It’s not every day that a critically acclaimed open-world odyssey gets dragged through the mud by the same fans once mesmerized by its grandeur. But here we are: the 2017 hit title Assassin’s Creed Origins is facing a torrential downpour of negative reviews on Steam. And the culprit? Not a bug in ancient Egypt's lore but a much more modern menace—Microsoft’s Windows 11 24H2 update. Buckle up, because this story is as much about technology as it is about the frustrations of a divided gaming community.
To be clear, Assassin’s Creed Origins isn’t the only victim here. Other Ubisoft titles like Star Wars Outlaws initially faced similar crashes, though they’ve since been patched. But for Origins, a permanent fix remains elusive. Frustrated players report that the only solution is rolling back to an earlier version of Windows 11—a daunting proposition for most everyday users who just want to boot up, play, and unwind. What's worse? This happened right before the holiday sales season, with Origins marked down to an eye-popping 90% off, luring hordes of new buyers right into the thick of unresolved technical chaos.
Interestingly, Valve, the company behind Steam, sometimes adjusts review scores to adjust for "off-topic review activity." But when these issues directly affect gameplay, it becomes hard to argue that these negative reviews are off-topic. In this case, the game’s legacy and historical impact were being overshadowed by technical bottlenecks—creating a PR nightmare for Ubisoft and Microsoft alike.
For gamers who prioritize portability alongside stability, the Steam Deck suddenly looks like the most sensible platform for anyone wanting to enjoy massive open-world titles like this. The irony is rich—Linux, long stereotyped as a geek’s platform, is now winning over mainstream consumers where Windows falters.
For some sweet relief, fans can also look forward to Assassin's Creed Shadows, expected in 2025, showcasing a shinobi and a historically inspired African samurai protagonist. If Ubisoft learns anything from Origins’ long-running aftershocks, let's hope Shadows launches without becoming collateral in the war between Windows and game software compatibility.
For now, though, gamers are left to wonder: will Microsoft patch the update, or will this saga become yet another chapter in the growing lore of “Microsoft vs. Gamers”? Let us know your thoughts on this issue in the WindowsForum.com comments section. Have you encountered similar headaches with Windows updates? Share your story—we're all ears!
Source: menafn Gamers Review Bomb 'Assassin's Creed Origins' On Steam Due To Windows 11 Update Issues
A Technical Storm Brews Over Ubisoft’s Gem
Released back in the golden days of 2017, Assassin's Creed Origins redefined the franchise with its dynamic open-world RPG elements and historically rich setting in Ancient Egypt. Six years later, the game finds itself caught up in an entirely different narrative—a performance debacle sparked by Microsoft's latest Windows 11 update (24H2). For a game nearly three console generations old, this was supposed to be a leisurely classic—well-worn and polished. Instead, we're looking at stutters, black screens, crashes, and freezing issues, which leave Ubisoft and Microsoft scratching their heads.To be clear, Assassin’s Creed Origins isn’t the only victim here. Other Ubisoft titles like Star Wars Outlaws initially faced similar crashes, though they’ve since been patched. But for Origins, a permanent fix remains elusive. Frustrated players report that the only solution is rolling back to an earlier version of Windows 11—a daunting proposition for most everyday users who just want to boot up, play, and unwind. What's worse? This happened right before the holiday sales season, with Origins marked down to an eye-popping 90% off, luring hordes of new buyers right into the thick of unresolved technical chaos.
What Went Wrong With Windows 11 Update 24H2?
Dubbed the 24H2 update, this package was intended as one of Microsoft’s routine feature rollouts. But for some gaming applications—especially those bearing the hallmark Denuvo anti-tamper DRM software—compatibility fell apart like a poorly-built sandcastle. Denuvo, while designed to deter piracy, operates on a level that hooks deeply into a game's mechanics. Throw in the slightest hiccup from Windows' kernel-level processes or driver updates, and, well, it all comes crashing down—literally.Diagnosing the Trouble: The Usual Suspects
- Stuttering and Freezes: Likely tied to DirectX compatibility issues.
