You cannot fully bypass Ubisoft Connect if you own a Ubisoft game through Steam
Ubisoft requires its launcher to run most of its games sold on Steam, including Far Cry, Assassin's Creed, and Rainbow Six Siege. When you launch one of these games from Steam, Ubisoft Connect starts automatically in the background. You cannot skip this step — the game will not run without it.
What you can do is reduce how much you interact with Ubisoft Connect directly. Some games let you minimize it after launch. Others have offline modes that let you play without signing in. A few older or smaller Ubisoft titles on Steam do not require the launcher at all, though these are rare.
The reason Ubisoft does this is to track ownership, handle multiplayer, and manage in-game purchases through their own system rather than Steam's. It frustrates players, but it is a business decision Ubisoft has made for nearly all its new releases.
Key Takeaways
- Most Ubisoft games on Steam require Ubisoft Connect to launch, and there is no way around this requirement.
- You can minimize Ubisoft Connect after the game starts, and some titles let you play offline without signing in.
- A small number of older Ubisoft games on Steam do not need the launcher, but you have to check the store page for each game.
- If you want to avoid Ubisoft Connect entirely, you would need to buy the game directly from Ubisoft instead of Steam, which often costs more.
Which Ubisoft games on Steam actually need the launcher
Nearly every Ubisoft game released in the last ten years requires Ubisoft Connect on Steam. This includes the entire Assassin's Creed series from Origins onward, all recent Far Cry games, Rainbow Six Siege, For Honor, The Division 2, and Watch Dogs games. If the game is newer than 2015 and published by Ubisoft, assume it needs the launcher.
A few exceptions exist. Some very old games like Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory or Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time do not require it. The store page for each game will say "Requires 3rd-party account" or mention Ubisoft Connect in the system requirements if it is mandatory. Check before you buy if this matters to you.
Games that do require it will show a warning on the Steam store page under "Additional Notes" or in the system requirements section. If you see "Ubisoft Connect account required" or "Requires Ubisoft Connect," the launcher will start when you press play.
How to minimize Ubisoft Connect after launch
Once Ubisoft Connect opens and you have signed in, most games let you minimize the launcher window. The game itself will continue running in the background. Right-click the Ubisoft Connect window title bar and select Minimize, or click the minimize button in the top-left corner of the window.
Some games close Ubisoft Connect automatically once they fully load. Others keep it open but let you shrink it to the system tray. The behavior depends on which game you are playing. After you launch a few times, you will know whether Ubisoft Connect stays visible or disappears on its own.
If Ubisoft Connect crashes or closes unexpectedly while the game is running, the game usually continues without interruption. The launcher is mainly needed to verify ownership and handle the initial sign-in.
Playing Ubisoft games offline through Steam
Steam has an offline mode that lets you play games without an internet connection. If you enable Steam offline mode before launching a Ubisoft game, the game may start without requiring you to sign into Ubisoft Connect. This works for some titles but not all — it depends on whether the game checks for an active internet connection at startup.
To use Steam offline mode, open Steam, go to the account menu in the top-left, and select "Go Offline." Steam will ask you to restart in offline mode. After that, launch your Ubisoft game as normal. If the game does not require a live connection, it will start without Ubisoft Connect asking for a sign-in.
This only works if you have already launched the game at least once while online and signed into Ubisoft Connect. The launcher needs to verify your ownership the first time. After that, some games remember your login and do not ask again in offline mode.
What happens if you do not sign into Ubisoft Connect
If Ubisoft Connect opens and you close it without signing in, the game will not start. You will see an error message saying you need to sign in to play. There is no way to proceed without entering your Ubisoft account credentials or creating one if you do not have an account yet.
Creating a Ubisoft account is free and takes a few minutes. You need an email address and a password. After you sign in once, Ubisoft Connect will remember your login on that computer, so you will not have to enter it every time you play.
If you do not want to create a Ubisoft account, you cannot play Ubisoft games on Steam that require the launcher. Your only alternative would be to buy the game from a different platform or publisher that does not use Ubisoft Connect, though this is usually not an option for recent Ubisoft releases.
Buying directly from Ubisoft instead of Steam
Ubisoft sells its games directly through its own store and through Ubisoft+, a subscription service. Games bought from Ubisoft's store still require Ubisoft Connect, so you do not avoid the launcher this way. However, buying directly from Ubisoft sometimes costs less than Steam, especially during sales.
Ubisoft+ is a monthly subscription that includes access to most Ubisoft games. If you play several Ubisoft titles, the subscription might be cheaper than buying each game separately. You still need Ubisoft Connect to play, but you do not need to own each game individually.
Neither option removes the requirement for Ubisoft Connect. The launcher is part of Ubisoft's system for all platforms where they sell games. If avoiding the launcher is your goal, there is no Ubisoft game available anywhere that lets you do that.
Why Ubisoft requires its launcher on Steam
Ubisoft uses its launcher to handle accounts, multiplayer matchmaking, in-game purchases, and player progression across all platforms. By controlling this through Ubisoft Connect rather than Steam, Ubisoft keeps players connected to its own ecosystem and can track data independently of Steam.
This also lets Ubisoft offer cross-progression — you can start a game on PC through Steam and continue on console or mobile through Ubisoft Connect using the same account. Steam does not provide this feature across different platforms.
From a player perspective, it means an extra launcher to manage and one more set of login credentials to remember. From Ubisoft's perspective, it is a way to maintain direct relationships with players rather than relying entirely on Steam's infrastructure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to create a Ubisoft account before I buy the game?
No. You can buy the game on Steam without a Ubisoft account. Ubisoft Connect will ask you to create one or sign in the first time you launch the game. You can create a free account at that point.
Will Ubisoft Connect slow down my game?
Ubisoft Connect uses some system memory and internet bandwidth, but most modern computers handle it without noticeable performance loss. If you minimize the launcher after the game starts, it uses less resources. Older computers might see a small impact, but it is usually minor.
Can I uninstall Ubisoft Connect after I finish playing?
You can uninstall it, but you will need to reinstall it the next time you want to play a Ubisoft game on Steam. It is usually easier to leave it installed if you play Ubisoft games regularly.
What if I lose internet connection while playing?
If your internet drops after the game has started, most Ubisoft games continue running without interruption. Multiplayer features and in-game purchases will not work, but single-player modes usually keep going. The launcher only needs to verify your ownership at startup.
Are there any mods or tools that bypass Ubisoft Connect?
No legitimate tools exist that remove the Ubisoft Connect requirement from games that need it. Any tool claiming to do this would violate the game's terms of service and could result in your account being banned. The launcher is built into the game's code and cannot be removed without breaking the game.