Ubisoft is 'testing' making its games far less annoying to launch on Steam

Ubisoft is experimenting with launching its games directly on Steam without requiring players to go through their own launcher, Ubisoft Connect. This change is set to begin with the release of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Currently, Ubisoft Connect is necessary to access Steam games developed by Ubisoft, such as Assassin's Creed.

However, this new approach will still allow for cross-progression, cross-play, player safety, challenges, and rewards, albeit in a more integrated manner. The first version of this Steam tool, Ubisoft Connect Services, is a preliminary step towards streamlining the game launch experience on Steam. Ubisoft aims to enhance features and services while minimizing disruptions to the Steam platform.

While this change may eliminate the need for a Ubisoft Connect account to play the games, it's likely to maintain a similar functionality to existing systems like Diablo 4, which requires a Battle.net account but doesn't demand launching the application separately. Ubisoft's Steam launcher has previously received unfavorable reviews, ranking near the bottom in a 2024 assessment of PC gaming launchers.

This new initiative could significantly improve the user experience for Ubisoft games on Steam, addressing the annoyance that many players face when accessing their favorite titles.