- Game Crashes: Could be linked to outdated graphics card drivers or conflicts with Denuvo protections.
- Black Screens: Memory management tweaks in Windows 24H2 might be struggling to align with older games' requirements.
Turning Steam Reviews Into A War Zone
For any uninitiated reader, let’s quickly break down the term “review bombing.” Fairly self-explanatory, this occurs when hordes of users flood a product's review section with overwhelmingly negative reviews, often not due to the content's inherent quality but external grievances. This time around, fans of Assassin's Creed Origins took to Steam to vent their anger. Memorable quotes? “Do not buy—it will fry your system worse than Cleopatra’s temper.” (Okay, not an actual quote, but you get the idea.)Interestingly, Valve, the company behind Steam, sometimes adjusts review scores to adjust for "off-topic review activity." But when these issues directly affect gameplay, it becomes hard to argue that these negative reviews are off-topic. In this case, the game’s legacy and historical impact were being overshadowed by technical bottlenecks—creating a PR nightmare for Ubisoft and Microsoft alike.
A Silver Lining: Steam Deck to the Rescue
Here’s an unexpected plot twist: while Windows 11 users were battling crashes and bugs, Steam Deck owners sat back in smug, Linux-based bliss. Valve’s handheld Steam Deck uses a customized Linux operating system called SteamOS, which avoids the pitfalls of Windows updates and seems to interact with Assassin's Creed Origins like a dream. The game runs smoothly, free of black screens and catastrophic crashes, making the portable device an unexpected hero of this age-old Egyptian saga.For gamers who prioritize portability alongside stability, the Steam Deck suddenly looks like the most sensible platform for anyone wanting to enjoy massive open-world titles like this. The irony is rich—Linux, long stereotyped as a geek’s platform, is now winning over mainstream consumers where Windows falters.
Reflections on a Landmark Game
Despite its current woes, Assassin's Creed Origins genuinely deserves its place as a franchise milestone. It introduced RPG elements that would become the foundation for later heavyweights like Assassin's Creed Odyssey and Valhalla. The game features a sprawling depiction of Ancient Egypt, complete with stunning visuals, dynamic NPCs, and an introspective protagonist in Bayek. It's painfully ironic that such a monument to video game artistry would be undone not by shoddy work from Ubisoft but by unforeseen compatibility issues half a decade later.For some sweet relief, fans can also look forward to Assassin's Creed Shadows, expected in 2025, showcasing a shinobi and a historically inspired African samurai protagonist. If Ubisoft learns anything from Origins’ long-running aftershocks, let's hope Shadows launches without becoming collateral in the war between Windows and game software compatibility.
What Can You Do If You're Affected?
For those still interested in playing or salvaging their experience with Assassin's Creed Origins, consider these tips:- Rollback the Update: Revert Windows 11 24H2 to an earlier version. Microsoft provides a 10-day grace period for easy rollback after updates.
- Test on Steam Deck: If you own (or can borrow) a Steam Deck, it’s reported as a haven for running problematic games.
- Driver Updates: Consistently update your GPU drivers (NVIDIA, AMD, Intel), as manufacturers often release fixes tailored for gaming.
- Temporary Fixes for Denuvo: While imperfect, disabling specific background Windows services might work—but proceed cautiously.
A Call for Peace Between Platforms
At the heart of this debacle is the lack of streamlined communication across the tech world. Microsoft, Ubisoft, and middleware like Denuvo need to work together so the average gamer doesn’t bear the brunt of compatibility issues on modern platforms. With the right hindsight, perhaps future Windows updates can emphasize backward compatibility for older games, keeping the industry’s legacy intact while pushing forward.For now, though, gamers are left to wonder: will Microsoft patch the update, or will this saga become yet another chapter in the growing lore of “Microsoft vs. Gamers”? Let us know your thoughts on this issue in the WindowsForum.com comments section. Have you encountered similar headaches with Windows updates? Share your story—we're all ears!
Source: menafn Gamers Review Bomb 'Assassin's Creed Origins' On Steam Due To Windows 11 Update Issues