Starlink runs really nicely on the deck but can be a bit fiddly to get working, hopefully this guide will help!

To start with install Starlink in Gaming or Desktop mode. Install Starlink to the Steam Deck not to a memory card or external storage.

Boot into Desktop mode

Protontricks[flathub.org] is a really useful tool which we are going to use to install a version of UbisoftConnect that works properly with Starlink.

Open Discover (Steam button > System > Discover), type Protontricks into the search bar and click install.






Once Protontricks is installed, open the app by going to Steam button > Utilities > Protontricks, scroll through the list of games, highlight Starlink and click Okay.



Next, select Install an application.



Scroll through the list of apps, select UbisoftConnect and hit okay. Hit 'yes' or 'okay' to any dialogue boxes that pop up (if there aren't any don't worry, they dont always pop up and wait for the install process to finish.



This is by far the easiest way of installing UbisoftConnect for Ubisoft games that don't run after going through the normal install process.

There's a lot of other guides which show ways of adding UbisoftConnect, like adding it as a non steam game and messing with variables or other workarounds, I've just found that this method is the most simple and straightforward and has fixed issues with a number of games.

Anyway, once the Protontricks/UbisoftConnect install is finished, start the game from Steam in Desktop mode. As the game starts you'll see Ubisoft logo appear at the bottom of the screen.

Click on the icon using the touchscreen (you won't be able to use the cursor, once it has patched itself and you've logged in, you'll need to turn off the Ubi overlay. Click the three lines icon > Settings > General and untick the box marked 'Enable in-game overlay for supported games'.

The game will run without turning off the overlay, but there seems to be a memory leak and Starlink will crash after 15 to 20 minutes of play.

Once you've done that, close Starlink AND UbisoftConnect, then restart the game.

You should now have Starlink working!




Unfortunately there is an issue with DLC. For whatever reason the DLC will not show up in game when you have an active internet connection. No matter what way you get Starlink working on the Steam Deck this is an issue. The two workarounds I'm aware of are either

Start the game with the deck in airplane mode, but Ubisoft Connect can be a bit weird about working in offline mode.

Or.

Wait until all the Ubisoft stuff disappears during boot, turn on airplane mode until the title screen appears, then turn the internet back on.



Troubleshooting

If you're in Desktop mode and UbisoftConnect just sits there looking for patches, restart into Gaming mode and it should patch itself just fine.

Sometimes pressing ANY button before the title screen appears crashes the game. Just don't press anything until the title screen appears.