The studio said it held back for a long time and tried to let the bans speak for themselves, but it now believes the community deserves to know what Blue Mammoth Games and Ubisoft are doing. Blue Mammoth Games said cheaters are permanently banned and that people who help make or distribute the tools risk future legal action.

What the Bot Problem Looks Like in Brawlhalla

Many games fight cheats such as X-ray, auto-aim, teleporting, flying, and no-clip. In Brawlhalla, the studio says the problem takes a different form: cheaters run programs that watch the game and press the buttons for them. Those programs cannot do anything beyond what is within the design of the game. The studio describes cheaters as sitting there watching software play a bot they have named after themselves. Because a cheater’s program produces inputs similar to those of a top-level player, accurate detection takes extra care.

Player Impact and the Malware Warning

The studio said people who sell and use these bots are trying to undermine a community that has been around for 11 years, spanning developers, pros, content creators, community members, and players, from the first BCX to the last World Championship and the recent Midseason Championship. Bot sellers have distributed malware that silently screenshots and keylogs the systems of players who trust them. The bot software can reach personal data outside Brawlhalla. Players who see suspected bot accounts should use the in-game report feature. Blue Mammoth Games says reports do help, and when a player reports a cheater there is a good chance the studio is already watching that account and the report helps confirm it.

Confirmed and Not Stated

Confirmed: Blue Mammoth Games is aware of players using software to play for them in Ranked. It says detection keeps getting stronger and methods being developed today are much better than ever before. Enforcement has become much stricter. Cheaters are being permanently banned, and people who help make or distribute the tools risk future legal action. In-game reports help confirm suspected accounts.

Not stated: The post gives no number of accounts banned, no names of specific cheat tools or sellers, no specific platforms or regions, no release dates or version numbers, no details of how detection works, and no timeline for future enforcement updates.

Why the Studio Is Speaking Now and What Comes Next

Blue Mammoth Games says it did not publicly address the topic until now because any public post about cheating also advertises it and drives more people to look for cheats. The studio says cheating is changing across the industry, cheat-making is big business, and AI is amplifying it, and studios everywhere are dealing with versions of this. Blue Mammoth Games will not detail how detection works because cheat-makers read these posts and would use the information to evade it. The studio says enforcement is not always immediate because it needs confidence in detection and cannot reveal information that would help cheat makers evade it. Blue Mammoth Games says no online game can make cheating completely disappear, but it can make it as difficult and expensive as possible so it is not sustainable, and it will keep players posted. The post is signed Blue Mammoth Games.

Ubisoft’s Designer’s Notes state that Noor’s ability “felt a bit short on multiple fronts.” The follow-up buffs target his shield countering and survivability. The launcher becomes faster to equip, more damaging, and more consistent. The patch also adds an impact firing mode to Tachanka’s Shumikha Launcher and applies a global fire damage increase across Capitao, Dokkaebi, Goyo, Noor, Tachanka, and Gas Pipes.

The mid-season patch follows the Y11S3.1 balancing update from late September, which buffed Buck, Castle, and Thermite.

Noor’s Horus Lance Follow-Up Buffs

The Y11S3.2 patch changes Noor’s kit in several specific ways. Equipping the launcher now uses Quickdraw animations, with equip animation timing reduced to 0.4 seconds from 0.9 seconds. The Horus Lance projectile hitbox was updated for better accuracy and consistency, and the lance can now damage ballistic shield operators while they are in the removal animation. The drilling time reduction joins the guardbreak and impact damage increases to make Noor more effective against shield operators.

Additional changes include Osa’s Talon-8 Clear Shield receiving reduced deployment restrictions, Valkyrie gaining the Glaive-12 secondary weapon, and Ram’s BU-GIs becoming entangled in Barbed Wire, stopping completely, and self-destructing.

Confirmed Versus Unconfirmed Details

The patch notes and Designer’s Notes confirm the listed gadget and ability adjustments. Bug fixes include defenders no longer losing points for destroying their own Barbed Wire, Noor’s Horus Lance projectile hitbox size correction, the launcher reticle responding to Reticle Opacity, and an audio fix for the drilling sound playing when Horus Lance projectiles were destroyed by electrified Barbed Wire.

The notes give no server-side deployment time beyond the October 15 post and no separate weapon tuning beyond the operator changes described above.

