Ubisoft is testing a new approach to its Steam releases that could make the company’s games considerably less dependent on the standalone Ubisoft Connect PC launcher. The test begins with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Ubisoft says its new Ubisoft Connect Services Steam tool can provide features including cross-progression, cross-play, player safety, challenges and rewards without requiring the Ubisoft Connect PC launcher to be installed or launched. Ubisoft describes this as an initial step toward making its Steam releases more seamless.
The distinction is important, however. Ubisoft Connect itself is not disappearing, and the new system does not eliminate the need for a Ubisoft Account. The Lost Crown‘s current Steam listing still identifies a Ubisoft Account as a required third-party account. Ubisoft has also described the new system as a test that will evolve before progressively rolling out to additional Ubisoft games on Steam. For The Lost Crown, the change could nevertheless remove one of the more cumbersome parts of playing a Ubisoft game purchased through Steam. Rather than requiring the separate PC launcher to provide Connect functionality, Ubisoft is testing a dedicated Steam tool designed to provide those services while the player remains within the Steam-based installation and launch experience.
The timing is notable because The Lost Crown previously required Ubisoft Connect on PC. A Steam community discussion from January 2025 also shows players experiencing problems when Ubisoft Connect services were unavailable, with a Ubisoft developer at the time directing affected users to ensure that the launcher was installed and updated. SteamDB now lists Ubisoft Connect Services as separate Steam tool, with its associated packages connected to The Lost Crown. The tool received an update on September 9, providing additional evidence that Ubisoft’s new approach is already being implemented rather than remaining a purely theoretical proposal.
Ubisoft’s experiment could have implications beyond its own catalog. Publisher-specific PC launchers have become common, but they can also add another layer between players and the storefront they use to purchase and manage their games. A successful rollout could demonstrate that publishers can retain their account systems and online services without requiring customers to maintain a separate launcher. For now, though, Ubisoft has not announced which games will receive the new functionality next. The company is testing the system with The Lost Crown and says it plans to continue improving Ubisoft Connect Services as it expands to more Ubisoft games on Steam.
Ubisoft is therefore not abandoning Connect. Instead, it is testing a way to separate Ubisoft’s services from the need to launch the company’s standalone PC client—a change that could make its Steam releases substantially more convenient for PC players.