Ubisoft Effectively Surrenders to Valve by Stripping Its Mandatory Launcher From Steam Games
Valve and Ubisoft have announced that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will test a new tool that will eliminate the need for the Ubisoft client to play the developer and publisher’s games on Steam.
Key Takeaways
- Ubisoft has officially eliminated the mandatory Ubisoft Connect desktop application requirement for Steam players running Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
- The seamless update embeds cross-progression, cloud saves, friend lists, and Steam achievements directly into the native game executable.
- While standard digital storefronts list the title around 30 euros, authorized third-party key distributors currently offer activation codes between 12 and 15 euros.
Historically, purchasing Ubisoft games through third-party storefronts required running a secondary background client. The new Ubisoft Connect Services update on Steam will mean Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will no longer require the Ubisoft client.
Steam’s official update notes confirm that this initial test version is designed to deliver core features and services like cross-progression and achievements seamlessly without launching the external Ubisoft Connect PC app.
How does the new Ubisoft Connect integration work on Steam?
The new integration runs Ubisoft Connect services directly inside the game executable via background application programming interfaces.
Players link their Ubisoft account once during the initial boot sequence, allowing Steam to handle license validation, automatic cloud sync, and social features without opening a separate desktop application window.
Ubisoft engineers embedded player safety tools, cross-play infrastructure, and challenge systems directly into the runtime environment.
Additionally, the client processes friend invites through native Steam overlays rather than relying on external desktop hooks.
Players retain access to Ubisoft Connect unit rewards while launching the title directly from their Steam library.
What is the current standard store cost versus third-party options?
The standard edition carries an official digital price point around €30 on the Steam store. Authorized third-party digital retailers and key marketplaces currently list validated activation codes between €12 and €15, offering players a substantial price reduction compared to direct publisher retail pricing.
Digital storefront pricing fluctuates significantly across regional distribution networks and seasonal promotional campaigns. You can compare the latest deals and best prices in the links below.
Is this a step forward for Steam users?
The native integration represents a substantial quality-of-life improvement for PC players by removing unnecessary software layers.
The framework eliminates startup friction, resolves secondary launcher crashes, and establishes a modern technical baseline for multi-storefront releases without compromising account security or social networking features.
Fueled by a passion for gaming and the ever-evolving world of gaming news, Daniel loves connecting with seasoned and new players to bring games to life on the page, exploring their narratives and gaming trends. A self-published fiction and fantasy author, Daniel has nearly 20 years of experience writing gaming news and a love for storytelling that drives his enthusiasm to deliver breaking news, in-depth analysis, and industry innovations. You will find him in-game as "Windfell."
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