I avoid at all costs, despite the fact I love the Avatar franchise and I was interested in this game. According to them, you don't even own the games you purchased, and they will make old games unplayable if you look at them wrong. I also don't need their Ubisoft Connect bloatware on my machine. Even if this ran perfectly on the Deck/Linux, still wouldn't buy it.
KaitoK Jun 19
Ubisoft Connect Version as non-steam game with Proton Experimental on 6.9 with Mesa 24.1.1 works fine (ingame benchmark)
I really like the Avatar movies and was looking forward to this game (the only Far Cry game I've ever played was the original, and that was 20 years ago(!), so "Far Cry with blue people" is not an off-putting criticism), but when I started reading about the Ubisoft launcher requirement and heavy-handed DRM, I became considerably less enthusiastic

And now to find out that it doesn't even work in Linux anyway? Ugh...


Last edited by Mountain Man on 19 June 2024 at 2:39 pm UTC
Kimyrielle Jun 19
No Tux, no bux. :D

Also...yeah...it's Ubisoft.
In my mind Ubisoft is pretty much the worst publisher. It's really the only publisher for which, when I see it's them, I just ignore the game. I don't even necessarily do that for EA.
Talon1024 Jun 19
Denuvo malware, always-online, in-game purchases and numerous bugs. Add to that a hefty price tag of £114.99 (without discount) if you want the Ultimate Edition (or £59.99 otherwise).

And this is on top of the fact that Ubisoft is one of those studios that uses shitty AI tools to replace their good, albeit low-ranking, human workers.

All of this, in addition to the fact that AAA games aren't fun any more, is why some people are expecting the game industry to crash. These big names in the game industry have become too greedy and controlling. It's like they've forgot what makes video games enjoyable, and as a result they're creating products for an offshoot market which exists merely because the proprietors are famous, and capable of putting out products which have the appearance of being the apex of quality.

Game developers who focus on making enjoyable, non-enshittified games should be able to survive this game industry crash. For example: Larian, FromSoftware, id Software. And IMHO it would serve these big greedy craporations right to get knocked down a peg or two.


Last edited by Talon1024 on 19 June 2024 at 5:15 pm UTC
Corben Jun 19
After reading some good articles about the game, being a sci-fi fan and enjoying at least the first movie, I was thinking about getting this game. I haven't played any Far Cry in ages, so I wouldn't it mind being a similar game, as I would enjoy the setting.
But if it doesn't work on Linux I guess it's off the table for now.
based Jun 20
They all come crawling back. Might consider if it it works.

EDT: oh wait, thats Ubisoft. Not spendig a dime if you'll just take it away in a month lol 🏴‍☠️


Last edited by based on 20 June 2024 at 3:25 am UTC
Pengling Jun 20
There are a number of other cons, in particular: published by Ubisoft, contains Denuvo malware, always-online, in-game purchases and numerous bugs. Add to that a hefty price tag of £114.99 (without discount) if you want the Ultimate Edition (or £59.99 otherwise).
A potential other con for those who might not know this: Disney owns the Avatar franchise, and Disney is pretty greedy and poorly-behaved themselves. I guess that's why they keep teaming up with Ubislop.
jarhead_h Jun 21
The only good thing to come out of AVATAR is Mr. Plinkett's review of AVATAR:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJarz7BYnHA
TheRiddick Jun 21
Could it be DRM misbehaving by freaking out in the background. I think this game has its own extra DRM layer on top of steam doesn't it?
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