Ubisoft Offers For Honor for Free Following Controversial Linux Ban Controversy

Ubisoft’s multiplayer melee combat game For Honor is currently available to keep for free on the Ubisoft Store, a promotional move that comes right on the heels of a major controversy involving the game’s player base. The free giveaway, which lasts until September 28th, provides an opportunity for players to pick up the Standard Edition of the game without spending any money. However, the timing of the promotion has reignited frustrations within a specific segment of the gaming community that was recently locked out of the title entirely.

The roots of the current community backlash trace back to a recent announcement by Ubisoft regarding For Honor. The publisher revealed plans to introduce new competitive modes to the online multiplayer game, signaling continued support for the title years after its initial launch. Alongside this update, however, Ubisoft implemented a sweeping policy change regarding platform compatibility: it announced that it was banning all players using a Linux operating system from accessing the game.

According to the developer’s explanation at the time, the decision stemmed from difficulties in properly configuring and coding a kernel-level anti-cheat system for an open-source kernel. Because Linux distributions feature open-source architectures, proprietary kernel-level anti-cheat software often faces compatibility and security hurdles that publishers are frequently unwilling or unable to navigate. Rather than finding a workaround or maintaining legacy support, Ubisoft opted for a blanket ban on the platform.

This decision immediately alienated the Linux gaming community, a passionate group of players that has grown significantly in recent years due to advancements in compatibility layers and hardware like Valve’s Steam Deck, which runs on SteamOS, a Linux-based operating system. Many affected users voiced profound disappointment, noting that they had previously purchased the game, often playing well past standard digital storefront refund windows, only to find themselves permanently locked out of a title they legally owned. While the situation seemed completely absolute, isolated reports emerged of players successfully fighting for exceptions, with at least one customer managing to secure a refund after persistent appeals.

Now, compounding the friction caused by the Linux lockout, Ubisoft has launched a massive promotional campaign for the game, making the Standard Edition entirely free to claim on its proprietary storefront until September 28th. For players on Windows or console ecosystems who were unaffected by the anti-cheat policy, the giveaway represents a risk-free entry point into a mature multiplayer game with an established community.

For those who prefer purchasing games through alternative digital storefronts rather than the Ubisoft ecosystem, deep discounts are currently running across the industry. Major platforms like Steam and the Epic Games Store have slashed the price of the Standard Edition of For Honor by 90%, significantly lowering the barrier to entry for prospective buyers.

It is important to note that these promotional giveaways and steep 90% discounts apply exclusively to the base Standard Edition of the game. Players looking for expanded content packages, such as the Gold or Ultimate editions, will not find those versions for free, though they are seeing substantial price cuts of their own. On Steam, for instance, both the Gold and Ultimate editions have been discounted by 85%, offering substantial savings for those interested in acquiring all the post-launch heroes and expansions released over the game’s lengthy lifecycle.

Nevertheless, the shadow of the anti-cheat controversy continues to loom over the promotion. For the community of Linux and Steam Deck users who have watched developer support evaporate for their preferred platform, the free-to-keep offer serves as a frustrating reminder of their exclusion. Industry observers and community members alike have pointed out the bitter irony of a publisher giving away a game en masse while simultaneously slamming the door on an entire operating system’s player base due to anti-cheat limitations.

As the September 28th deadline approaches for the free Ubisoft Store promotion, prospective players still have a brief window to add the title to their digital libraries at no cost. However, anyone utilizing a Linux distribution—including owners of Valve’s handheld Steam Deck operating on its Arch-based system—remains strictly barred from participating in the game’s online matches due to the persistent kernel-level anti-cheat restrictions.