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Watch Dogs Guide

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Aug 31, 2018.

  • by booman, Aug 31, 2018 at 1:56 PM
  • booman

    booman Grand High Exalted Mystic Emperor of Linux Gaming Staff Member

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    watchdogs102.jpg

    Watch Dogs is an open world 3rd person action hacking game where you can explore a living city full of technology and crime. Roam the streets of Chicago as Alden Pearce while hacking phones, city devices, ATMs and Vehicles to stop crime. Stealth is your closest friend

    watchdogs96.jpg

    Follow my step-by-step guide on installing, configuring and optimizing Watch Dogs in Linux with PlayOnLinux.

    Note: This guide applies to the Legacy Uplay version of Watch Dogs. Other versions may require additional steps.

    Tips & Specs:

    To learn more about PlayOnLinux and Wine configuration, see the online manual: PlayOnLinux Explained

    Mint 18.3 64-bit
    PlayOnLinux: 4.2.12
    Wine: 3.14 Staging 64-bit

    Wine Installation

    Click Tools
    Select "Manage Wine Versions"
    wine01.png

    Look for the Wine Version: 3.13
    Select it
    Click the arrow pointing to the right
    wine02.png

    Click Next

    Downloading Wine
    wine04.png

    Extracting

    Downloading Gecko
    wine05.png

    Installed
    wine06.png

    Also click the "Wine versions (amd64) Tab" and download 3.13 as well

    Wine 3.13 & 3.13 64-bit is installed and you can close this window

    Download the Legacy Uplay

    Go to: ubi.li/78pn4
    Save UplayInstaller.exe to your Desktop
    Note: This is the unsupported version that still works with Windows XP

    PlayOnLinux Setup

    Launch PlayOnLinux
    Click Install
    watchdogs01.png

    Click "Install a non-listed program"
    watchdogs02.png

    Select "Install a program in a new virtual drive"
    Click Next
    watchdogs03.png

    Name the virtual drive: watchdogs
    Click Next
    watchdogs04.png

    Check all three options:
    • Use another version of Wine
    • Configure Wine
    • Install some libraries
    Click Next
    watchdogs05.png

    Select Wine 3.13
    Click Next
    watchdogs06.png

    Select "64 bits windows installation"
    Click Next
    watchdogs07.png

    Wine Configuration

    Windows version: Windows XP
    Click Apply
    watchdogs08.png

    Libraries Tab
    Add the following overrides:
    • d3d10
    • d3d10_1
    • d3d10core
    • d3d11
    • dxgi
    • xaudio2_7
    Click Edit on each override and select "(Native) Windows"
    Click Apply
    watchdogs09.png

    Note: Manually typing in each override is quicker than finding them on the dropdown menu

    Graphics Tab
    Check "automatically capture the mouse in full-screen windows"
    Click OK
    watchdogs10.png

    PlayOnLinux Packages (DLLs, Components, Libraries)

    Check the following:
    • POL_Install_corefonts
    • POL_Install_d3dx10
    • POL_Install_d3dx11
    • POL_Install_d3dx9
    • POL_Install_tahoma
    • POL_Install_vcrun2008
    • POL_Install_vcrun2010
    • POL_Install_xaudio
    Click Next
    watchdogs11.png

    Note: All packages should automatically download and install

    Click Browse

    Select "UplayInstaller.exe" from your Desktop
    Click Open
    watchdogs13.png

    Click Next

    Click OK
    watchdogs15.png

    Click "I Accept"
    watchdogs16.png

    Click Install
    watchdogs17.png

    Click Next
    watchdogs18.png

    Click Finish to run Uplay
    watchdogs19.png

    Login to Uplay
    Important: Check "Remember me"
    watchdogs20.png

    Click Games
    Click Watch Dogs
    watchdogs21.png

    Click Download
    watchdogs22.png

    Select Language
    Click Continue
    watchdogs23.png

    Uncheck "Create start menu shortcut"
    Uncheck "Create desktop shortcut"
    Click Continue
    watchdogs24.png

    Note: PlayOnLinux will create the shortcuts in a later step

    Click "Accept and continue"
    watchdogs25.png

    Wait for Watch Dogs to download
    Important: Do not run Watch Dogs!
    When its finished downloading, Close Uplay

    PlayOnLinux Shortcut

    Select "Uplay.exe"
    Click Next
    watchdogs26.png

    Name the shortcut: Watch Dogs
    Click Next
    watchdogs27.png

    Select "I don't want to make another shortcut"
    Click Next
    watchdogs28.png

    Download Lutris Staging Wine

    PlayOnLinux no longer provides "staging" versions of Wine
    We'll grab one from Lutris Runners
    Go to: https://lutris.net/files/runners/
    Download "wine-staging-3.14-x86_64.tar.gz"
    Save it to your Desktop
    Extract "wine-staging-3.14-x86_64.tar.gz" to the PlayOnLinux Wine/linux-amd64 directory
    Full path:
    Code:
    /home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wine/linux-amd64/
    watchdogs30.png

