Ubisoft are planning to start testing a new tool that'll allow Prince of Persia The Lost Crown Steam players to access features only usually available via the publishers' Connect launcher without actually having to have said launcher installed. That's according to a Steam announcement post which only appears to be visible to folks who already own a copy of The Lost Crown on Valve's storefront.
According to a version of the alleged post shared on Reddit, which I've yet to be able to very for myself despite scouring various bits of Steam for evidence of it, Ubisoft are using The Lost Crown to start "testing a new Ubisoft Connect Services Steam tool that keeps Ubisoft game features such as cross-progression, cross-play, player safety, challenges and rewards, among others, without requiring the Ubisoft Connect PC launcher to be installed or launched."
"This first version is an initial step toward a smoother and more streamlined launch experience on Steam," the post continued. "We will continue to iterate and improve Ubisoft Connect Services over time, with the goal of delivering the features and services players use and expect while making the Steam experience as seamless as possible. Ubisoft Connect Services will progressively evolve and roll out to more Ubisoft games on Steam in the future."
I've reached out to Ubisoft for comment.
If indeed such a tool does end up being gradually brought to Ubisoft's entire range of games, it'd get rid of a long-despised headache. Individual publishers insisting on having their own PC launchers has long been an easy way for them to rocket themselves right to the top of the shit list of players who're keen not to face an extra faff whenever they want to fire up a game they've usually bought on a separate platform to whichever service the company behind it is pushing.
Given that, it's a tad surprising Ubisoft wouldn't make a bigger deal of trying to net an easy PR win out of this development, if indeed it is happening.
سەرچاوەی فەرمی بە زمانی ئینگلیزی: https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/ubisoft-games-on-steam-may-soon-no-longer-require-the-pesky-connect-launcher-according-to-an-announcement-post-thats-weirdly-tough-to-pin-down
