Ubisoft has finally made a move PC gamers have been waiting years to see. In cooperation with Valve, the French publisher has officially begun the process of removing the requirement to install and launch Ubisoft Connect for games purchased through Steam.
The practice has frustrated the PC gaming community for years. It dates back to 2019, when Ubisoft temporarily moved away from Steam in an effort to direct players toward its own platform. The decision repeatedly drew criticism from players and was often reflected in negative reviews of some of the publisher’s biggest titles.
After eventually realizing its mistake and returning to Valve’s platform, the mandatory Ubisoft Connect launcher remained one of the last major obstacles. Frequent crashes, slower game launches and, in some cases, difficulty accessing older purchased titles created significant frustration among players.
Now, it appears that era may finally be coming to an end.
Prince of Persia Leads the New Experience
The first game being used to test this major change is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Instead of requiring the full Ubisoft Connect application, Ubisoft has developed a new tool called Ubisoft Connect Services, which is integrated directly into Steam.
The service runs quietly in the background without requiring players to install a separate client, while still supporting the key online features users have come to expect, including cross-progression, cross-play, in-game challenges, rewards and security features.
Ubisoft says this is only the first step toward making launching its games on Steam significantly faster and more convenient.
The company plans to continue expanding and improving Ubisoft Connect Services, gradually implementing it across both upcoming releases and existing titles in its Steam catalog.
Players are already hoping that games from the Assassin’s Creed series will be next, as those titles have been among the most frequently criticized for their reliance on secondary launchers.
Pressure Now Shifts to EA and Rockstar
Ubisoft’s decision could set an important precedent for the wider gaming industry.
Almost immediately after the announcement, players began calling on Valve to encourage other publishers to take a similar approach, particularly companies that still require their own software alongside Steam.
Among the most frequently mentioned are EA and the Rockstar Games Launcher.
Valve has not officially commented on whether it plans to push similar changes with other publishing partners, but Ubisoft’s decision provides a clear indication of where the PC gaming market may be heading.
Removing unnecessary software barriers and putting the user experience first could also become an important step in rebuilding Ubisoft’s reputation among PC players.
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