    PlayOnLinux Configure

    Back to PlayOnLinux
    Select "Watch Dogs"
    Click Configure
    watchdogs31.png

    General Tab
    Click the Wine down-arrow
    Select "staging-3.14-x86_64"
    watchdogs32.png

    Display Tab
    Video memory size: enter the amount of memory your video card/chip uses
    watchdogs33.png

    Close Configure

    DXVK Setup

    Go to: https://github.com/doitsujin/dxvk/releases
    Download Version 0.70
    Extract it to your Desktop
    watchdogs34.png

    Open x64 directory
    Copy all dlls
    watchdogs35.png

    Paste in the Uplay/games/Watch_Dogs/bin directory
    Full path:
    Code:
    /home/username/.PlayOnLinux/wineprefix/watchdogs/drive_c/Program Files (x86)/Ubisoft/games/Watch_Dogs/bin
    watchdogs36.png

    DXVK Full Guide
    http://www.gamersonlinux.com/forum/threads/dxvk-guide.2540/
    Follow this guide for all the detailed steps to run DXVK in PlayOnLinux

    Run Watch Dogs

    Select Watch Dogs
    Click Run
    watchdogs37.png

    Note: Click Debug to see bugs and errors

    Uplay should automatically login and run
    Click Games
    Click Watch Dogs
    Click Play
    watchdogs38.png

    The first launch will try to install dependencies like Direct X, Visual C & DOT Net Framework 3.5
    Since we previously installed all of them but Dot Net it will hang on Dot Net
    DOT Net Framework 3.5 doesn't even install in a 64-bit prefix
    watchdogs39.png

    Go to your System Monitor
    Find Setup.exe
    End Process

    The game launch should continue
    If not, end close it and run it again.
    Eventually the Dot Net installation will skip and run the game

    Optmization

    Click options
    watchdogs40.png

    Click Display
    watchdogs41.png

    Adjust:
    • Resolution
    • Refresh Rate
    • Aspect Ratio
    • Window Mode
    • VSync
    • GPU Max Buffered Frames
    • Textures
    • Anti-Aliasing
    • Widescreen Letterbox
    Click Apply
    watchdogs42.png

    Note: The first time Watch Dogs launched the resolution was 800x600 and I could change it in-game, but you need to move the mouse to the right-edge of the screen to see the "Apply" button

    Click Graphics Quality
    Adjust:
    • Overall Quality
    • Level of Detail
    • Shadows
    • Reflections
    • Ambient Occlusion
    • Motion Blur
    • Depth of Field
    • Water
    • Shader
    Click Apply
    watchdogs43.png

    You can manually adjust the game settings in the GamerProfile.xml
    1. Go to Documents
    2. My Games
    3. Watch Dogs
    4. hexadecimal directory
    5. Open GamerProfile.xml
    watchdogs44.png

    Manually adjust game resolution and other settings here
    watchdogs45.png

    Conclusion:
    Watch Dogs needs a lot of workarounds and extra hacks not provided by PlayOnLinux, but it runs GREAT!
    The main issues I had was trying to make the first launch skip the Dot Net installation. I don't even know why it requires Dot Net??? The other problem was at first launch the resolution was 800x600 and I was trying to adjust it in-game, but the apply button was not in the screen. Then it would eventually crash and I had to kill it from TTY shell. But later I found that all I have to do is slide the mouse to the right side of the screen and there is the "Apply" button.
    DXVK has made all the difference in playing these Direct X 10/11 games in Wine.

    Gameplay Video:


    Screenshots:
    watchdogs88.jpg

Comments

Discussion in 'Guides' started by booman, Aug 31, 2018.

  1. Sputnik_tr_02
    I stopped buying Ubisoft games even when i was using Windows back then, part of the reason was that abomination called "uplay". It is impressive that you managed to run the game under linux. I personally gave up on the publishers with custom launchers like EA and Ubisoft, besides most of their recent games suck.
    booman likes this.
  2. booman
    I totally agree. They are pulling a Microsoft and trying to copy Steam, but fail miserably. Its just another way to force advertising and track their customers. At least Origin provides some free games here and there.

    What irritates me the most is all the "hoops" you have to jump through n or to get it running in Wine. I know these clients are not made for Wine, but geesh, so many dependencies, updates and compatibility issues.

    The only reason I used Uplay is because I got the game on sale a few years back. The Steam version should work even better. Hopefully SteamPlay will be able to run DXVK and dependencies, then you can just click "install"
  3. batmanm0b1e
    yes yes yes here we go again. booman taking it to the next level :D
  4. booman
    I wish I had enough money to purchase all the AAA windows games in all clients so I can test them.

