I'd say, ask the author of AML...

I'm having the same problem. Spent a bunch of time trying to fix it, but no dice. I did not notice any updates though. Activity shows the last update was in 2022.

Samesies. Clean install and everything, but nothing seems to make any difference. No mods for now..
https://support.2k.com/hc/en-us/articles/34883894563347--XCOM-2-2K-Launcher-Sunset-and-Removal#h_01JBCNBRYW38Z2J8QMAAREAAE3

How have you been opening AML before? You just open AML and launch the game from there, at least that's how I've always done it and it is still working fine. You don't use the Steam "Play" button if you are using AML.

Historically I have been able to use the standard “Play” on the XCOM 2 and it would auto launch AML.

Originally posted by megansweden:

How have you been opening AML before? You just open AML and launch the game from there, at least that's how I've always done it and it is still working fine. You don't use the Steam "Play" button if you are using AML.

I was able to get AML to launch by adding it to steam as a non-steam game and forcing Proton Experimental capability. Issue now is that my save files are synced to the XCOM2 game in Steam and not the manual AML launch 😅

Originally posted by melkor:

Samesies. Clean install and everything, but nothing seems to make any difference. No mods for now..
https://support.2k.com/hc/en-us/articles/34883894563347--XCOM-2-2K-Launcher-Sunset-and-Removal#h_01JBCNBRYW38Z2J8QMAAREAAE3

AML is just a launcher though, it doesn't hold the save files. As long as you are launching the correct version of the game you should be able to access your saves regardless of the launch method. I gather with the launcher update everyone needed to re-set their launch options to get WOTC to launch as it would otherwise default to the base game. So if you were playing WOTC previously it would appear as if your saves were missing. Maybe just re-do what you did before if that is your preference. I just have AML pinned to my taskbar and I start it from there. But I don't have any experience with Steam Deck so YMMV.

I think the problem is the Steam Deck instructions ( https://www.reddit.com/r/LWotC/comments/ugmewz/getting_lwotc_working_on_the_steamdeck/ ) assume the 2K Launcher is there. I'd guess Steam Deck owners need to adjust their launch parameters now that it isn't

Originally posted by megansweden:

How have you been opening AML before? You just open AML and launch the game from there, at least that's how I've always done it and it is still working fine. You don't use the Steam "Play" button if you are using AML.

I'm on Linux using the proton version and can't just run the .exe

I only now learned of the 2k launcher removal, and after a little bit of tinkering I managed to get back AML on Linux. Copying what I wrote on XCOM 2 modding discord wholesale below, hope it helps anyone:

Linux compatibility report:

- Adding AML exe through "Add a non-Steam game" works. Just need to remember to check on the compatibility setting and pick right Proton version. AML launches properly (or as "properly" as it did previously anyway), and starts WotC as usual.
- That being said since proton sees AML as a separate app here, it won't "see" previous configs or saves. This can be fixed by copying `my games` folder from `$HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/268500/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/my games` to `$HOME/.steam/steam/steamapps/compatdata/<ID_FOR_THE_AML_ENTRY>/pfx/drive_c/users/steamuser/Documents/my games`. For me `<ID_FOR_THE_AML_ENTRY>` was `3892768904` but I have *no* idea how Steam/Proton assigned this so I assume it might be different for other people.
- At first the game would keep crashing when I tried to load my most recent save, but after I started a new campaign as a test this seems to have fixed itself and old saves load properly. No clue what was going on with that.

As mentioned before no idea if that helps Steam Deck users any or not, but at least it works on desktop

I just deleted the "new" launcher files in the xcom2wotc folder and pasted the AML files there.
-renamed the aml.exe to "launcher.exe" and launch it from steam by clicking "New Launcher".