Ranked Play and Operator Pick Impact

For ranked play, Noor becomes a more direct answer to ballistic shield operators and punishes positioning mistakes faster. Tachanka’s impact firing mode adds a new placement option for incendiary damage, and the global fire damage increase raises the cost of standing in fire for Capitao, Dokkaebi, Goyo, Noor, Tachanka, and Gas Pipes. Clash keeps more pressure on retreating attackers, and Osa’s Talon-8 Clear Shield deploys in more spots. The update lands while the Doktor’s Curse event runs in Siege.

The event replaces standard play with Hide & Seek, the iconic seasonal game mode. Doktor’s Curse is set on Doktor’s Lab, a heavily modified version of the Clubhouse map built specifically for Hide & Seek gameplay. Ubisoft says the map includes hidden routes and new hiding spots. Players take on the role of Hunter, hunting down prey, or Monster, evading capture, and each role has unique abilities designed for the event.

Alongside the mode, Ubisoft has confirmed a free Event Pack and an event-exclusive cosmetic just for participating. Completing challenges during the event unlocks more rewards, and a trailer was released with the announcement to show the 2026 version of the mode.

What Doktor’s Curse Adds in 2026

The official announcement details a 33-item collection of event-exclusive items. New Operator bundles are available for Hibana, Mute, and Grim, and themed cosmetics are inspired by monsters, hunters, and Doktor’s Lab. One confirmed purchase option is the Selenic Trail M590A1 Memento, inspired by a legendary werewolf hunter. Ubisoft says this Memento can be bought directly and comes bundled with 5 Event Packs. For a closer look at how Siege players trade and manage their existing skins, see our R6 Marketplace guide.

Twitch Drops are also part of the event. Players can earn them by watching participating Rainbow Six Siege streams and linking their accounts. Ubisoft has not specified the exact reward contents or the schedule window for those drops in the announcement. The event follows the Y11S3.1 balance update that buffed Buck, Castle, and Thermite in September.

What to Do First in Doktor’s Curse

If you can only log in briefly, prioritize the free participation reward. The announcement confirms an event-exclusive cosmetic and a free Event Pack just for participating, so entering the event once should secure that base reward. Because Doktor’s Lab reworks Clubhouse with hidden routes and new hiding spots, spending one early match learning the layout helps whether you play Hunter or Monster.

• Play the mode early to claim the free Event Pack and event-exclusive cosmetic.
• Open the in-game challenges tab and check which challenges are active. Completing challenges during the event earns more rewards.
• Link your Ubisoft account to Twitch and watch participating Rainbow Six Siege streams if you want Twitch Drops.
• If you plan to spend, the Selenic Trail M590A1 Memento bundle includes 5 Event Packs, but Ubisoft has not stated pricing for the other new Operator bundles or for Event Packs outside that bundle.

What the Announcement Leaves Unspecified

Some details remain unspecified. Ubisoft has not detailed the exact Hunter and Monster ability changes for 2026. The full list of all 33 collection items is not enumerated. The specific Twitch Drops reward contents and their schedule window are not detailed in the announcement. Pricing for the new Operator bundles and for Event Packs beyond the Memento bundle is not stated.

Ubisoft announced the release in a post on Xbox Wire published October 13, 2026. The post names six songs, including “Mamma Mia” by ABBA, “Uptown Girl” by Billy Joel, “Wannabe” by Spice Girls, “Stronger” by Britney Spears, “Turn Down for What” by DJ Snake & Lil Jon, and “HOT TO GO!” by Chappell Roan.

Choreography Director Estelle Manas built routines that span intuitive steps, intermediate choreography, and extreme difficulty. She said the intuitive steps let anyone join right away regardless of age or skill level, while the higher tiers give experienced dancers more to work toward. The team added seated choreography for players with limited mobility, and this year marks the series’ first five-coach routine, built for “Wannabe.”

Six Players, Six Phones

The local party mode holds six dancers in one room, with each player’s phone acting as a controller, so a group needs no extra hardware to start a song. The announcement frames the mode for game nights and parties. Ubisoft previously explained how Just Dance scores points.

Manas split the choreography by decade. The ’70s steps are simple, festive, and flamboyant, favoring style and groove over precision, with movements anyone can reproduce while adding a personal touch. The ’80s routines draw on hip-hop and pop, a stretch she said carried dance into TV shows, music videos, and concerts, where everyone expressed personality through movement. She pointed to Madonna’s routines as a freedom that broke the rules and to “Jump” as a capture of the extravagant, showy side of rockstars.

