Ladies and gentlemen, reboot your PCs because we finally have some good news for Windows 11 gamers—well, mostly. Ubisoft has patched up compatibility issues for Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Assassin's Creed Origins on Windows 11 after months of a frustrating bug hunt. However, if you’re still sailing through the deep blue Aegean in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, don’t hold your breath—it remains broken and riddled with issues, much to fans' dismay.
Let’s break down what’s happened, why it’s taken so long, and what it means for Ubisoft’s aging legacy (and us, the players).
Why is this such a big deal? Games are intricate pieces of software, relying on finely-tuned compatibility between the operating system, drivers (like GPU software), and the game engine itself. When Microsoft rolls out a major platform upgrade like 24H2, it often changes core system architecture, APIs (application programming interfaces), or resource management. If game developers like Ubisoft don’t optimize their software for such changes in advance—or if they delay updates after launch—you get broken games.
It’s worth noting that the frustration wasn’t limited to Ubisoft’s assassin-themed franchise. Other Ubisoft titles, including Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, were similarly affected. However, these games received patches within weeks. For Assassin's Creed fans, it took more than two months to address two of the trilogy's titles, Origins and Valhalla, and fans are still scratching their heads at Odyssey's ongoing issues.
But what took so long? Ubisoft hasn’t explicitly said, but given the sweeping changes introduced in the 24H2 update, the fixes likely required significant testing and engine tweaking. For instance:
What’s particularly galling to fans is the radio silence surrounding Odyssey. Ubisoft has provided no timeline or assurance of a fix, leading to widespread speculation. Could it be that Ubisoft values Odyssey less because it’s an older installment? Or are developers stretched too thin due to other projects like Assassin's Creed Mirage or Shadows? Possibly both.
One thing is certain—Ubisoft will need to navigate this minefield carefully if it wants to restore player loyalty. Until then, Windows 11 gamers (especially Spartan ones) will have to keep waiting—or leave their epic Greek journeys on pause.
Final Thoughts: Are Game Updates Becoming Too Slow?
The broader question here is this: Are developers like Ubisoft struggling to keep pace with the rapid evolution of OS updates? Windows 11’s 24H2 marked another major step in Microsoft’s ambition to make its platform future-proof, yet game-breaking problems like these suggest we’re not there yet in terms of developer-readiness.
Have you been affected by these issues? Share your experiences, gripes, and wins with the community below. Let’s discuss how Ubisoft can turn things around—or whether it’ll be remembered as a company that dropped the ball at the worst possible time. After all, not even an assassin can outrun frustrated fans armed with keyboards and review bombs.
Source: IGN India Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Origins Finally Fixed on Windows 11, But Odyssey Remains Broken
Let’s break down what’s happened, why it’s taken so long, and what it means for Ubisoft’s aging legacy (and us, the players).
Windows 11 Compatibility Woes: What Went Wrong?
The trouble began with the Windows 11 24H2 update, released in November 2024. This update, intended to polish Microsoft’s latest operating system, instead brought Ubisoft’s crowning gems—Valhalla, Origins, and Odyssey—to an abrupt and crashing halt. These compatibility glitches manifested in frequent crashes—a game-ending nightmare occurring every few minutes. For many players, these issues rendered the titles effectively unplayable.Why is this such a big deal? Games are intricate pieces of software, relying on finely-tuned compatibility between the operating system, drivers (like GPU software), and the game engine itself. When Microsoft rolls out a major platform upgrade like 24H2, it often changes core system architecture, APIs (application programming interfaces), or resource management. If game developers like Ubisoft don’t optimize their software for such changes in advance—or if they delay updates after launch—you get broken games.
It’s worth noting that the frustration wasn’t limited to Ubisoft’s assassin-themed franchise. Other Ubisoft titles, including Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, were similarly affected. However, these games received patches within weeks. For Assassin's Creed fans, it took more than two months to address two of the trilogy's titles, Origins and Valhalla, and fans are still scratching their heads at Odyssey's ongoing issues.
