UBI pulling access to SH5 DLC and decommissioning the game

[Tracer]

https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/help/gameplay/article/decommissioning-of-online-services-september-2022/000102396?isSso=true&refreshStatus=noLoginData

You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features.

Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable.

[ImBatman]

I wonder if it will still be playable after that, especially if a reinstall, or an install on a new computer is required.

[kapuhy]

Well, at least Steam version currently works off-line so non-functioning Ubisoft server shouldn't be a problem for existing installations. I recall having to create Ubisoft account with first installation of the game though so it might be a problem for new players (unless Steam/Ubi does something so that Ubisoft account is no longer required - I mean, the game is still being sold by Steam, it would be a bad PR for Steam to sell people a game they can't install).

As for DLC's, are there any DLC's for this game even? I thought Ubisoft just patched it to 1.2 and then fled the scene.

[Tracer]

Well, at least Steam version currently works off-line so non-functioning Ubisoft server shouldn't be a problem for existing installations. I recall having to create Ubisoft account with first installation of the game though so it might be a problem for new players (unless Steam/Ubi does something so that Ubisoft account is no longer required - I mean, the game is still being sold by Steam, it would be a bad PR for Steam to sell people a game they can't install).

As for DLC's, are there any DLC's for this game even? I thought Ubisoft just patched it to 1.2 and then fled the scene.


Well steam is nothing but a storefront. If UBI make changes to the license, then it applies to all fronts. The DLC will be negated on steam’s end. Everything sold on steam requires agreement to a 3rd party license or DRM
In one form or another and needs the platform installed to play it.
What will happen is that you will launch steam -as you do to update other games and play blah,blah. Then you will see a “required update” for SH5 - you used to many years ago, not allow a game to be updated on steam, but that right was withdrawn years ago. Now it’s obligatory to all games even offline. If there’s a forced update you have to install it to play the game.

There’s already a post on the steam SH5 forum and it applies to it.

[kapuhy]

Well steam is nothing but a storefront. If UBI make changes to the license, then it applies to all fronts.

Of course. Still, Ubi didn't say anything about disabling single player features so a single player game that does not require online mode to play should in theory run fine.

The DLC will be negated on steam’s end.

What DLC though? Only DLC I see mentioned in SH5 Gold Edition description is one that adds several historical U-Boats and escort ships (I can make an equivalent mod in a day, so not really worried by it).

There’s already a post on the steam SH5 forum and it applies to it.

You mean this one?

https://steamcommunity.com/app/48110/discussions/0/3419937087346263115/

Still doesn't (as of now) answer the question about ability to launch the base game in sinble player mode.

So, I remain optimistic (albeit mildly offended by Ubisoft) for now.

[ImBatman]

The part that has me concerned is "Additionally, the installation and access to DLC will be unavailable."

If it just means it cant be downloaded through ubi launcher, then no big deal for me since i have it on steam.

The game no longer requires always online, but does it need to do something with the ubisoft launcher the first time it's run after a new install?

My favorite solution for when the game acts up is to dump it and reinstall. That's also my favorite solution for when windows acts up.

Will either of those scenarios render the game useless? I may have to move to Uboat, which doesn't quite scratch the itch that this game does. Not yet anyway. Either that or try once again to get used to the very aged sh3.

Edit: Reading comprehension fail. I thought the quoted part meant dlcs wont work, and neither will installation of the game. Now looking at it, it says installation of dlc wont work, and neither will access to dlc. Still, i would like to know if future installations of the game will work after decommission.

[ImBatman]

While I wait for our friends at Ubisoft to respond to a help ticket i put in, I tried a little experiment. I installed SH5 from to a different computer that has never had sh5 on it. Before attempting to launch the game, I disconnected that computer from the internet.


The game will not start without Ubisoft Connect installed on the computer. The very first time ubisoft connect is opened after install, it must be online. From that time, it can be opened when offline.


After completing ubisoft connect install, i opened it while online. Then closed it. From there i installed SH5. After that, I disconnected from the internet. Next, I opened ubisoft connect in offline mode. Finally, I launched SH5. It launched.


Perhaps the game just needs to see that it has been linked to an ubi account? I would hope that if they're going to "decommission" their game, they would do away with the whole ubi connect requirement altogether. Who knows how long it'll be until somebody decides they need a New and Improved! launcher that possibly renders this game totally unusable.


I will update if I get a response from Ubi.

[d@rk51d3]

Looks like it's just DLC content. Base game should remain untouched.