The later decades blend Dancehall, K-Pop, New Style, and Street Jazz into one visual language, which Manas said made choreography a means of expression, a space for freedom, and a way to assert oneself. She said each decade stands out through its music, aesthetics, costumes, and choreography, and that the team studied old music videos and TV shows to keep the periods authentic while chasing a feeling of joyful nostalgia. She described moving between eras as a kind of time travel through dance.

Adventure Mode Follows Lyra

Adventure mode sends solo players after Lyra, Dr. Gigavolt’s daughter, in a playful journey across six themed worlds to rescue her father. It gives the game a narrative path alongside the party sessions.

Manas framed the team’s wider aim as keeping choreography accessible to as many people as possible and bringing multiple generations onto one dance floor, with variety across characters, dance styles, and emotions, and with unique characters and distinct worlds built for every track. On “Wannabe,” she directed five coaches to carry each Spice Girl’s distinct character and energy, and she called it her favorite routine in the game.

What Ubisoft Has Not Announced

The post confirms the Xbox Series X|S release. Ubisoft has not announced the full tracklist size, the price, a specific launch date, other platforms, or online multiplayer, and has not said whether the game is a standalone release or DLC.

The patch also delivers the final balance pass ahead of BCX 2026, and Qinghua and Baobao become legal for official tournaments after their first balance pass. Players in the Experimental queue can test Weapon Spawn improvements and Barraza Signature enhancements.

Ascended Teros and the 11th Anniversary Event

Ascended Teros includes the Animated Weapon Skins Axe of 1000 Battles and Visage of Shattered Bones, Custom Light Attack Effects, Custom Dash and Jump Effects, Custom Signature Swaps, the Immolation Trail Effect, The Triumvirate of Fire Sidekick, Decimation KO Effect, and Ascended Rage Emoji Skin. Logging in during the Event earns the Berserker Title for free.

The 11th Anniversary Event is hosted by the Legend Vector and runs November 4 to November 25, with an extra week to redeem Tickets or spend Mammoth Coins on Event Center Items. The grand prize is the Formal Deco Vector Legend Skin. Other Event Center items include the Ornamental Arches Bow Skin, Stainless Appeal Lance, Prim & Proper Sidekick, VIP Guest Title, two Avatars, and two Emoji Skins. Players may also earn a roll for the Blacklight Color Scheme. Gala Colors return only during the Event.

Balance Changes Ahead of BCX 2026

Katar Neutral Light damage increases from 12 to 14, while Side Light max total damage falls from 8 to 7, Down Light from 11 to 8, and Down Air max total damage from 14 to 9. Blasters Side Light total recover time on miss increases from 10 Fixed/9 Variable to 12 Fixed/9 Variable, and Down Light total damage decreases from 13 to 11. Chakram Fused Side Air, Split Side Air, and Fused Recovery allow less backward acceleration and max speed on miss.

Hammer Side Light damage rises from 16 to 17 and Down Light from 7 to 10. Ada Side Spear and Down Spear gain longer minimum charge and recover times with lower damage and force. Gnash Neutral Hammer minimum charge drops from 11 to 8, and Teros Side Axe maximum charge time drops from 84 to 75. Mako Side Greatsword and Down Greatsword gain improved setup, threat coverage, and stun. Sentinel Neutral Katars recover drops from 20 to 16, and Neutral Hammer minimum charge drops from 12 to 10. Zariel Neutral Bow damage falls from 23 to 21, and Down Gauntlets minimum charge rises from 11 to 14.

Full Roster Gold Cost Drops

Mallhalla now has more Weapons and Legends at 900 Gold. Eight Legends drop to 900 Gold: Lord Vraxx, Sentinel, Sidra, Petra, Reno, Munin, Thea, and Imugi. Nine Legends drop to 2300 Gold, and 15 Legends drop to 3900 Gold including Zariel, Mako, Vector, Arcadia, Seven, and King Zuva. Recently released Legends keep current prices, and no Legend Gold prices were increased.

For free-to-play players, the lower total roster cost reduces the Gold grind by a third. The 900 Gold tier also makes several Legends available earlier for newer accounts, while recent Legends remain slower unlocks. Mallhalla also adds a new Sleepless Metropolis Podium, the 11th Cake-Aversary Emote, nine returning Skins, Gala Colors, Sidekicks, Avatars, and Emoji Skins. Store Bundles include the 11th Anniversary Mega Bundle, High Fashion Bundle, and Gentlemen Bundle.