The Fix Is In—Sort Of
As of now, both Origins (the saga of Ancient Egypt) and Valhalla (Viking England, anyone?) have received updates that make them fully compatible with Windows 11 24H2. Ubisoft quietly rolled out patches on the Steam pages for both games, stating, “This patch fixes compatibility issues with Windows 11 update 24H2.” No frills, no fanfare—just an overdue return to business as usual.But what took so long? Ubisoft hasn’t explicitly said, but given the sweeping changes introduced in the 24H2 update, the fixes likely required significant testing and engine tweaking. For instance:
- Valhalla's massive open-world engine, known as AnvilNext 2.0, had to adapt to updated threading models in Windows 11. An example would be changes to how the OS handles DirectX 12 multithreading, key for modern gaming performance.
- Origins, with its intricate level-of-detail (LOD) loading in dense ancient cities like Alexandria, also relied on precise real-time memory management. Changes in Windows’ memory compression algorithms in the 24H2 update might’ve thrown things into disarray.
Odyssey: The Forgotten Tale
And then there’s Odyssey. Despite Ubisoft’s patches for Valhalla and Origins, the glorious tale of Kassandra and Alexios in Ancient Greece remains hobbled. Fans looking to vanquish mythological beasts or traverse its sprawling Mediterranean setting are confronted with the same game-breaking bugs experienced since November.What’s particularly galling to fans is the radio silence surrounding Odyssey. Ubisoft has provided no timeline or assurance of a fix, leading to widespread speculation. Could it be that Ubisoft values Odyssey less because it’s an older installment? Or are developers stretched too thin due to other projects like Assassin's Creed Mirage or Shadows? Possibly both.
Ubisoft in Crisis?
What makes this compatibility saga especially painful is Ubisoft’s current standing in the gaming world. While the company hoped to ride high on successes like Star Wars Outlaws and Assassin's Creed Shadows, the reality has been very different:- Poor sales for Star Wars Outlaws resulted in drastic internal changes, including management shifts and the scrapping of Season Pass content.
- Shadows, which offers a fresh Japan setting, has faced twin delays. Fans have voiced concerns over historical inaccuracies, misuse of cultural symbols, and insensitive promotional material.
What Does This Mean for PC Gamers?
If you’re on Windows 11 and aching to dive back into Valhalla or Origins, here’s what you should do:- Check for Updates: Open Steam (or Ubisoft Connect) and ensure you’re running the latest version of the game. The compatibility patches will automatically download if they’re available for your region.
- Update Drivers: With system-wide changes to DirectX 12 and other graphical enhancements in 24H2, keeping your GPU drivers up to date is vital.
- Tweak Settings: Just because the patch drops doesn’t guarantee your rig will perform flawlessly. Consider revisiting in-game graphical settings if you experience stuttering or FPS drops post-patch.
- For Odyssey Players: Unfortunately, there’s no workaround currently available for the ongoing issues. If the bugs persist, your best recourse may be to roll back to Windows 11’s pre-24H2 version. Yes, it’s a hassle, but it beats being trapped in an eternal desynchronization loop.
Is an Odyssey Fix Coming?
Given Ubisoft’s history, we wouldn’t rule out a future patch for Odyssey. That said, the omission this time around is alarming. With Assassin's Creed Shadows scheduled for March and the company trying to recover from its recent controversies, resources may be too strained for a speedy resolution.One thing is certain—Ubisoft will need to navigate this minefield carefully if it wants to restore player loyalty. Until then, Windows 11 gamers (especially Spartan ones) will have to keep waiting—or leave their epic Greek journeys on pause.
Final Thoughts: Are Game Updates Becoming Too Slow?
The broader question here is this: Are developers like Ubisoft struggling to keep pace with the rapid evolution of OS updates? Windows 11’s 24H2 marked another major step in Microsoft’s ambition to make its platform future-proof, yet game-breaking problems like these suggest we’re not there yet in terms of developer-readiness.
Have you been affected by these issues? Share your experiences, gripes, and wins with the community below. Let’s discuss how Ubisoft can turn things around—or whether it’ll be remembered as a company that dropped the ball at the worst possible time. After all, not even an assassin can outrun frustrated fans armed with keyboards and review bombs.
Source: IGN India Assassin's Creed Valhalla and Origins Finally Fixed on Windows 11, But Odyssey Remains Broken