Ubisoft’s PC game Assassin’s Creed Origins is facing a wave of negative reviews on Steam, following a recent Windows 11 update (version 24H2) that has reportedly bricked several Ubisoft games, leaving players frustrated.

In November, Microsoft confirmed that Windows 11 version 24H2 inadvertently caused technical issues for Ubisoft titles, including Star Wars Outlaws, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Assassin’s Creed Origins. The problem was severe enough for Microsoft to implement a compatibility hold, blocking the update for users with affected games installed.

According to a statement on Microsoft’s support site: “After installing Windows 11, version 24H2, you might encounter issues with some Ubisoft games. These games might become unresponsive while starting, loading, or during active gameplay. In some cases, users might receive a black screen.”

The affected games include Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Assassin’s Creed Origins, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Star Wars Outlaws, and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. Until a permanent fix is implemented, Microsoft has advised users not to update manually using the Windows 11 Installation Assistant or media creation tools. If the game freezes, players are instructed to close the application via Task Manager.

Steam Review Bombing

Frustration among gamers boiled over in mid-December and escalated into 2025, leading to a significant drop in Assassin’s Creed Origins’ recent Steam user review rating, which now stands at ‘Mixed.’ Overall, the game maintains its ‘Very Positive’ rating on the platform.

Recent negative reviews almost unanimously criticize the game’s unplayability following the Windows update. Meanwhile, Ubisoft has released fixes for other impacted titles, such as Star Wars Outlaws and Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, but the Assassin’s Creed series remains unresolved.

Broader Troubles at Ubisoft

The timing couldn’t be worse for Ubisoft, which has endured a tumultuous 2024 marked by studio closures, game cancellations, mass layoffs, and underwhelming sales. Adding to its woes, the company is reportedly in acquisition talks with Tencent, the Chinese tech giant.

Ubisoft’s highly anticipated title, Assassin’s Creed Shadows, has been delayed into 2025, and Star Wars Outlaws failed to meet sales expectations despite its recent launch on Steam after a period of exclusivity on the Epic Games Store.

In September 2024, Ubisoft’s shares hit their lowest point in a decade, following the announcement of delays and the reintroduction of its games to Steam. The publisher’s ongoing challenges have left fans questioning its future.