Ubisoft Testing New Steam Tool to Bypass Its Unpopular PC Launcher
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Ubisoft is quietly testing a new Steam tool that could let players access cross-progression and rewards without installing the mandatory Ubisoft Connect launcher.
Ubisoft is finally taking steps to fix one of the most frustrating parts of playing its games on PC. According to a recent Steam announcement post spotted by Rock Paper Shotgun, the publisher is testing a new Ubisoft Connect Services tool for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. This system lets players access essential features like cross-progression, cross-play, challenges, and player safety measures directly through Steam without needing to install or launch the separate Ubisoft Connect desktop app.
While the announcement currently seems restricted to owners of that specific game, the implications are huge for anyone who buys games on Valve's storefront. Secondary launchers have been a major point of friction for years, forcing players to deal with redundant logins, extra update cycles, and unnecessary background software just to start a single-player campaign or jump into a match with friends. Removing this extra layer of friction represents a massive quality of life upgrade for cross-platform players and digital library collectors alike.
It is certainly curious that Ubisoft has kept this test relatively quiet rather than celebrating an easy PR win with the community. If the rollout expands successfully to the publisher's broader catalog, it could signal a welcome shift away from bloated proprietary ecosystems and back toward respecting player time. We will have to wait and see how the test progresses, but the prospect of streamlining our Steam libraries without losing our cloud saves and rewards is a win worth watching.
Tags: PC Gaming, Steam, Ubisoft, Game Tech
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun