Assassin's Creed 2 Fix (Won't Launch)

[MichaelTheBruce]

I recently purchased this game and ran into an issue where Uplay would not launch the game after opening it from steam. I tried some suggested fixes and got further, but ran into more roadblocks.

What I tried, and what ended up working, was first uninstalling Uplay and then reinstalling the current version from the main website. I then uninstalled AC2 (steam) and installed it again through Uplay.

Hope this helps someone.

[frankieparsons]

Yes, basically uninstalling the Steam version and then reinstalling the game through Uplay seems to work.

[IronGland]

It's possible to download through Uplay? Every time I try to solve this problem by uninstalling and reinstalling the programs, it leads me to Steam for the download.

[Catz]

This didn't work for me. Only way to get the game to load was to chage the fps from 60 to 30(at 3840x2160) in the INI file.

[IronGland]

Originally posted by Catz:

This didn't work for me. Only way to get the game to load was to chage the fps from 60 to 30(at 3840x2160) in the INI file.

That's one idea that I haven't tried. As I'm in the process of learning how to make these tweaks, could I impose upon you to elaborate on this procedure? Where the file is located in steamapps, and anything else I might need to know that's not self-explanatory?

[Catz]

Originally posted by IronGland:

Originally posted by Catz:

This didn't work for me. Only way to get the game to load was to chage the fps from 60 to 30(at 3840x2160) in the INI file.

That's one idea that I haven't tried. As I'm in the process of learning how to make these tweaks, could I impose upon you to elaborate on this procedure? Where the file is located in steamapps, and anything else I might need to know that's not self-explanatory?

1. Open file explorer.
2. Click on the C drive. Then Users, then whatever name you chose for your computer.
3. Click AppData(if you don't see AppData then its hidden, google how to unhide files in windows)
4. Click Roaming, then Ubisoft, the Assassin's Creed 2.
5. Open the ini. file, chage to desired resolution and framerate, exit out and save.

this worked for me so hopefully it works for you.

[IronGland]

Originally posted by Catz:

Originally posted by IronGland:

That's one idea that I haven't tried. As I'm in the process of learning how to make these tweaks, could I impose upon you to elaborate on this procedure? Where the file is located in steamapps, and anything else I might need to know that's not self-explanatory?

1. Open file explorer.
2. Click on the C drive. Then Users, then whatever name you chose for your computer.
3. Click AppData(if you don't see AppData then its hidden, google how to unhide files in windows)
4. Click Roaming, then Ubisoft, the Assassin's Creed 2.
5. Open the ini. file, chage to desired resolution and framerate, exit out and save.

this worked for me so hopefully it works for you.

Catz - I'm much obliged, those directions got me 99% of the way there.

Once I got to the .ini file, though, I didn't see a FPS section. Below are all the paramters it lists. Thoughts on how to proceed?

[Graphics]
AdapterVendorID=0
AdapterDeviceID=0
MonitorDesc=
DisplayWidth=0
DisplayHeight=0
RefreshRate=0
MultiSampleType=0
VSync=0
EnvironmentQuality=3
TextureQuality=2
ShadowQuality=2
ReflectionQuality=2
CharacterQuality=2
PostFX=1

[Catz]

Originally posted by IronGland:

Originally posted by Catz:

1. Open file explorer.
2. Click on the C drive. Then Users, then whatever name you chose for your computer.
3. Click AppData(if you don't see AppData then its hidden, google how to unhide files in windows)
4. Click Roaming, then Ubisoft, the Assassin's Creed 2.
5. Open the ini. file, chage to desired resolution and framerate, exit out and save.

this worked for me so hopefully it works for you.

Catz - I'm much obliged, those directions got me 99% of the way there.

Once I got to the .ini file, though, I didn't see a FPS section. Below are all the paramters it lists. Thoughts on how to proceed?

[Graphics]
AdapterVendorID=0
AdapterDeviceID=0
MonitorDesc=
DisplayWidth=0
DisplayHeight=0
RefreshRate=0
MultiSampleType=0
VSync=0
EnvironmentQuality=3
TextureQuality=2
ShadowQuality=2
ReflectionQuality=2
CharacterQuality=2
PostFX=1

Refresh Rate

[IronGland]

Truly obliged for the assist. That said, it didn't work - kinda like everything else I've tried trying to get this game to launch - but still glad I tried, so I have one more item crossed off in the process of elimination.

As things stand, the only lead that kind of panned out was SafeMode. It proved that AC2 could at least launch on my PC, but as of yet no idea what I should disable to make it run on normal.


This is a real shame, as I've heard AC2 described as one of the best games ever made. Why Ubi/Steam continue to sell and promote this product, knowing of but not fixing this problem, continues to astound me.

[IronGland]

Originally posted by Catz:

Originally posted by IronGland:

Refresh Rate

Catz,

Still troubleshooting this, and very strong possibility that the problem lies with the .ini file, as you were first to advise.

I tried your suggestion of setting Refresh Rate parameter to 30 (didn't work), but in the process...noticed that so many of my parameters were set to 0 or blank (pasted in my longer post above). That seemed odd.

Compare that to the .ini file configuration described here (midway down):

http://www.tomshardware.com/forum/124462-13-assassin-creed-config-help-help

I tried pasting in those values, and I experienced a different form of white rectangle crash, so maybe I'm on to something here.

What would you suggest? And given that the previously linked post was from 2012, could I bother you to share your .ini file so I can attempt those settings?

Scott

[KRL]

Is there any update on this? Tried everything and the problem still persists.

[IronGland]

Originally posted by kaoral:

Is there any update on this? Tried everything and the problem still persists.

Regarding my issue, nothing I tried worked - and I gave up shortly after that last 2018 post.

But much later, maybe around winter 2020, I tried to run the game again to see what happened. And out of the clear blue sky - it worked.

I can't explain it. I just assumed the developer fixed the problem. But the fact you're still experiencing it makes me wonder if that's the case.

I'm sorry I don't have much in terms of solutions. But I hope you can have a lucky breakthrough like I did, or that someone else on this thread has a better suggestion.

[FIN SHEPARD]

You should try to make a Virtual Drive and install game on it. For me it worked for AC1 and AC2, and I checked it yesterday and it solves launching problem. So here's the instruction how to create virtual drive and you need to select VHDX.

https://www.windowscentral.com/how-create-and-set-vhdx-or-vhd-windows-10

I hope it will work for you.

[Rudolf Birger]

Game doesn't even start

Since they added U-Play i cant play this game, and i was able to play it before, Ubisoft, please, do SOMETHING right for once.,..

[Ubi Milky]

Hello Rudolf, thank you for getting in touch with us and sorry to hear your game will not launch.

Would you please take a look at this guide and run through all the steps listed? This support article contains some of the most common fixes for the issue you are having and covers permissions, hardware, software, and corrupt files, that could potentially cause this >
https://www.ubisoft.com/help?article=000061047

As this game is one of our older titles, I would also like you to try running the game using 'Windows compatibility mode' for an older Windows OS, and to also check the box 'disable full-screen optimizations', as this can sometimes resolve any issues older games are having, trying to run on newer hardware. Please see our guide on how to do this here > https://www.ubisoft.com/help?article=000063445

-Ubisoft Support

[Ewancito11]

Hello, I have the same problem. Btw I click on the links and they just send me to subisoft website but not to the articles. I really want to play this game, pls help us