kubuntu - When playing ARK; PulseAudio cannot change playback device - Ask Ubuntu

i've got weird issue requires more pulse audio experience have.

whenever launch "ark: survival evolved" through steam, on kubuntu 16.04, have no sound. i've checked pulse , shows audio being piped system sound device; attempt change usb external sound card (which works else), , refuses change. menu closes, , it's still defaulting "built-in analog stereo", isn't hooked anything.

i did not have issue on kubuntu 14.04; , fresh install on different hard drive. no configuration files copied over, music, pictures, videos, , documents. i've used pulse long time (musician), , lot of different equipment; i've never had issue before , i've done weird stuff.

the current "solution" either attach speakers default audio output--which not easy due space limitations--or play on os, obnoxious.

is there way set pipe specific output before starting program? given access, i'm guessing isn't "getting" pulse audio when attempts pipe; wrong.

thanks can give me. chill-out game. isn't worth reboot.

update: discovered of can resolved copying default.pa /etc/pulse ~/.config/pulse ; special nebuzaradan @ https://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/293399/how-to-set-hdmi-sound-output-as-default-on-ubuntu-16-04 . forces every program, including fidgety ones above, default settings established in it. probable bug?

additional update: method seems work, requires me kill , restart pulseaudio; move highly-inconvenient a-lot-less-inconvenient-but-not-quite-perfect. i'm still not sure what's going on default file; update others have same question figure out.