Ubisoft is testing a new tool on Steam called Ubisoft Connect Services, which is intended to eliminate the need for the separate Ubisoft Connect launcher. The first game to feature this is *Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown*, which has been running without the additional launcher software since September 10, 2026. Cross-progression and other Ubisoft features remain intact.
In a nutshell:
- Ubisoft is rolling out a new Steam tool called “Ubisoft Connect Services” to replace the classic Ubisoft Connect launcher.
- Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is the first test title; other Ubisoft games on Steam are set to follow.
- Players no longer need to install or launch the launcher software separately, but a Ubisoft account is still required.
- Cross-progression, cross-play, challenges, and rewards will continue to work.
Ubisoft Connect Services: What This Means for Steam Players
Until now, Ubisoft titles on Steam always required a detour through the company’s own launcher: launch the game in Steam, wait for Ubisoft Connect to open, log in there—and only then could you start playing. With Ubisoft Connect Services, this intermediate step is eliminated. According to the official announcement in the Steam patch notes, the new tool retains the familiar features “without requiring the Ubisoft Connect PC launcher to be installed or launched.”
Technically, this means: Steam launches the game directly, while the connection to the Ubisoft account runs in the background. Players who value cross-progression between PC, console, and the cloud will continue to link their Steam account to their Ubisoft account. Ubisoft has not yet explained in detail whether this link will remain mandatory or if players will be able to launch the game entirely without logging into Ubisoft.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown as the First Test Candidate
It’s likely no coincidence that the Metroidvania game *Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown*, released in 2024, is the first to adopt this system: The game still receives regular updates anyway, and Ubisoft can test the new technology here on a manageable scale. The announcement states that the company intends to develop the system gradually and roll it out to other Ubisoft games on Steam in the future. It remains unclear which titles will be next, but the same solution should also be suitable for older games that are still actively maintained.
Key facts at a glance
| Point | Details |
|---|---|
| New Tool | Ubisoft Connect Services (Steam integration) |
| First Game | Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown |
| Announcement | September 10, 2026, via Steam patch notes |
| N/A | Separate installation/launch of Ubisoft Connect |
| Remains the same | Cross-Progression, Crossplay, Challenges & Rewards |
| Other games | Planned according to Ubisoft; no specific titles announced yet |
Why this is good news for many PC gamers
Having to use multiple launchers is one of the PC gaming community’s long-standing pet peeves. Every piece of additional software means another account, more updates, and another potential source of errors at startup. In recent years, Ubisoft has earned a rather poor reputation precisely because of its strict requirement to use its launcher; even with older titles, this has repeatedly led to startup issues. Other major publishers like EA and Rockstar Games have long since taken a similar approach in this regard, integrating more closely with Steam without opening a separate window every time the game launches.
This move is part of a broader trend driven primarily by Valve: Steam is meant to remain the central hub for players, whether on a desktop PC or on the go with the Steam Deck or one of the many alternatives. Valve’s own hardware plans, such as the upcoming Steam Machine for the living room, also aim to minimize friction between purchase and launch. A publisher launcher that interrupts the process at every launch doesn’t fit well into this picture.
What’s Still Unclear
Ubisoft Connect won’t disappear entirely. Anyone who wants to continue playing via Ubisoft’s own PC app—for example, outside of Steam or for games that haven’t yet been migrated to the new system—can still do so. It’s also not yet known whether Ubisoft plans to migrate older or particularly launcher-heavy titles, such as Watch_Dogs 2 or Assassin’s Creed Unity, to the new system in the foreseeable future. Since Ubisoft has explicitly stated that this is a test, details such as account linking may still change before the tool is rolled out on a large scale.
Conclusion
With Ubisoft Connect Services, Ubisoft is taking a step that many Steam players have been demanding for years: less software, fewer logins, and a more direct path to the game. For owners of *Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown*, this change takes effect immediately, without them having to do anything. Whether—and how quickly—other Ubisoft games on Steam will follow suit remains to be seen in the coming months.
Sources: Steam Patch Notes (Ubisoft), Windows Central