[Mad Mardigan]

Uhmmm.... :hmmm: :doh: :o


What DLC, precisely... as far as I knew of, it was just the base aspect of SH5 (which, as we all know... was a dumpster fire up until TWoS & DasBoot SH5 mods, came on the scene.... that is. :yep: &... that's not counting all the additional mod content to round it all out, from other modders, as well. :shucks:) & that was it. No DLC's for it.

As it is NOT like... ME1, ME2, ME3 (ME = Mass Effect) or like... The Sims (take your pick on what # to add here on that 1... :arrgh!:) which, did include DLC content. :hmmm:





:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

[kapuhy]

So... apparently Ubisoft just pulled SH5 off Steam with a note that game will "not be accessible" after September 1st:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/48110/Silent_Hunter_5_Battle_of_the_Atlantic/

Well, I mean I will certainly find another use for all these ship models I made for SH5 but right now I feel kinda pissed.

[ImBatman]

I thought this might be a possibility and ordered a hard copy of the game when this first started. Still not sure if even that will work because of the ubi connect requirement.

Until then, ill be looking through my steam library for any ubi titles that i havent got to playing yet. They should be eligible for refunds. It goes without saying that i'll never spend another dime on anything associated with ubisoft.

They've officially supplanted EA as the worst game company of all time. As scuzzy as EA is, i dont think they've ever made one of their already purchased titles unplayable.

ETA: It looks like there's still a two week limit for refunds, even if the game hasnt been played. I just bought a couple of their other games though, so ill get some of my money back from these crooks.

[les green01]

With ubi don't surprise me does piss me off though honestly With has much talent here at subsim there no reason why we couldn't make a game here hell the mods been fixing ubi **** for years

[SnipersHunter]

TDW once said it would be possible to remove the uplay component from the game.

https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2176545&postcount=8

We might need somebody who knows this magic now :k_confused:

[les green01]

I just fire it up without being on steam or ubi connect so looking like it will work as long keep it on the computer guess we will know for sure in September

[SnipersHunter]

I just fire it up without being on steam or ubi connect so looking like it will work as long keep it on the computer guess we will know for sure in September


If that’s the case then we should be fine as long as we backup our game files somewhere. But how did you prevent the game from launching uplay? I wonder if it works in offline mode, then it should also work going onwards from September.

[ImBatman]

There is an option in the TDW patcher to disable the uplay requirement. One problem though. It says you can still load/save or create a new career, but career progess will not be updated. I'm guessing that refers to the process where it moves from one part of the campaign to the next (i.e. coastal waters to happy times).


While I can start the game while totally offline, it still wants to open ubisoft connect. As long as i sign into it, even while totally offline, it'll open the game.


I'm still waiting on the hard copy of the game to arrive, but when it does, I'll be eager to see if the game can be installed and played from there, using tdw patch to eliminate the need for uplay altogether.


Best case scenario would be that you could play the campaign from the start until whenever the first stage ends, then start a new career using "silentotto" cheat and select next stage of campaign. Worst case is if you have to reinstall for whatever reason, you're screwed.

[les green01]

I started though ksd commander guess we smoke though a campaign real quick and processed to the next one

[kapuhy]

Oh and funny thing: Ubisoft store is still selling SH5, with no mention of planned decomissioning. Guess they just forgot.

[ImBatman]

I'm a fan of their Assassin's Creed franchise. (History? Check. Conspiracy theories? Check. Gratuitous violence? Check). So this little stunt by these guys is going to cost them a lot of money from me. I just refunded 2 of those games. I got them at the steam sale recently enough to still be eligible for refund. I think it's safe to say they'll never make another silent hunter, not enough money in it for them. So I won't buy anything made by them ever again.

It's not easy, but i just can't give a company like this any of my money. It's not just this game, either. They are going to make a bunch of single player content unplayable all across the board. I always thought EA was the scummiest gaming company, but ubi has taken the crown.

I guess I'm going to have to find a substitute to scratch the uboat itch. It looks like the best choices are either sh3 gwx, the newish uboat game, or perhaps one of the sh4 ato mods. I cant remember if 4 is tied to their stupid launcher or not. Uboat still needs work, even with the mods available it's still a bit arcadey to me.

3 might be the best bet but its just so dated now. I did manage to get it all up and running though, complete with sh3commander and widescreen fix. I have to say it has had a lot of care put into it. The manual for the mod is hundreds of pages.

Thats the saddest thing about this whole debacle. There must be thousands of hours invested by members of this site to fix sh5. Not to mention modding in a functional enigma machine. They say you cant polish a turd, but it was done here. And all that work, potentially down the drain.

