Ubisoft is quietly changing how its games launch on Steam, and for many PC players, it is a welcome shift. The company has begun testing a system that no longer requires the full Ubisoft Connect client to be installed and opened before playing a game. Instead, a lightweight background tool handles the essential services, allowing titles to launch more smoothly through Steam itself.

The first game to adopt this approach is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Rather than forcing players through a separate launcher, the game installs a component called Ubisoft Connect Services directly via Steam. This tool runs quietly in the background and manages cross-platform progress synchronisation, cross-play, trials, achievements, and security features.

Ubisoft has described the current version as an early step toward a simpler Steam experience. The plan is to refine the tool over time and eventually bring it to more of its games, though no official list or release schedule has been shared yet.

A Smaller Footprint, Not a Full Exit

It is worth clarifying that Ubisoft Connect is not going away completely. The Steam page for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown still notes that the game requires a Ubisoft account linked to Steam. What has changed is the removal of the separate launcher, not the publisher's underlying services or ecosystem.

Previously, the Steam version of the game automatically installed a trimmed-down version of Ubisoft Connect that opened alongside the game. The new approach is meant to make that process almost invisible. Once the game starts on Steam, there is no need to open a second client manually.

For now, the test is limited to one title. There is no confirmation that older Ubisoft releases such as Assassin's Creed, Far Cry, or Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege will receive the same treatment.

How It Compares to Other Publishers

Ubisoft's move follows a similar decision by 2K Games, which removed its own launcher from Steam and the Epic Games Store entirely in 2024. Ubisoft, however, has chosen a more measured path. Rather than eliminating its client outright, it is replacing the full-featured application with a compact background service that stays out of the way.

For players who have grown tired of juggling multiple launchers, this could make Ubisoft titles far more appealing on Steam. A smoother launch process often means fewer barriers between buying a game and actually playing it.

Building Your Ubisoft Library

If you are planning to pick up more Ubisoft titles, z2u.com is a marketplace worth bookmarking. The site offers a wide selection of digital keys and codes, including Ubisoft Connect Game Keys for activating new releases and Buy Uplay Game Codes for redeeming titles directly on your account. Whether you are chasing an older classic or a recent addition to the catalogue, z2u.com provides a convenient way to browse listings and compare options.

As Ubisoft continues to test its new Steam launch system, the direction seems clear: less friction, fewer pop-ups, and more time spent in the game itself. If the experiment proves successful with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, it may not be long before other Ubisoft titles follow suit.