Confirmed, Experimental, and Not Stated

Confirmed: Ascended Teros, the balance changes, and Gold price reductions ship in Patch 11.00. The Anniversary Event runs November 4 to November 25, with an extra redemption week. Esports v.4 Colors are earned by winning matchmade games with a Legend, and winning with 45 Legends unlocks the Color for all current and future Legends. The new Elysium Brawlball Map with jump pads and new platform art is playable in the New Map dynamic queue, Brawl of the Week modes, and custom lobbies.

Experimental: Weapon Spawn improvements and Barraza Signature enhancements are only in the Experimental queue. Weapons now spawn based on your positioning while holding a Weapon, and Training Mode includes a new Weapon spawn viewer. Barraza wall versions for Side Axe, Neutral Blasters, Side Blasters, and Down Blasters Signatures are also experimental.

Not stated: The source does not state Ascended Teros’s unlock cost, the exact patch download size, or whether the experimental Weapon Spawn and Barraza changes will ship to the main queue.

Updated: October 13, 2026.

Eligibility and entry period

The sweepstakes is open only to legal residents of the United States who are at least 18 years old at the time of entry. Employees, officers, and directors of the sponsor, Ubisoft NCSA and Blue Mammoth Games LLC, and its affiliates are not eligible, and the promotion is void outside the US and where prohibited. Entries are accepted from October 12, 2026 at 00:00 EST to October 27, 2026 at 00:00 EST. Only one entry per person will be accepted.

How to enter

Enter through the Google Form at the bottom of the announcement, or go straight to the entry form. The form asks for your email address, full legal name, a confirmation that you are a US resident, a confirmation that you are 18 or older, the moniker on your main Brawlhalla account, your Brawlhalla account User ID#, and your permanent address.

No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win, and a purchase will not improve your odds. Entering the sweepstakes is separate from attending BCX or registering to compete. You do not need a BCX ticket to enter, and a BCX ticket does not enter you in the drawing.

Prizes

The grand prize, valued at $1,490, covers round-trip coach airfare to Atlanta, Georgia, from a major commercial airport near the winner’s home (or ground transportation if the winner lives within 100 miles), a standard hotel room with room and tax for the BCX weekend, a VIP ticket, a VIP Merch Box, and a signed Deluxe Graphic Novel. That winner also receives the Ascended Teros Skin, the Ascended Mordex Skin, and an exclusive “Sweepstakes Winner” in-game title.

Nine additional winners each receive the Ascended Teros Skin, the Ascended Mordex Skin, and the exclusive “Sweepstakes Winner” in-game title, a package valued at $60. Skins and titles are granted to the Brawlhalla ID (BHID) used in the winning submission.

Taxes and out-of-pocket costs

All taxes on the prizes are the winner’s responsibility. The grand prize does not include out-of-pocket expenses, extras, catering, or transportation to and from the airport, home, or hotel. Winners also cover air travel taxes and fees, gratuities, travel insurance, bag fees, parking, laundry, food, and alcoholic beverages, and may need a major credit card at airline and hotel check-in. Prizes are not transferable or redeemable for cash, and the sponsor does not provide travel or property insurance.

Winner selection and claiming a prize

Ten winners are drawn at random and notified by email to the address on their entry form within 30 business days. Winners must complete and return the required documents within the time stated in the notification. If a notification is undeliverable or the documents are not returned in time, the prize is forfeited and an alternate winner may be selected, time permitting.

BCX 2026 event details

The Brawlhalla Championship Expo returns November 13 to 15 at the Georgia International Convention Center in Atlanta. The event features a $200,000 World Championship, esports competition, the annual cosplay contest, developer panels, and what the studio calls the biggest reveals of 2026. Attendees can claim in-person codes such as Metadev Kor and watch or join the cosplay contest.

Brawlhalla is a free-to-play platform fighter with more than 50 playable legends. Blue Mammoth Games also reruns older seasonal content through passes like the Classic Season 8 Battle Pass, and BCX 2026 is the next major event on its calendar.

That short answer hides several compatibility details, especially now that the original PS4 and Xbox One versions run on newer consoles. The table and steps below separate what works from what does not.

Does Assassin’s Creed Unity Have Co-op?

