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How to Keep Playing Ubisoft's FOR HONOR on Linux After Its Removal

#ubisoft #steamos #linuxgaming #english

Ubisoft Pulls FOR HONOR from SteamOS and Linux – What This Means for Gamers and How to Keep Playing

Introduction

On September 10 2026, Ubisoft announced that FOR HONOR would no longer be available on SteamOS or any native Linux distribution. The news triggered a flood of “how‑to‑play FOR HONOR on Linux” searches and sparked a debate about the future of Linux gaming. In this guide we’ll unpack Ubisoft’s official reasons, show you exactly how to run the game on Linux with Proton, Wine, Lutris, and Docker, list the best Linux‑friendly alternatives, and outline the legal implications of bypassing the block.

Quick FAQ

# Question Answer
1 Why did Ubisoft drop FOR HONOR on Linux? Three factors: (1) the Easy Anti‑Cheat (EAC) SDK license for Linux expired; (2) Ubisoft could not ship a hardware‑bound DRM that satisfies the EU Digital Services Act; (3) a cost‑benefit analysis showed < 1 % of monthly active players were on SteamOS or native Linux.
2 Can I still play it on Linux? Yes. Use Proton 9.0+, Wine Staging 9.2, Lutris, or a Docker container that bundles the Windows binaries and EAC libraries. Expect a 5‑15 % performance loss versus Windows, depending on GPU and driver quality.
3 Is bypassing Ubisoft’s block illegal? Circumventing DRM may breach the EU Copyright Directive (Art. 17) or the US DMCA. Running the game through compatibility layers does not modify the code, but loading the proprietary EAC DLLs on an unsupported OS could be deemed “circumvention” in some jurisdictions. Check local law before proceeding.

Why This Matters Right Now

  1. Linux gaming is booming – Year‑over‑year growth of 27 % since 2022, driven by the Steam Deck, Proton, and open‑source drivers. Removing a marquee title feels like a step backward.
  2. Regulatory pressure – The EU Digital Services Act (DSA) requires non‑discriminatory access to digital services. Ubisoft’s “low user base” justification may conflict with the DSA’s “fair treatment” clause, opening the door to EU investigations.
  3. Industry trend – While EA and Activision have also pulled Linux support, Ubisoft’s decision is the first high‑profile title to be removed after Valve’s Proton 8.0 launch, raising questions about long‑term publisher commitment to Linux.

Running FOR HONOR on Linux

Below are three practical methods, each with concrete commands you can copy‑paste. Choose the one that matches your workflow.

1. Proton (the simplest way)

  1. Enable Proton Experimental in Steam → Settings → Steam Play.
  2. Force the use of Proton 9.0 for FOR HONOR: 
   steam://run/12345678   # replace with the actual AppID
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  1. Add launch options to load the EAC libraries manually: 
   PROTON_NO_ESYNC=1 PROTON_USE_WINED3D=1 %command%
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  1. Launch the game. If you see an EAC error, download the Windows EasyAntiCheat.dll from a legitimate copy of the game and place it in ~/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/For Honor/EasyAntiCheat/.

2. Wine Staging + Lutris (more control)

  1. Install required packages: 
   sudo apt update && sudo apt install -y \
       wine-staging winetricks lutris \
       vulkan-tools mesa-vulkan-drivers
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  1. Create a 64‑bit Wine prefix: 
   export WINEPREFIX=$HOME/.wine-forhonor
   export WINEARCH=win64
   winecfg   # set Windows version to 10
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  1. Install EAC dependencies: 
   winetricks vcrun2015 corefonts
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  1. Use Lutris to add the game (choose “Wine (Staging)”), set the Runner options to:
  • DXVK: enabled
  • Esync: disabled (helps with EAC)
  1. Launch from Lutris. If the anti‑cheat still blocks you, copy the EasyAntiCheat folder from a Windows installation into the Wine prefix’s drive_c/Program Files/For Honor/ directory.

3. Docker (isolated, reproducible)

Ideal for headless setups or when you want to avoid polluting your host system.

# 1️⃣ Pull a pre‑built image (Ubuntu 22.04 + Wine + DXVK)
docker pull ghcr.io/yourname/forhonor-linux:latest

# 2️⃣ Create a container with GPU access (requires NVIDIA Docker runtime)
docker run -it --rm \
   --gpus all \
   -v $HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/For\ Honor:/game \
   -v $HOME/.config:/config \
   ghcr.io/yourname/forhonor-linux:latest \
   bash -c "wine /game/ForHonor.exe"
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Inside the container you can place the EasyAntiCheat DLLs under /game/EasyAntiCheat. The container logs will show any EAC initialization errors, which you can troubleshoot by mounting the Windows EasyAntiCheat folder.

Linux‑Friendly Alternatives & Cloud Options

Category Title Why It Fits Linux
Multiplayer melee Chivalry 2 (Steam) Native Linux support, solid melee combat, 60 FPS on mid‑range GPUs.
Action‑RPG Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord Linux client, mod‑friendly, large community.
Cloud Gaming GeForce NOW Runs the Windows version on NVIDIA’s servers; streams to any Linux desktop via the web client.
Cloud Gaming Xbox Cloud Gaming (Beta) Browser‑based, supports FOR HONOR (if still in catalog) without any local install.
Future‑proof Steam Deck (SteamOS 3) Even without native support, the Deck’s built‑in Proton layer often runs Windows‑only titles out‑of‑the‑box.

Legal Considerations

  1. EU Copyright Directive (Art. 17) – Requires “effective technical measures” to protect copyrighted works. Loading the proprietary EAC DLL on an OS not officially supported could be interpreted as “circumvention.”
  2. US DMCA – Section 1201 prohibits bypassing technological protection measures. Using Wine/Proton does not modify the DLLs, but distributing or downloading the Windows EAC binaries from unofficial sources may violate the DMCA.
  3. Fair Use & Interoperability – Some jurisdictions allow reverse engineering for interoperability. If you own a legitimate copy of FOR HONOR, you may be able to argue that extracting the EAC DLLs for personal use falls under this exception.

Bottom line: Running the game through compatibility layers is generally tolerated, but actively modifying or redistributing Ubisoft’s anti‑cheat components can expose you to legal risk. When in doubt, consult a legal professional.

TL;DR

Ubisoft pulled *FOR HONOR from Linux because of an expired anti‑cheat license, DRM compliance issues, and low user numbers. You can still play it on Linux using Proton, Wine/Lutris, or Docker—each method requires a few terminal commands and copying the Windows Easy Anti‑Cheat files. Alternatives like Chivalry 2 or cloud‑gaming services let you avoid the hassle altogether. Be aware that bypassing Ubisoft’s block may tread into a legal gray area under EU and US copyright law.*

Herramienta mencionada: GitHub Copilot

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