Ubisoft Connect
Also called uplay, ubisoft connect, upc
Ubisoft’s launcher, formerly Uplay. The process is upc.exe. It is not Steam, and it still injects into many Steam-bought Ubisoft titles.
What you need to know
Connect is Ubisoft’s Uplay successor. It still rides along on many Steam installs.
upc.exe is the Ubisoft account client. Steam can own the purchase and still start this process. That is not GOG’s optional Galaxy, and it is not Riot’s League launcher.
- What is it?
- Ubisoft launcher, formerly Uplay
- Need it on Steam?
- Often yes for Ubisoft PC titles
- Process?
- upc.exe
What is Ubisoft Connect?
Ubisoft Connect is Ubisoft’s Windows launcher and overlay. upc.exe signs you into Ubisoft services even when Steam sold you the box art.
If you have never used it
If you play Assassin’s Creed, Rainbow Six, or another Ubisoft PC title, this is the client Ubisoft renamed from Uplay. Download it from ubisoftconnect.com. Sign in with a Ubisoft account. It is not Steam. Buying the same game on Steam often still starts upc.exe for Ubisoft Club, overlay, and ownership checks. GOG’s optional Galaxy is the opposite idea. EA’s replacement story is Origin to EA app, not Uplay to Connect.
What is it used for?
Launch and update games Ubisoft publishes. Riot Client will not start Assassin’s Creed. Battle.net will not either.
Many Steam Ubisoft installs still require Connect. That two-client tax is a Ubisoft rule, not an Epic weekly-free story.
Ubisoft Club points and challenges live here. EA has its own EA Play overlay. They are not interchangeable menus.
Who is it for?
- People who own Ubisoft PC games on any store
- Players who still search for Uplay
- Anyone surprised that Steam started upc.exe
Current status
Ubisoft Connect (2012) is a current publisher launcher from Ubisoft. The vendor still points Windows users at https://ubisoftconnect.com/.
How old is it?
Ubisoft shipped Uplay in 2012 and rebranded it Ubisoft Connect. The Club rewards and always-on client habits date to that Uplay era. It is newer than Battle.net’s 1996 name and older than the 2022 EA app. A 2014 “disable Uplay overlay” guide is this product under the old name.
Versions
Major channels first. Exact build numbers are not all verified here.
System requirements
Values follow the publisher's public guidance. Workload still changes the real need.
Minimum
| Operating system | A current supported Windows 10 or Windows 11 release, per Ubisoft’s Connect notes |
|---|---|
| RAM | The client is light. Games set the real bar |
Resource profile
- Network demand
- Club sign-in and updates
- Disk demand
- High while a Ubisoft title downloads
Installed processes
These executables belong to this product when it is installed.
| upc.exe | Ubisoft Connect client |
|---|---|
| UplayWebCore.exe | Embedded web helper on many installs |
Startup components
Connect can start with Windows so the overlay is ready. Turn that off in Connect settings if you only play one Ubisoft title by hand.
File locations
| Typical install | C:\Program Files (x86)\Ubisoft\Ubisoft Game Launcher\ |
|---|
File formats
Common problems
Uplay name in old shortcuts
The product is Connect now. A leftover Uplay folder can still be this client under the old label.
Overlay crash in a Steam Ubisoft game
Disable the Connect overlay as a test. Ending steam.exe does not remove upc.exe.
Getting unstuck
Install from ubisoftconnect.com
Ubisoft hosts the client. A “Uplay crack” is bait. Repair Connect before you verify the Steam files blindly.
Link the Ubisoft account that owns the title
A second Ubisoft login looks empty even if Steam shows the game. That is Club ownership, not a missing GPU.
Run Connect as the first repair on a Ubisoft title bought in Steam
Help articles still walk through Connect repair. Valve’s verify does not replace that step.
Alternatives
Steam still sells some Ubisoft games, then starts this client anyway. EA app is the other publisher two-client tax. Playnite can list both without replacing Connect.
Official help and downloads
Start with the vendor. Random exe sites are not a support channel.
| Download | ubisoftconnect.com/ Official installer or vendor page |
|---|---|
| Help | www.ubisoft.com/help Vendor support |
| Official site | ubisoftconnect.com/ Start here, not a random exe host |
Related hardware
The client is light. Assassin’s Creed-class games set the GPU bar, not upc.exe.
Technical details
Technical details
Vendor version numbers change. This article does not pin a build.
Sources and verification
Reviewed by Feex editorial. Last verified August 2026 Status: Feex Reviewed. How we research.
- Ubisoft Connect official site · Vendor product page
- Ubisoft Connect help · Vendor support
- Ubisoft Support · Account, Connect, and game help
- Foxhole process map · First-party samples on Windows PCs. Not a lab benchmark.
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