Yes. Unity supports online co-op for two to four players. Ubisoft describes the mode as an online version of Revolutionary Paris where a player can join up to three friends for narrative co-op missions and heists. The current PlayStation listing advertises four online players, while the Xbox listing identifies online co-op for two to four players.

The important limitation is scope. Unity is not a four-player campaign from beginning to end. Arno’s main story is single-player, while co-op missions and heists are separate activities placed around Paris.

Co-op missions versus heists

Co-op missions have their own narrative objectives and reward skill points or equipment. Heists focus on stealing an objective and escaping; being detected can reduce the cash payout. Co-Optimus counts 11 co-op missions and seven heists in the original release. Those activities can be attempted with fewer than four assassins, but the difficulty and enemy layout can make a coordinated group much more practical.

Is Assassin’s Creed Unity Crossplay?

No. Assassin’s Creed Unity does not support cross-platform multiplayer. A PC player cannot join a PlayStation or Xbox player, and PlayStation and Xbox players cannot join one another.

The game launched in 2014, before Ubisoft’s modern crossplay systems. Its platform stores still describe separate PlayStation Network, Xbox network, and PC account requirements; neither Ubisoft nor the platform listings advertise a crossplay upgrade.

The March 2026 console update did not change this matrix. Patch 1.6 added 60 FPS support and higher output resolution on newer consoles, not crossplay.

When Does Co-op Unlock in Assassin’s Creed Unity?

Co-op becomes available after completing Sequence 3. Ubisoft’s current support instructions use that milestone before directing players to the Play Together menu.

If the invite option is missing or a friend cannot enter a session, both players should confirm that they have finished the entire sequence and returned to free roam. Merely reaching an early co-op icon on the map does not override the story gate.

How to Invite Friends in Assassin’s Creed Unity

Use the Play Together option in the pause menu after both players have unlocked co-op.

1. Complete Sequence 3 and return to free roam.
2. Make sure both players are online on the same platform family.
3. Open the pause menu.
4. Select Play Together.
5. Choose Invite Friends.
6. Select the friend’s platform or Ubisoft-connected identity shown by the game.
7. Have the invited player accept, then wait for the session to finish assembling before starting the activity.

This follows Ubisoft’s current co-op support route. The original game manual also places friend invitations in the Play Together menu.

Starting from a mission marker

Co-op missions and heists also appear as icons in Paris. Interacting with one can start matchmaking or a private-group activity, depending on the available prompt and party state. Assemble the party first when playing with a specific friend; otherwise, the game may search for public players instead of holding the activity for the intended group.

Can You Play the Full Campaign in Co-op?

No. The main Assassin’s Creed Unity campaign remains single-player. Co-op is a supporting set of missions and heists inside the same Paris map, not a shared version of every sequence.

Players keep their own Arno, gear, skills, and progression. The group sees multiple assassins in the session, but each participant is effectively playing their own customized Arno rather than choosing a separate campaign character.

Is Assassin’s Creed Unity Co-op Still Online in 2026?

Ubisoft’s support page and the current PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam listings still advertise Unity’s co-op features as of October 2, 2026. That is evidence that the feature remains supported in the product documentation, but it is not a guarantee that every region or session is healthy at every moment.

GamerHeadlines did not perform a live matchmaking test for this guide. Server status, maintenance, local network conditions, subscription status, and account linking can all affect an invitation. Check the relevant Ubisoft and platform status pages before assuming a permanent shutdown.

How to Fix Assassin’s Creed Unity Co-op Not Working

Start with the requirements that most often block a session, then move to service and network checks.

1. Confirm both players finished Sequence 3

The host and invited player should both reach free roam after Sequence 3. If only one player has unlocked co-op, the party can fail before it forms.

2. Confirm the platform match

PS4 and PS5 players can meet only through the PlayStation version. Xbox One and Xbox Series players can meet only through the Xbox version. PC players cannot join either console family.

3. Confirm console multiplayer access

PlayStation’s listing requires a PlayStation Network account and PlayStation Plus for online multiplayer. Xbox lists an eligible Game Pass multiplayer subscription for console online play. A subscription lapse can look like a game-specific connection failure.

4. Check account and friend visibility

Verify that both Ubisoft accounts are linked to the intended platform accounts and that neither player is appearing offline or blocking invitations. On PC, confirm that Ubisoft’s client recognizes both copies before launching the game.

