Ubisoft has confirmed a trial that could let some Steam customers use Ubisoft game features without installing or opening the Ubisoft Connect PC launcher. The test begins with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Update: Ubisoft has now made the post public, confirming the change.
What Ubisoft is testing
The proposed system is called the Ubisoft Connect Services Steam tool. Ubisoft says it will preserve features including cross-progression, cross-play, player safety tools, challenges and rewards, while removing the requirement to install or launch the separate Connect PC application.
The company describes this as an early move towards a smoother Steam launch process. It plans to extend the approach to additional games as the service develops, although the initial rollout is tied to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Why the launcher has been unpopular
Ubisoft has promoted its own PC platform since 2009, when it was known as Ubisoft Game Launcher and later Uplay. Connect has offered features such as downloadable content, achievements and digital rights management, but it has also added another layer between players and games purchased through Steam.
Unlike a platform that houses a broad library from many publishers, Ubisoft Connect primarily serves one company’s catalogue. That makes its required installation feel unnecessary to customers who already use Steam as their main PC game library.
This type of extra software has appeared elsewhere in PC gaming too. EA replaced Origin with the EA App, while Rockstar and Blizzard have continued to use their own launch tools. For players, each additional account, update process and sign-in requirement can make starting a game less straightforward.
The evidence behind the announcement
The report first circulated after a screenshot was posted on Reddit. You can view the discussion titled “Finally another launcher out of steam”, along with the post from u/NostalgiaKeeper007 in the Steam community.
At first, the screenshot could not be traced to a working public announcement. A search of Steam’s news feed for “ubisoft” did, however, reveal a result dated 8 September containing part of the wording shown in the image.
Following that result led to an error page when its links were opened. Ubisoft has since confirmed the announcement, removing the main uncertainty around the screenshot and the planned Steam test.
What this means for Steam users
The change would affect people who purchased Ubisoft games through Steam and currently have to run a second launcher. It does not prevent players who prefer Ubisoft’s own PC storefront from continuing to buy and use games there.
This is not a new competitor to Steam, nor does it resolve the wider concentration of PC game sales around Valve’s platform. Instead, it would remove an unwanted intermediary for customers who have already chosen Steam. That distinction matters: the proposal is about reducing friction, not creating another digital store.
For anyone following changes in how games are delivered, the RETROCADE arcade blog covers wider arcade and gaming-industry developments. Readers planning a dedicated gaming setup can also explore the arcade machine buying guide or browse available arcade machines.
Updated 11 September 2026: This article now includes Ubisoft’s official confirmation.
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