    I actually found a Gears of War box in a Goodwill, but turn out it was missing the 3nd DVD. I've searched all over the internet and can't find a second DVD.

    But I still have a lot of games to test in my GOG, Steam, India & Retail venues. But if SteamPlay is successful, then our Steam guides are useless.

    Just planning ahead. If I have to, I'll only test Free-To-Play MMORPGs
  5. Sputnik_tr_02
    @booman
    The thing is even when you buy EA and Ubisoft games on Steam you still have to install Uplay and Origin in order to play them and i heard that EA will no longer give free copies.

    They all try to build their own walled gardens, at least Valve is on our side and their Steam-drm is not that elusive and developers does not even have to use it when they publish a game on Steam. In an ideal world drm-free is way to go but GOG seems to pretty much ignore the Linux world and their prices are too high for my country because of exchange rates so that is not an option for me.

    That being said; we need solutions to the stuff like .net, xaudio and etc asap. Hopefully Valve's efforts will help on those fronts. Since proton is open source and they are working with wine developers, eventually everyone will benefit from it. Also when you buy and play a windows game on Steam that counts as a Linux sale and developers can see how many players are on Linux, that is also something i am happy with.
    booman likes this.
  6. booman
    Good points!

    I hate running Assassin's Creed in Steam when I have to install and use Uplay. Its crazy! Like having two DRMs!

    GOG has been good to me and released a lot of Linux game. I still have a few on GOG with no Linux version, but Steam does. When it comes to DRM free I know some developers have a hard time with it.

    I hope that we get more visual C support and Dot NET support for sure! I had to stop playing a few games because Wine didn't support vcrun2015. Then later found that Winetricks will install it for us.
  7. batmanm0b1e
    I bought this game dirt cheap too. Now to use this guide to awesome booman thanks for your work every day i always look forward too new guide.

    anyone else looking for this game let me know can tell you where to find it BUY
  8. booman
    So were you able to play Watch Dogs in PlayOnLinux?

    I'm currently updating the Assassin's Creed III guide because it runs perfectly in DXVK
  9. batmanm0b1e
    Not yet. I'm going to. I had unexpected pc problems my pc shut off and turn back on repeat. I took out the one ram stick and power keeps on so i put the other one back in and it did the same thing. (SO i said wait a second) i pushed the second ram down and said this isn't down all the way so i snaped it in. and back up and running. BUt is werid becuase i was running my pc with both in before so i never hit it i don't think you can which is werid.
  10. booman
    RAM can fail at any time. The best thing you can do boot up and select MemTest
    Run it for a few hours and see if there are any errors.
    If there are errors, pop out one stick to find out which one is producing the errors.
  11. Artur
    I am really new to linux and I really wanted to play these games, but when I try to search for the "POL_install_xaudio" It's not there, even after applying the override, can someone help me?
    booman likes this.
  12. booman
    Sure, you have to install it during the manual installation process. Its during the steps where you install Packages.

    If you missed it during these steps, you can always add it later in PlayOnLinux, Configure.

    1. Launch PlayOnLinux
    2. Click Configure
    3. Select game in left column
    4. Click "Install Components" Tab
    5. Scroll down to xaudio
    6. Select it
    7. Click Install
  13. batmanm0b1e
    how do i install watch dogs from epicstore? i have it on epic
  14. booman
    Epic store is a bit more cumbersome to install, but it does work.
    Then you would download the game in Epic store just like any other game.
    But make sure your video card/chip supports Vulkan. Then install Vulkan and DXVK

    PlayOnLinux actually provides DXVK functionality in the "Install Components" step when installing a game.
  15. batmanm0b1e
    i tried running it. i installed the epicstore in lutris and installed watchdogs. But when i hit play it didn't run
    booman likes this.
  16. booman
    Ok, is there a debug in Lutris like in PlayOnLinux?

    I've had the same problem as well with Epic store. Some games run and others don't.
    Make sure you installed all the overrides like:
    • POL_Install_corefonts
    • POL_Install_d3dx10
    • POL_Install_d3dx11
    • POL_Install_d3dx9
    • POL_Install_tahoma
    • POL_Install_vcrun2008
    • POL_Install_vcrun2010
    • POL_Install_xaudio
    Also make sure to enable DXVK in Lutris
  17. batmanm0b1e
    @booman
    i got it working "damn" i guess there's no more uplay its been updated to ubisoft connect. I just have no audio so i'm going to try and install those packeges
    booman likes this.
  18. booman
    If you have no audio, you may have to install DirectX Runtime June 2010
    It has fixed a lot of issues for me.
    You have to run it once and it will self-extract, then run it again to install
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8109
    Even adding xaudio2_7 may fix it

    There are instructions in this guide near the bottom
    http://www.gamersonlinux.com/forum/threads/metro-2033-guide.2669/

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