Ubisoft is testing a change that could make launching its games on Steam much simpler by removing the need to install or open the Ubisoft Connect PC launcher.
The first game to receive the change is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Ubisoft says a new tool will keep features normally tied to Ubisoft Connect while allowing the game to run without the separate launcher.
If the test works well, the company plans to bring the same approach to more Ubisoft games on Steam over time.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| First supported game | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown |
| Storefront | Steam |
| Ubisoft Connect launcher required | No, under the new system |
| Ubisoft features retained | Yes |
| Wider rollout planned | Yes |
| Older games confirmed | Not yet |
| Main goal | Reduce dependence on a second launcher |
Prince of Persia is the first test
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is being used as the starting point for the new setup.
Previously, buying a Ubisoft game through Steam could still require Ubisoft Connect to be installed and launched. The secondary launcher handled features such as account linking, progression and some statistics.
Under the new system, Ubisoft says those game features can continue working without the full Ubisoft Connect PC application needing to open.
That should make launching the game feel more direct. Instead of starting Steam and then waiting for another launcher, players should be able to move into the game with fewer steps.
The Lost Crown originally launched in 2024 and provides a relatively controlled environment for Ubisoft to test the new approach before expanding it across a larger catalog.
More Ubisoft games could follow
Ubisoft says the technology will progressively develop and reach more Steam games in the future.
However, the company has not confirmed which titles are next.
It is also unclear whether older games will be updated retroactively. That means titles such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry or Watch Dogs cannot yet be assumed to lose their Ubisoft Connect requirement.
A broader rollout would be significant because Ubisoft has used its own PC launcher for years, even when its games were bought through another storefront.
For many Steam players, that has meant dealing with an additional login, background software and another application between Steam and the game itself.
Account features are expected to remain
Removing the launcher does not necessarily mean Ubisoft is removing its account system.
The new tool is designed to preserve Ubisoft related game features without requiring the full desktop client.
Players may therefore still need to connect their Steam and Ubisoft accounts, depending on the game and the features being used.
The important change is that the Ubisoft Connect application itself would no longer need to launch every time.
That is a much smaller technical change than removing Ubisoft accounts completely, but it addresses one of the most common complaints surrounding third party launchers on Steam.
Steam players have complained about extra launchers for years
Ubisoft is not the only publisher that uses a second launcher for games sold through Steam.
Rockstar and other publishers have similar systems, which can be especially inconvenient on handheld PCs such as Steam Deck.
Extra launchers can introduce additional password prompts, updates and compatibility problems before the game itself starts.
Ubisoft's new approach could reduce those issues while still keeping the services tied to its account platform.
The company has not announced a timetable for expanding the feature beyond Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
For now, the change remains a test, but Ubisoft's plan to extend it to additional Steam titles suggests the company is reconsidering how necessary its separate launcher needs to be for players who already bought their games through Valve's platform.
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