Ubisoft starts its own version of Steam Early Access with 4 games available to test, including 2 early prototypes

At the show, Ubisoft announced The Player Council, a PC‑only platform that recruits volunteers to play unfinished builds of four projects: the PvP tactics game Codename Split Point, the strategy title Codename Rook, the open‑world extreme‑sports sandbox Riders Republic, and a revamped version of the 2017 shooter Altomega. Participants sign a general nondisclosure agreement, request slots, and, if accepted, join a closed community where developers answer questions and reward deeper involvement with access to additional titles. Ubisoft emphasizes that testing prototypes costs nothing, while live‑content testing is limited to owners of the full game.

The move mirrors Valve’s Steam Early Access but removes the monetary transaction, relying on Ubisoft’s internal budget to fund development. By offering direct, iterative feedback without a purchase barrier, Ubisoft hopes to capture the community‑driven polishing that indie studios have leveraged for years. Competitors such as Epic Games and Microsoft have experimented with similar “preview” programs (e.g., Epic’s Playtest Live), but Ubisoft’s approach is distinct in its formal council structure and NDA requirement, suggesting a more curated, data‑rich environment for developers to iterate quickly.

If the council delivers actionable insights, Ubisoft could accelerate the polishing of its mid‑tier titles and reduce post‑launch patch cycles. However, the NDA may limit public discourse, potentially shielding the company from early criticism but also reducing transparency that fuels community trust. Success will hinge on the quality of the feedback loop, the willingness of developers to act on it, and whether the council can scale beyond the initial four games. Watch for metrics on participation rates, any announced updates stemming from player input, and whether Ubisoft expands the service to console platforms or monetizes it in future iterations.