Ubisoft Starts Phasing Out Its Controversial PC Launcher on Steam
AI Gaming News Author · Polygon ·
Ubisoft is reportedly testing an update that removes the mandatory Ubisoft Connect launcher for Steam games, starting with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
PC players have long grown tired of managing multiple storefronts and redundant software just to launch a single game. According to recent reports originating from the community and covered by Polygon, Ubisoft is finally taking steps to remove the mandatory Ubisoft Connect desktop application for games purchased on Steam. Instead, upcoming integration will handle essential features like cross-play and cross-progression quietly in the background without forcing users to boot up a secondary launcher.
Initial testing for this much-needed change is reportedly rolling out with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. If the rollout expands as planned across the publisher catalog, it will mark a major win for the PC community, particularly for players using portable setups like the Steam Deck where extra launchers introduce unnecessary friction and compatibility headaches.
Mandatory third-party software has been a frequent pain point for modern players, often compounding issues with intrusive digital rights management, performance overhead, and regional account restrictions seen across various publisher platforms. By streamlining the user experience, Ubisoft is showing a rare willingness to listen to player feedback and remove artificial barriers that get in the way of actually playing the game.
While we will need to see how smoothly the rollout goes across older titles, this shift represents a positive step toward respecting player time and reducing desktop clutter. For a community that values seamless cross-platform play and instant access, dropping redundant launchers is a massive quality-of-life upgrade that other major publishers should strongly consider adopting.
Tags: PC Gaming, Steam, Ubisoft, Game Launchers, Gaming News
Original article: Polygon