[Mad Mardigan]

I'm a fan of their Assassin's Creed franchise. (History? Check. Conspiracy theories? Check. Gratuitous violence? Check). So this little stunt by these guys is going to cost them a lot of money from me. I just refunded 2 of those games. I got them at the steam sale recently enough to still be eligible for refund. I think it's safe to say they'll never make another silent hunter, not enough money in it for them. So I won't buy anything made by them ever again.

It's not easy, but i just can't give a company like this any of my money. It's not just this game, either. They are going to make a bunch of single player content unplayable all across the board. I always thought EA was the scummiest gaming company, but ubi has taken the crown.

I guess I'm going to have to find a substitute to scratch the uboat itch. It looks like the best choices are either sh3 gwx, the newish uboat game, or perhaps one of the sh4 ato mods. I cant remember if 4 is tied to their stupid launcher or not. Uboat still needs work, even with the mods available it's still a bit arcadey to me.

3 might be the best bet but its just so dated now. I did manage to get it all up and running though, complete with sh3commander and widescreen fix. I have to say it has had a lot of care put into it. The manual for the mod is hundreds of pages.

Thats the saddest thing about this whole debacle. There must be thousands of hours invested by members of this site to fix sh5. Not to mention modding in a functional enigma machine. They say you cant polish a turd, but it was done here. And all that work, potentially down the drain.



I can't remember, if 4 is tied to their stupid launcher or not.


It is tied to their launcher... just as well as being hog tied to Steam & their launcher, as well... all part of their... anti-piracy campaign.


I... do know of a means & method, to cut, the hog tie to Steam (or Ubi), on SH4... it requires, resetting up the guts of SH4, set up in its own folder... making sure to keep it out of UAC's, slimy grip & terror-tory.


Looks like this same process, needs a savior to champion that same process with regards to 5, soon.... if we are to have a hope of playing what we paid for.




Ubi... :nope: :nope: :nope:

you suck.





:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

[Jeff-Groves]

I know there's stuff out there to bypass Ubi Connect.
I've been using it for over 6 years!
Don't even HAVE Ubi Connect on my 'puter.
:arrgh!:

[SnipersHunter]

I know there's stuff out there to bypass Ubi Connect.
I've been using it for over 6 years!
Don't even HAVE Ubi Connect on my 'puter.
:arrgh!:


Thats some good news atleast! :Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

[Oubaas]

The era of the big, corporate development studios is over. EA, Ubisoft, Codemasters, et al will all go down the drain. Everything that they have produced in the past ten years is just a rehash of the same old fare.


Independent developers and studios are the ones producing fresh, new, innovative titles. Nearly all my games now come from small studios, some even one-man operations. I have yet to have any of them pull the rug out from under me, and it's been years for many titles.



It also helps to research the title that you're considering and make sure that it's not a take the money and run effort. Shovelware, I believe they call it.



Ubisoft employees could always get jobs teaching once the company goes belly up. "Welcome to Business 201. The first thing that we're going to cover is how to make your company name toxic to the consumers to whom you're trying to sell your products." Pure genius.



I've hated Ubisoft since they mandated their data mining software in order to play their games.


And you know who killed VR? Metaquest. That's the intrusive moles behind Facebook. You can't use an Oculus without allowing them to install their data mining software.


Eventually maybe these big companies will wake up to the fact that people don't want their intrusive crap. But I'll happily watch the ones that don't learn go belly up. It makes me laugh. Having watched their antics and encountered their arrogant attitudes toward their customers in forums, and all their other stupidity, I'm happy to hear that they're not doing well.



If I ran a company and some pinhead with a newly minted degree came up with the bright idea of mandating our own intrusive interface in order to play our games, I'd fire the idiot the moment that I heard about it. But I doubt if there's anyone that smart in upper management at Ubisoft.


Que sera sera. The moment that it becomes a pain in the butt to play a game, I hit the Uninstall button. Plenty more where that came from. And there always will be.


:Kaleun_Salute:

[SnipersHunter]

I know there's stuff out there to bypass Ubi Connect.
I've been using it for over 6 years!
Don't even HAVE Ubi Connect on my 'puter.
:arrgh!:

Could you please share this knowledge as soon as the game will be unacessible due to ubisoft connect?

[ImBatman]

It appears that, at least to me, that even if you bypass uplay/ubisoft connect, the career won't be playable. You can start a career, but various glitches prevent you from talking to the munitions guy and the guy who gives the patrol mission in the bunker. There's something the game has to do with ubisoft the first time it's launched in order to prevent the bugged out campaign.