5. Check service status and restart cleanly

Check Ubisoft, PSN, Xbox, or Steam status as appropriate. If no outage is reported, close the game fully, restart the platform client or console, and send a fresh invite from Play Together rather than reusing an expired notification.

6. Test the network path

Strict NAT, router filtering, VPNs, or unstable Wi-Fi can stop peer connections. Restart the router, disable a nonessential VPN, and try a wired connection where practical. Do not forward ports from an unverified old forum list; use current Ubisoft and platform support instructions for the player’s exact system.

Does Unity Co-op Require DLC?

No. The core co-op missions and heists are part of Assassin’s Creed Unity. Both players need the base game and the normal online requirements for their platform, but they do not need a paid co-op expansion.

The Dead Kings expansion is a separate free add-on on current console listings. Its availability does not turn the main campaign into co-op and is not required to invite a friend into the base game’s dedicated activities.

Is Unity Worth Buying Only for Co-op?

Unity’s co-op is best treated as a substantial side mode, not a complete shared campaign. It offers a distinctive four-assassin version of Paris, but players buying two copies solely to play together should accept three limits: no crossplay, a Sequence 3 unlock, and a finite set of dedicated activities.

For the broader single-player verdict, read the updated Assassin’s Creed Unity review. The original GamerHeadlines test found strong art direction and flexible assassination objectives, but also criticized traversal, combat response, map clutter, and broken launch-period co-op connections. The launch-era PC issue coverage provides historical context; it should not be read as a current server-status report.

Ubisoft calls Y11S3.1 a set of refinement changes, small adjustments meant to polish gameplay details, improve consistency, and enhance quality of life without shifting the meta. The studio said the goal is to help the game evolve at a steady pace.

Operator Refinement Changes

Buck’s Skeleton Key now holds 36 rounds, up from 31. The extra ammunition keeps him in vertical play longer and extends his utility through the round. Castle’s Armor Panel takes 10 melee hits to destroy, up from 9, so attackers need more time to clear his barricades.

Fenrir’s F-NATT Dread Mine reaches maximum gas range in 1.9 seconds, down from 2, so he can react to attackers more quickly. Maestro’s Evil Eye battery lasts 9 seconds instead of 8. Thermite’s Exothermic Charge deals 220 hp of damage, up from 200, which raises the risk for defenders near reinforced surfaces. Sledge swings his Breaching Hammer in 0.8 seconds, down from 1.

Weapon Tuning and Bug Fixes

The M1014 shotgun base damage rose to 30 hp from 28 hp, a change that affects Ace, Castle, Pulse, and Thermite. The SPAS-15 rose to 26 hp from 24 hp, a buff for close-range fights that keeps its range limits and affects Caveira and Thunderbird.

The update also fixes a range of gameplay and operator bugs. Many relate to Noor’s Horus Lance, including shield operators such as Montagne’s Le Roc Shield, Ying’s Candela, and Blackbeard’s H.U.L.L Adaptable Shield. Other fixes cover misaligned attacker spawn locations on the House map, a blank camera screen at the Basement bombsite on Villa, a compass error on Consulate that showed the wrong floor, question mark icons in the Team Deathmatch kill feed, and Alibi’s Prisma decoys that occasionally face the wrong direction.

User Experience Fixes

User experience fixes keep team colors from resetting after Match Replay, stop the C4 Detonator from showing white when team colors change, and let players in a Squad reconnect to an ongoing match after a disconnect. Shooting Range teammates will no longer follow the Squad Leader into a Custom Online Lobby. Ubisoft asks players to report bugs through the Bug Reporter.

The implementation supports cross-progression, challenges, and rewards through Steam while removing the requirement for another third-party application. The latest update for The Lost Crown appears to eliminate the previous need to open Ubisoft Connect when launching the game through Valve’s storefront, although some account-linking requirements seemingly remain.

Prince of Persia begins the Ubisoft Connect Services test

An announcement published on Steam identifies Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown as the first game using Ubisoft Connect Services. Instead of routing those players through the separate Ubisoft Connect application, the backend service is intended to retain the Ubisoft ecosystem features attached to the game while allowing the Steam version to operate without that additional launcher.

The supported functions named in the announcement are cross-progression, challenges, and rewards. Ubisoft has therefore not described the change as the removal of its online services or account ecosystem. It is changing how those services are delivered to Steam users, with the new backend application handling features that were previously tied to the standalone software.

