Ubisoft Drops Connect Launcher Requirement on Steam

A long-standing annoyance for PC gamers is disappearing: Ubisoft Connect will no longer be strictly required to run in the background when players launch a Ubisoft game via Steam. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is leading the way, with more titles to follow. According to Ubisoft, the new system will be gradually rolled out to more games in its catalog and further refined, with the stated goal of making the Steam experience as seamless as possible.

What Exactly Changes for Steam Players?

Instead of the separate launcher window, a lean background service called “Ubisoft Connect Services” will run in the future. This service will continue to handle important functions but will forgo the additional program interface:

• Cross-progression between different platforms remains intact
• Cross-play features continue to run in the background
• Ubisoft Rewards and loyalty programs function unchanged
• Account linking and save game synchronization run automatically in the background
• No additional launcher window needed when starting the game

Why was the Forced Connect Launcher So Unpopular Among Players?

Anyone who previously bought a Ubisoft game via Steam essentially invited two launchers at once: Steam would launch Ubisoft Connect in the background, which then had to log in and synchronize before the actual game even started. For many, this felt like unnecessary bureaucracy, especially since competitors like CD Projekt or Larian manage their games without an additional launcher. Practically, this removal primarily means for players: faster loading times at startup and fewer background processes consuming RAM – a bonus especially for handhelds like the Steam Deck, where every saved process is noticeable.

From our perspective, this step is long overdue but a clever concession: Ubisoft doesn't lose control over accounts and live service functionalities, but gains goodwill among a player base that has considered forced launchers one of the biggest annoyances in PC gaming for years. Whether Ubisoft accelerates the pace of expansion to older games like the Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry series will largely depend on how positive the feedback is for the first test candidates.

Source: GameStar, Gameswelt

Has the forced Ubisoft Connect launcher annoyed you for a long time? Tell us in the comments which launcher you want to get rid of next!