I did not try with just stock campaign (why bother), so this is after attempting to mod twos.



The career/campaign is really the only reason I play these games, so I'm moving to sh3.


ETA: that's no good either. who thought it would be a good idea to spam radio messages, and force tc to drop to 1 every single time? Tried adjusting tc settings both in main.cfg and in sh3 commander. Oh well.


ETA2: The solution to that problem seems to be this:https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/downloads.php?do=file&id=1385
That is too bad. I don't mind the flavor messages, but dropping out of tc every time is a problem. Wasn't a problem in 5, but what can you do?

[stork100]

ETA: that's no good either. who thought it would be a good idea to spam radio messages, and force tc to drop to 1 every single time? Tried adjusting tc settings both in main.cfg and in sh3 commander. Oh well.


The solution lies in h.sie's V16B1-Patch-Kit "WarNews" fix:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=174225


Read install documentation carefully!

[theroc44]

Gonna miss one of the dlc skins. Not a fan of paid content going away. If pay for something it should always be yours. I digress....

[theroc44]

They pulled the game from every retailer. On steam it states the game will be inaccessible after September 1. It wasn't a great game to begin with but not having access at all is idiotic. It's a single player campaign. Ubisoft really $%^^ the bed here.

[Aktungbby]

theroc44! :Kaleun_Salute:nuthin like moral outrage and the infamous :subsim: 7-year-itch to bring a man to the surface...nice "silent run"!

[ImBatman]

The solution lies in h.sie's V16B1-Patch-Kit "WarNews" fix:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showthread.php?t=174225


Read install documentation carefully!


Excellent! Thanks. This mod includes stuff I would've figured out that I needed well into a campaign.





Unrelated to that, I have support tickets filed both with steam and ubisoft to get a better idea of what is going on with sh5. Ubi is still selling it in store, but mislabeled it DLC. I'm beginning to suspect a communication breakdown between scum-sucking Ubisoft, and Steam. Ubi's post never said anything about the entire game being inaccessible. I will update when/if i receive replies from either of them.

[theroc44]

theroc44! :Kaleun_Salute:nuthin like moral outrage and the infamous :subsim: 7-year-itch to bring a man to the surface...nice "silent run"!

Cheers mate, wish it was better circumstances. :arrgh!::up:

[theroc44]

so i contacted the support, apparently they said it would still work, but I think they have no idea what they're talking about.


"Hello can I please get some clarification on the future of silent hunter 5.
Is this game not playable,at all, offline after september 1? Even the singleplayer campaign?

Thank you for the clarification."

"Hello,

Thank you for contacting Ubisoft!

For Silent Hunter 5:

1) You will be unable to link Ubisoft accounts in-game or use online features.

2) The installation and access to DLC will be unavailable.

Closing the online services for some older games allows us to focus our resources on delivering great experiences for players who are playing newer or more popular titles.

Thank you for your understanding. If you have any other questions or concerns, please feel free to reach out to us and we will do our best to assist you.

Best Regards,
Ubi-Rony
Ubisoft Support Team"

"I'm sorry, does that mean I will be able to play silent hunter 5?"


"Thank you for contacting Ubisoft support. I will be more than happy to assist you with this.

Please note that the offline features of the games are unaffected and remain available to you. Please refer to this for more information-
https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/help/article/multiplayer-and-online-services-availability-in-ubisoft-games/000064576

Please feel free to reach out if you ever have any concerned questions, issues, or feedback down the track.

Kind Regards,
Ubi-Jagat
Ubisoft Support"


They save games actually connect to the servers, unless there is a patch for that I doubt it works like they said. Who knows if its accurate or not..... :Kaleun_Mad:

[kapuhy]

From phrasing used I'd suspect you were answered by a bot. That, or a person hired as "Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V Key Combinations Operator"

They save games actually connect to the servers, unless there is a patch for that I doubt it works like they said. Who knows if its accurate or not..... :Kaleun_Mad:

Saves are stored on your PC and backed up in a cloud, so I guess you can play without server connection, only you wouldn't be able to load your saves on another computer.

[Jonesy]

Even one of my favorite YouTube videogame review guy has picked up on this, you usually don't see subsimms getting attention.
https://youtu.be/-BwLdR7U6iQ

He has said on his discord that Ubisoft has commented in the meantime as said that "the games will work" after this,
Let's hope this is correct.

[Jeff-Groves]

force tc to drop to 1 every single time? Tried adjusting tc settings both in main.cfg and in sh3 commander. Oh well.