The standalone launcher may no longer need to stay installed

Players will seemingly still need to use Ubisoft Connect when linking a Ubisoft account to Steam. Once that connection has been made, however, games supporting Ubisoft Connect Services would not require the standalone launcher to remain installed. That distinction means the account layer may persist even as the separate desktop application is removed from the regular launch process.

The latest update to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown appears to make that model possible for the first time. The game had previously required Steam players to open Ubisoft Connect and sign in to Ubisoft’s ecosystem. Following its connection to the Ubisoft Connect Services backend, the additional launcher no longer appears to be part of the game’s normal Steam startup process.

Ubisoft plans to improve the Steam integration

The rollout message calls the implementation “an initial step toward a smoother and more streamlined launch experience on Steam.” Ubisoft also says it will continue iterating on Ubisoft Connect Services, with the stated goal of preserving the features and services players expect while making the Steam experience more seamless.

That wording presents the current implementation as a developing service rather than a finished replacement deployed throughout Ubisoft’s catalogue. The Lost Crown is the initial test case, and the announcement does not provide a schedule or identify other games that could receive the same integration.

A wider Ubisoft rollout remains unconfirmed

PCGamesN reports that Ubisoft Connect Services could be extended across the publisher’s wider catalogue if the first implementation succeeds. That wider rollout is UNCONFIRMED: Ubisoft has not provided a supported-games list, named the next title in line, or announced a timetable for expanding the service.

For the moment, the concrete change is limited to the Ubisoft Connect Services implementation associated with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. Its significance lies in the technical model being tested: Ubisoft can retain cross-progression, challenges, and rewards while potentially removing the need for Steam players to keep a second game launcher installed. Whether that model becomes standard across more Ubisoft games will depend on decisions the publisher has not yet detailed.

In Rainbow Six Tactics, players step into the role of Six, the commander of the Rainbow unit, leading a squad of up to four Operators through a campaign that emphasizes careful planning, coordinated breaches, and adaptability. The announcement highlights that the game retains the “core DNA” of Rainbow Six, translating its signature tactical depth into a turn-based format.

The reveal positions Rainbow Six Tactics as a notable departure from the series’ first-person shooter roots, promising a slower, more methodical approach to Rainbow Six’s established gameplay loop. With a roster of 15 Operators drawn from Rainbow Six Siege, the game aims to appeal to both longtime fans and newcomers to the tactical genre.

From FPS to Turn-Based: A Natural Transition

Creative Director Elie Benhamou explained the shift in perspective, emphasizing the shared tactical foundation across Rainbow Six titles. “Rainbow Six games all share a common tactical core: intel, planning, high-stakes decision-making, and elite Operators with distinct roles,” Benhamou said. “So, transitioning from FPS to turn-based gameplay was smooth and natural for us, as we could keep all these elements while shifting the players’ perspective and pace of actions.”

This design philosophy is reflected in the game’s mechanics, which include destructible environments—a hallmark of the series. Players can break through walls to create new lines of sight, destroy enemy cover, and open new entry points, maintaining the franchise’s emphasis on environmental manipulation.

Key Features: The Breach and Operator Roster

One of the standout features is The Breach, a synchronized assault that temporarily breaks the turn-based rhythm, allowing all active Operators to move simultaneously as they storm a new area. This mechanic is designed to inject moments of high-intensity action into the otherwise methodical gameplay.

The game offers a roster of 15 Operators, all sourced from Rainbow Six Siege, including fan favorites like Ash, Sledge, Nokk, and Montagne. Each Operator brings unique abilities, specialized gadgets, and distinct skill trees, encouraging players to experiment with squad compositions and strategies.

Between missions, players can train their Operators, review gathered intelligence, and strengthen their team’s overall capabilities, adding a layer of meta-progression to the campaign.

Campaign and Mission Variety

Rainbow Six Tactics features a campaign with dozens of possible missions set in diverse locations around the world. Mission types include hostage rescue, bomb disposal, and target elimination, each presenting its own set of challenges. The variety aims to keep the tactical gameplay fresh and test players’ adaptability in different scenarios.

The game is currently available to wishlist on the Xbox Store, though no release date has been announced. As a single-player experience, Rainbow Six Tactics marks a significant expansion of the Rainbow Six franchise beyond its competitive multiplayer roots, offering a narrative-driven alternative for fans of tactical strategy.