Ubisoft ditches its PC launcher on Steam

Ubisoft is moving away from requiring players to use its own launcher when accessing games through Steam, marking a significant shift in how the publisher handles PC distribution. The company announced the change through patch notes for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, introducing what it calls Ubisoft Connect Services—a streamlined integration built directly into Steam.

Under the current system, players who purchase Ubisoft games on Steam still need to install and run the publisher's separate launcher alongside the platform. This dual-launcher requirement has long frustrated PC gamers, who must manage multiple login credentials and deal with additional pop-ups and background processes. The new approach eliminates this friction by embedding Ubisoft's functionality directly into Steam's ecosystem.

Ubisoft Connect Services will maintain all the features players expect from the publisher's ecosystem, including cross-progression, cross-play capabilities, player safety systems, in-game challenges, and reward tracking. The key difference is that none of these features require the standalone Ubisoft Connect launcher to be installed or running. According to Ubisoft's announcement, this represents an initial phase toward a more streamlined experience, with plans to refine and expand the system over time.

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown serves as the testing ground for this new integration, but Ubisoft has committed to rolling out Ubisoft Connect Services to additional titles on Steam in the future. The publisher stated that it will continue iterating on the system with the goal of delivering expected features while making the Steam experience as seamless as possible.

The announcement has generated enthusiasm within the gaming community. Players have expressed relief that Ubisoft is addressing a long-standing complaint about its PC distribution strategy. Many have indicated they would be more willing to purchase Ubisoft games if the publisher applies this change retroactively to its existing Steam library, suggesting the move could positively impact the company's sales and player goodwill.

This shift aligns with broader industry trends toward simplifying the PC gaming experience. While other major publishers like EA continue requiring their own launchers for Steam purchases, Ubisoft's decision demonstrates that alternative approaches are viable. The success of Ubisoft Connect Services on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will likely influence whether the publisher accelerates its rollout to other games and whether competitors follow suit.