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Ubisoft is letting owners of its Xbox games play select titles for free on PC as part of a new partnership with Microsoft
Microsoft and Ubisoft have launched a partnership that lets owners of certain Ubisoft games on Xbox play those titles on PC at no extra cost, in a move that blurs the boundary between console and PC ownership for shared franchises. The scheme works by linking eligible games to a player's Ubisoft Connect account, Ubisoft's PC launcher, meaning previously Xbox-only purchases become accessible on PC without buying the game again.
The offer covers thirteen titles, including Assassin's Creed Mirage, Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Far Cry 6, Watch Dogs Legion and The Crew 2 and Motorfest, with new purchases appearing on Ubisoft Connect immediately and existing ones expected to show up by 4th August. The arrangement does not work in reverse, so PC copies cannot be converted into Xbox ones, and while owned DLC transfers across, consumable items and in-game currency may not, with players advised to check a game's Properties page on Ubisoft Connect to confirm what has carried over. Separately, Microsoft and Ubisoft also announced that several premium editions, such as Assassin's Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws, are now available through the Xbox app on PC, alongside add-ons for other Ubisoft franchises.
In short
- Owning select Ubisoft Xbox games now unlocks free PC versions via Ubisoft Connect
- Thirteen titles qualify; existing purchases appear by 4th August
- DLC transfers, but in-game currency and consumables may not; no PC-to-Xbox conversion
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
This partnership genuinely benefits consumers by maximising the value of their existing purchases and providing flexibility in how they access their games across platforms. Rather than maintaining artificial boundaries, it recognises that modern gamers often own multiple systems and should enjoy comparable access to their libraries. It represents positive industry cooperation that respects consumer rights and removes unnecessary technical barriers to accessing already-owned content.
The case against
Whilst appearing consumer-friendly, such preferential partnerships between major corporations risk fragmenting the market and entrenching the dominance of established players. The asymmetrical arrangement—working only from Xbox to PC—and incomplete transfers of digital goods suggest underlying power imbalances that could disadvantage competitors. When large platforms create exclusive inter-company arrangements, they risk limiting fair competition and consumer choice across the broader gaming ecosystem.
Explained simply
Microsoft and Ubisoft have created a partnership that lets gamers access certain Ubisoft games on two different platforms with just one purchase. Specifically, people who buy a Ubisoft game on an Xbox console can now play it on PC at no additional cost.
This is significant because video games have traditionally been sold separately for different platforms – if you wanted to play on both Xbox and PC, you would normally have to buy the game twice. This partnership challenges that model, potentially making gaming more accessible and offering better value for players who own multiple systems.
The system works through Ubisoft's account service, which links your game library across platforms. The arrangement only works in one direction though – Xbox game purchases can be accessed on PC, but not the other way around.
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