This game runs on Steam Deck

[MoiraPrime [VF4-S]]

You can get this game running on Steam Deck despite it being listed as unsupported. You have to jump through a few hoops.

1. Install the game
2. Set it to use Proton 7 in compatibility settings. You'll have to check the force the use of a compatibility tool setting.
3. Run it and let uplay do all the weird update stuff
4. Uplay will eventually get to a step where it pops up a window with a cryptic error message. This is when the uplay stuff is done. You can close the game at this step.
5. Re-launch the game, and after a couple launcher windows pop up, the game will start.

I saw another user on protonDB recommend limiting the TDP to 6 watts. I've done this and the game runs flawlessly. Also, be sure to set the controller settings to be a standard gamepad. For some reason steam defaults to a community control scheme that has the E brake when you pull the left throttle all the way, which may make it frustrating to reverse.

Other than that it works. Have fun playing.

Edit: If you have issues with Ubisoft's terrible ancient Uplay garbage, see the comments below for a potential workaround.

[The_Trooper49]

i cant get past the uplay login screen, wont connect to their server... how did you get around that?

[MoiraPrime [VF4-S]]

Click offline mode if it gives you the option. Online stuff doesn't work on deck anyways.

[The_Trooper49]

Sadly it won't let me do that, it says it requires one initial login before it will let me use offline mode. Do you happen to know if you logged into uplay successfully in a different game before playing driver SF? I'm thinking that might be a workaround but not sure if I own any other uplay games...

[MoiraPrime [VF4-S]]

I actually entered my uplay information, it then loaded for a bit before telling me I had internet trouble and giving me an offline mode button. Make sure your uplay info is correct.

[The_Trooper49]

Ok thanks, I will keep trying!

[[DUDES] Shomax]

Hello,
Same as The_Tropper49 here Uplay luncher whant one initial login before let me use offline mode. Did you play a ubisoft game before ?

[The_Trooper49]

Still having trouble, I uninstalled the game, installed ubisoft connect (the successor to UPlay) and reinstalled through that but still getting the same error. I have not tried any other ubisoft games, but my theory is that if I can find one that uses uplay I might be able to successfully log into a different game first and then use offline mode for driver... Any idea if any older ubisoft games do still work and utilise uplay?

[MoiraPrime [VF4-S]]

I hate to say the phrase "works on my machine" but at this case, I did exactly what I did in my post and it works. Try to log in with a valid uplay account. Other than that, can't really help.

[I am the llama]

I'm having the same issue. I can log into Ubisoft Connect and literally launch the game from there, but then it pops up the ancient version of UPlay where, despite using the exact same credentials, just results in a "There seems to be a problem with your internet connection blah blah blah" then trying to use offline mode results in the error saying I need to log in successfully at least once before using offline mode. I also tried multiple Proton versions. GE-Proton7-51, Proton Experimental and Proton 7.0-6. I also tried installing Far Cry 4 and loaded into that, but it ended up updating to Ubisoft Connect and worked fine. D:SF still will not work.

[MoiraPrime [VF4-S]]

I wonder if it requires successful activation beforehand... like maybe you need to have installed and ran it on PC successfuly at some point first? I know I've done that at least once. If you haven't, then that may be the missing piece. Other than that, I'm unsure.

[I am the llama]

I wondered the same thing. Just a few minutes ago, I literally streamed the game successfully from my PC to my Steam Deck, then tried playing directly on the Steam Deck. Still no dice.

[I am the llama]

Guys, I've figured out how to get it working! So, after installing the game on my PC to see how it handled the whole UPlay/Ubisoft connect thing, I noticed that once I installed Ubisoft Connect on my PC, Steam would just automatically load it instead of UPlay when launching Driver: SF. So I tried searching around the file system on the Steam deck to see if I could find where Steam would know whether to load UPlay or UConnect. And I found it. It's in /home/deck/.local/share/Steam/steamapps/compatdata/[random number (mine was 33440)]/pfx/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Ubisoft/. The random number is going to be the number of the folder that pertains to Driver: SF. I had to take a look and see at what time I installed Driver SF to figure out which folder it was. Either way, what I did was rename the "Ubisoft Game Launcher" folder to something like "Ubisoft Game Launcher Old". Then I went to the Ubisoft Connect install folder (from when I installed it separately), which uses the same exact folder pathing as before, just with a different random number (mine was 2983910737), and copied its "Ubisoft Game Launcher" folder over to Driver SF's Ubisoft folder where I renamed the old folder. And voila, the game will now launch with the updated Ubisoft Connect and loads in without any problem. Hope this helps!

[The_Trooper49]

Llama you are an absolute genius! Works like a charm for me too. Thanks so much

[MoiraPrime [VF4-S]]

I added a note in my post to check the comments. Glad you figured it out!

[[DUDES] Shomax]

Niiice need to try this soon ! Thanks you !