Set the TC to a higher value then 1 and you'll not drop out of TC.
Say you like 512 TC. Set them at 1024


I assume you were using the 2 files I sent a link to for SH5?

[ImBatman]

Set the TC to a higher value then 1 and you'll not drop out of TC.
Say you like 512 TC. Set them at 1024


I assume you were using the 2 files I sent a link to for SH5?

No, i was lashing out about my switch to sh3. That problem has been fixed, thanks to the link provided by stork100. H.sie mod fixes sh3's penchant to drop out of tc when a radio message arrives. A very annoying problem when combined with gwx adding lots of radio messages.

I can get the sh5 files to work, but apparently the game is programmed in such a way that the campaign is bugged out (at least in twos, not sure about stock because i have to go thru tutorial first) unless the exe talks to ubi launcher at least once.

Once they discontinue access to the game, i think the campaign will be unplayable after a new install, which sooner or later will be inevitable. Campaign is the only reason i play these games so im going to assume the worst and cut losses, move to sh3, and wait and see if any new info clears up the sh5 debacle.

[Jeff-Groves]

Then I'll ask others to do a fresh install of SH5 and give them a link to the 2 files and do some testing with them.

I have a saved install that I don't use. I can see some differences in some files.
Like R2.rw in that install is 18,968 KB
In the one I run for testing R2.rw is 23,723 KB

I suspect the last time I connected through Ubi Connect it was updated.
That would have been 4 years ago.

For SH3? I have the files needed to totally remove the old StarForce and also remove all traces of Steam.
They are DIRECT from Ubi before StarForce was added and before Steam became a Data mining PITA!

[ImBatman]

Per my experimentation, using your files, a copy of dvd exe patched with tdw patcher, and steam exe with tdw patcher and steam fix in twos installer, its the same story for me. No getting out of bunker in campaign, unless exe talks to ubi launcher. After that, ubi can be cut loose with no problem.

Now, i have nowhere near the experience this board has with this sort of thing, so i could be making a mistake somewhere.

[Jeff-Groves]

Can you Give me a list of files in your base SH5 folder where SH5.exe is?

To make that easy? Here's a batch file.
Copy the text below and make a new txt file.
Name it files.bat
Past the lines below in it and save. Then double click it after moving it to your SH5 Base folder.
It will create a file named list txt.


cls
cmd/K dir/B *.* > list.txt
cls
end


Now. UbiSoft has been up for Sale since April. That may be why they are turning stuff off.
Maybe a last patch will be released. BUT down side is............
A New owner would get all source code and rights and MIGHT enforce NO SCREWING WITH THE GAME.

And per the license? They may be able to take ALL Mods released and use them as they wish!

[ImBatman]

Can you Give me a list of files in your base SH5 folder where SH5.exe is?

To make that easy? Here's a batch file.
Copy the text below and make a new txt file.
Name it files.bat
Past the lines below in it and save. Then double click it after moving it to your SH5 Base folder.
It will create a file named list txt.


cls
cmd/K dir/B *.* > list.txt
cls
end


Now. UbiSoft has been up for Sale since April. That may be why they are turning stuff off.
Maybe a last patch will be released. BUT down side is............
A New owner would get all source code and rights and MIGHT enforce NO SCREWING WITH THE GAME.

And per the license? They may be able to take ALL Mods released and use them as they wish!


