Ubisoft Connect May Soon Become Less Annoying for Steam Players
PC gamers have spent years complaining about being forced to install extra launchers for games they already bought on Steam. Ubisoft Connect has been one of the biggest sources of frustration, with many players criticizing the added steps, background processes, and login requirements that can make launching a game feel unnecessarily complicated.
Now, Ubisoft appears to be taking a major step toward fixing that problem.
The company is testing a new tool called Ubisoft Connect Services on Steam, beginning with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. The goal is to keep important Ubisoft account features working without requiring players to install or open the full Ubisoft Connect PC launcher.
That means Steam users may still get access to features like cross-progression, cross-play, player safety tools, in-game challenges, and rewards, but with a cleaner and faster launch experience.
For many PC players, this could be a welcome change. One of the main appeals of Steam is having a unified game library, but third-party launchers often interrupt that experience. Instead of clicking play and jumping straight into the game, players are frequently met with additional login screens, updates, account checks, or launcher pop-ups.
Ubisoft’s new approach could make its Steam releases feel much closer to the console experience, where players usually sign in once and game features sync quietly in the background. If the system works as intended, players will be able to enjoy Ubisoft games on Steam with fewer interruptions and less software clutter on their PCs.
The first game to test this new system is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Ubisoft says this is only the beginning, and the service will continue to improve over time. The company also plans to roll it out to more Ubisoft games on Steam in the future.
This move follows other recent efforts to improve Ubisoft’s relationship with Steam players. After returning more of its games to the platform, Ubisoft has gradually added features that Steam users expect, including Steam Achievements for several titles. Reducing dependence on the full Ubisoft Connect launcher could be the next big step in making Ubisoft games more appealing on PC.
While the launcher is not disappearing entirely, this new tool suggests that Ubisoft understands what many players have been asking for: fewer barriers between buying a game and actually playing it.
If Ubisoft Connect Services expands successfully, future Ubisoft games on Steam could become much easier to launch, manage, and enjoy. For players tired of juggling multiple launchers, this may be one of Ubisoft’s most player-friendly PC changes in years.
