Ubisoft Merges Uplay and Ubisoft Club Into One Cross-Progression Platform

The launch of the new generation of console hardware is lining up right alongside the release of several new Ubisoft games. Today, the publisher announced a new platform that will, among other things, bridge the gap between these games, so your progression can carry through wherever you play.

Ubisoft Connect is Ubisoft's new "universal interface" that will span all platforms, starting with Watch Dogs Legion. It goes live on Oct. 29, 2020, and will bring together Ubisoft's various existing services like Uplay and Ubisoft Club.

Connect will act as a unified friends list and social hub, but it will also bridge platforms as well. In a press release, Ubisoft says full cross-progression across all platforms and services will be available for "some" of Ubisoft's upcoming games. That list currently includes Assassin's Creed Valhalla, Immortals Fenyx Rising, and Riders Republic.

The service is currently set to span PC, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One, as well as the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X and S when those platforms launch. There are also some features in the works for various cloud streaming services, including Google Stadia, Nvidia's GeForce Now, and the recently announced Amazon Luna, though those will arrive later this year.

Connect will also have all the extra activities and point-collecting of prior services like Uplay. There's even a tips section with specialized videos, not unlike the PlayStation 5's feature that will do something similar.

Moving into the next generation, having ways to bridge gaps and bring progression across various platforms has become a notable concern. Earlier this year, Epic's Tim Sweeney discussed the "walled garden" of consoles and the desire for something to connect players in the same game across platforms. It's at least comforting to know that if I'm picking up Valhalla and later switch to another platform, I won't be losing any of my hard-won plunder.