48110_install.vdf
AIFramework.dll
anim.act
BezierWaypoint.act
binkw32.dll
CameraBehavior.act
CameraManager.act
characters.act
data
data.bin
data2.bin
DelMainCfg.bat
DrawLib.dll
EffectManagers.act
EnigmaCBR.dll
EnvSim.act
EventCamera.act
ExecCfgGen.bat
FileManager.dll
files.bat
FirewallInstallHelper.dll
GameuxInstallHelper.dll
gdfdata.dll
GDSScene.dll
GDSViewerCtrl.dll
GoblinEditorApp.exe
granny2.dll
grannyloader.dll
InteractionSystem.act
IronMath.dll
IronPython.dll
JoneSoft.txt
JSGME.ini
kernel.dll
KSDCommander.exe
KSDCommander.exe.config
KSDCommander.log
KSDCommander.xml
LipsSync.act
list.txt
Logs
LowLevelUtils.dll
MagicLocalLibrary.dll
MessageNet.dll
MissionEditor2.exe
MissionEngine.dll
MissionTerrain.dll
MisTerrViewCtrl.dll
movietex.act
Multiplayer.act
PageAutomation_Draggables.TDW
PageChalkBoard_Draggables.TDW
PageClock_Draggables.TDW
PageDefaultHud_Draggables.TDW
Pageeventcamera_Draggables.TDW
Pagelayout_Draggables.TDW
PageNavMapFeatures_Draggables.TDW
PageRadioMessages_Draggables.TDW
PageScopeSettings_Draggables.TDW
PageShipsJournal_Draggables.TDW
PageSpeechRecSettings_Draggables.TDW
PageTDC_Draggables.TDW
PageTutorial_Draggables.TDW
PageXO_TDC_Dialog_Draggables.TDW
Particles.act
Plug_Behavior.dll
Plug_Commons.dll
Plug_Zones.dll
PortalSystem.act
PostEffects.act
property.dll
PropertyUserInterface.dll
RadCapTools.dll
redist
Resources
ScopeSettings.TDW
ScriptManagerNative.dll
ScriptManagerWrappers.dll
sh5.exe
sh5.exe.patch
sh5.exe.steam
SHCollisions.act
SHControllers.act
SHSim.act
SHSound.act
SHZoneEditor.act
SH_NClient.dll
SH_NProtocol.dll
Silent Hunter 5.ico
SimData.dll
Sound.act
SoundEdit.act
StateMachine.dll
steam_appid.txt
Support
TDWDestroyedMarks.dll
TDWDraggables.dll
TDWFileUtils.dll
TDWHPT.dll
TDWHydrophone.dll
TDWMouse.dll
TDWRadioMessages.dll
TDWSoan.dll
TDWSound.dll
TDWUserCharts.dll
TDWUtils.dll
TDW_GenericPatcher_v_1_0_168_0
The Wolves of Steel - Documentation
TuningTool.dll
TWoS promo.jpg
TWoS_JSGME.exe
TWoS_Parts
Ubi.ico
Utils.dll
zlib1.dll

C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Silent Hunter 5>C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\Silent Hunter 5>

[Jeff-Groves]

OK. That's a modded version of SH5.

We need to start from a fresh clean install.
Reason is to identify a fresh install and see about doing our own update to files.

Guess I'll do a fresh install from DVD to get the information. My DVD is from the day SH5 was released in the USA.

[ImBatman]

OK. That's a modded version of SH5.

We need to start from a fresh clean install.
Reason is to identify a fresh install and see about doing our own update to files.

Guess I'll do a fresh install from DVD to get the information. My DVD is from the day SH5 was released in the USA.


Oops! I'm at work now so what you got was the version that's on my laptop.


DVD will probably be better anyway. If the game is totally discontinued, discs will be the best way to keep it alive. I've got a dvd on the way. Also, a copy of sh3. It's the one in the two pack with sh2, so it's supposed to be totally free of starforce. As you can see, I have little faith in companies making anything like this anytime soon. There's Uboat, which is a good game in its own right, but other than that I don't see anyone taking up the mantle to make something resembling a Silent Hunter 6.



It's too bad, but I guess this type of thing just doesn't hold people's attention spans these days. I could go on a rant about "kids these days" but I'm in my 30's, so I don't know what the problem is.

[Jeff-Groves]

I'll be 65 come January.
Ya Young whipper Snapper!
:har:

[ImBatman]

Steam store page has been updated. Game is once again available to purchase, and it says only dlc and online features will end after sept 1.

https://store.steampowered.com/app/48110/Silent_Hunter_5_Battle_of_the_Atlantic/

[Jonesy]

Either it was a.communication error between Ubisoft and Steam (this is the official line) or they reacted to the backlash

[Topo65]

If Ubi patches the exe so that we can play offline without any inconvenience.... What will happen to the TDW patcher, will it still work without any problems with the new version?

On the other hand, what would motivate Ubi to release a patch for a game that won't even be downloadable in their launcher?

:hmmm:

[ImBatman]

Message from Steam Support on Jul 12 @ 12:49pm | 1 hour and 27 minutes ago
I apologize for any confusion. It's correct that this title will be decommissioned by Ubisoft but you will still have access to play your Steam purchase of the game. The publisher has since updated the Steam store page to clarify.

Per the update, "Notice: DLC for this product and online elements and features will become unavailable, as of Sept 1st, 2022. The base game will continue to be playable."

If we can assist you further, please let us know. Thank you!

Steam Support
Cailen

Ubi-SerenityFox @Ubisoft Support wrote: Jul 12, 2022 at 05:02 AM EDT
Hello,

Thank you for contacting Ubisoft Support and apologies for the late reply.

From what I understand you are having concerns about the decommissioning of multiple Ubisoft titles or more specifically the Silent Hunter 5 game.

After checking with my team I can confirm that the base game itself won't be disabled, you will still be able to play it.

The only thing that will be disabled is the DLC's, online elements and features.

Once again all of that will take effect September 1st, 2022.

If you have other issues or questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best Regards,
Ubi-SerenityFox
Ubisoft Support

I've received responses from steam and ubisoft.

[Mad Mardigan]

What I'd like to know is... WTF DLC, exactly...

cause, as far as I know of... there never WAS any DLC's (DownLoadable Content) for SH5.


SH5, was in its entirety, just the base game components, alone... that's it.


Unless... they're confusing that crap game saves sync mumbo jumbo, with being DLC material... BUT... even that's a major stretch, at worst. :hmmm:





:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

[ImBatman]

What I'd like to know is... WTF DLC, exactly...

cause, as far as I know of... there never WAS any DLC's (DownLoadable Content) for SH5.


SH5, was in its entirety, just the base game components, alone... that's it.


Unless... they're confusing that crap game saves sync mumbo jumbo, with being DLC material... BUT... even that's a major stretch, at worst. :hmmm:





:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

I think there was a "gold edition" of the game that added a few extra ships. Perhaps that is what they are talking about.

From the store page:

Buy Silent Hunter 5: Gold Edition
Includes three famous non-playable U-Boats, four famous Allied ships, and the Silent Hunter 5: Battle of the Atlantic Official Guide

[Mad Mardigan]

I think there was a "gold edition" of the game that added a few extra ships. Perhaps that is what they are talking about.

From the store page:

On that, I bought the 3-n-1 SH pack, off Steam... in which it was SH3, SH4 (Silent Hunter IV: Wolves of the Pacific v1.3/1.4(?) & Silent Hunter IV: Wolves of the Pacific: Uboat Missions v1.5, as well as SH5 (of which, even paying for all 4, rather than 3, as the pack implicated... downloading 5, came from Ubi & was that 'Gold Edition'... :hmmm:) Yep, just checked & it is indeed... 'Gold Edition' SH5... Steam, is NO mention of it being 'Gold Edition' nor any mention of the fact if shunting you off to Ubi... to download the game.


Guess Steam, decided to go the cheap route, in storage... *shrug* which figures...





:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

[Onkel Neal]

Ubisoft says decommissioned games will remain available to current owners (https://www.pcgamer.com/ubisofts-online-decommissioning-may-render-three-games-unplayable-for-people-who-bought-them/?)

Two entries from the list of games Ubisoft is decommissioning online support for—Assassin's Creed: Liberation HD(opens in new tab) and Silent Hunter 5(opens in new tab)—briefly looked like they would be rendered completely unplayable by the move, contradicting Ubisoft's initial statement on what what aspects of each game would be cut off. Ubisoft now says it used the wrong wording in notices on the games' store pages.

The back story: Last week, Ubisoft announced that it would be shutting off online support(opens in new tab) for a selection of games released between 2009 and 2019, including 11 on PC, and published a list of the features this action would take away. All of the games would lose multiplayer and account linking, with relevant games also cutting off players' ability to access DLC. Only one of the games on the list, the 2019 multiplayer-only VR shooter Space Junkies, was going to be rendered completely inaccessible by the move.

[Darthlucky]

Every time I try to play it, for the first time, from Steam...I get a popup that it is trying to connect to Ubisoft, but fails and I am unable to play the game.

[ImBatman]

Every time I try to play it, for the first time, from Steam...I get a popup that it is trying to connect to Ubisoft, but fails and I am unable to play the game.

Do you have the ubisoft connect program on your computer? I think you have to download it separately. It can be found here:
https://www.ubisoft.com/en-gb/help/connectivity-and-performance/article/installing-or-re-installing-ubisoft-connect-pc/000063173

You will also need to create an account with them.

[Oberleutnant nederlander]

this is dark and disturbing stuff....to destroy a game completely..to erase it is just criminal.... why????

just why???

seems a cruel thing to do..

i thought we were in the age of being able to buy any game digitally these days, just crazy.

[derstosstrupp]

Several people have confirmed already with Ubisoft that we will not lose access to the game over steam etc, this is a non-issue at this point.

[Vapour_warrior]

Several people have confirmed already with Ubisoft that we will not lose access to the game over steam etc, this is a non-issue at this point.

Well I can tell you that it is an issue and no matter what Ubisoft have confirmed Silent Hunter 5 can no longer be run from Steam.

Immediately after install and running SH5 you get a Ubisoft popup saying A Ubisoft Service is unavailable please try again later ....

And that's it ... You have an option to click on OK and the game closes.

Rip SH5 ...

[derstosstrupp]

5 minutes ago I was able to successfully launch and play the game from Steam. And Ubisoft Connect logged me in. Were you trying to reinstall it and you ran into this issue?

[Aktungbby]

Vapour_warrior!:Kaleun_Salute: On the surface after 17 years silent running!:up:

[Mad Mardigan]

Well I can tell you that it is an issue and no matter what Ubisoft have confirmed Silent Hunter 5 can no longer be run from Steam.

Immediately after install and running SH5 you get a Ubisoft popup saying A Ubisoft Service is unavailable please try again later ....

And that's it ... You have an option to click on OK and the game closes.

Rip SH5 ...


Thinking that you probably forgot to shunt Ubisoft's Connect launcher... into offline mode... :hmmm:


Just finished signing into both Steam & Ubi launchers... & had SH5 stock, load up, just fine.


Currently, I have U-190's Das Boot set up for it & will see of resetting back up of having TWoS, sometime.... have been... busy, checking out some other SH mod set ups, of late... so, have not yet had the time to do so... yet.



Hope this info.... helps... as always. :shucks: :yep: :up:






:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

[Vapour_warrior]

Vapour_warrior!:Kaleun_Salute: On the surface after 17 years silent running!:up:

haha ! Just spotted that ! Smoke on the horizon Captain !!!

[Vapour_warrior]

5 minutes ago I was able to successfully launch and play the game from Steam. And Ubisoft Connect logged me in. Were you trying to reinstall it and you ran into this issue?

Ouch :-( Yes fresh install not had it on for a couple of years.

[Vapour_warrior]

Thinking that you probably forgot to shunt Ubisoft's Connect launcher... into offline mode... :hmmm:


Just finished signing into both Steam & Ubi launchers... & had SH5 stock, load up, just fine.


Currently, I have U-190's Das Boot set up for it & will see of resetting back up of having TWoS, sometime.... have been... busy, checking out some other SH mod set ups, of late... so, have not yet had the time to do so... yet.



Hope this info.... helps... as always. :shucks: :yep: :up:






:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

Thanks M.M i'll have a look tomorrow great news if I was doing something daft !

[Mad Mardigan]

Thanks M.M i'll have a look tomorrow great news if I was doing something daft !



:Kaleun_Thumbs_Up:

You're welcome. :shucks: :yep: & don't worry about it... been there, done that an some of those... were real doozies of cf's, at that. :D







:Kaleun_Salute:


M. M.

[SnipersHunter]

Thanks M.M i'll have a look tomorrow great news if I was doing something daft !

Check this out: https://youtu.be/f5RGtQ8OXlU

[migman]

looks like I have come back to SH5 too late. Ubisoft Connect won't run and gives an error along the lines of



Can't find procedure entry point in dxgi.dll.


I'm still running win 7 if that has anything to do with it?

[derstosstrupp]

looks like I have come back to SH5 too late. Ubisoft Connect won't run and gives an error along the lines of



Can't find procedure entry point in dxgi.dll.


I'm still running win 7 if that has anything to do with it?

Yes indeed, that’s exactly why. Recent updates by Ubisoft to Connect have made it unable to launch on Windows 7. Please try this workaround, it worked for me:
https://www.subsim.com/radioroom/showpost.php?p=2830836&postcount=3

[migman]

Great....My copy did not have a upcold.exe File in it..If anyone has this can I grab a copy..cheers

[les green01]

well ubi being ubi was telling me my pw might been compromise and was forcing me to change the password but i didn't have access to the old email support wasn't no help so had to make a new connect account had to do a new steam account and rebuy the game for 2 dollars but back where i can play the game

[migman]

Give up and move on to UBOAT:Kaleun_Salute:

[les green01]

Give up and move on to UBOAT:Kaleun_Salute:

maybe some don't like u-boat personaly if i couldn't get sh5 to work i would go back to sh3

[subgirl]

And this is when I resort to measures that may be frowned upon by some but when you bought the game years ago and a crooked company does something like this, you find ways around it and it doesn't apply to just this title. Always have backups and measures in place in case of issues like this.

[Aktungbby]

subgirl!:Kaleun_Salute: on the surface after 6 years silent running!:up:

[KaleunMarco]

maybe some don't like u-boat personaly if i couldn't get sh5 to work i would go back to sh3

or...SH4 with the Dark Waters mod-set.

[les green01]

or...SH4 with the Dark Waters mod-set.

that too