Choose Steam if one library, Steam checkout, and Steam’s community features are most important. Choose the Ubisoft Store or Ubisoft Connect if you prefer a direct Ubisoft account relationship, Ubisoft’s advertised midnight launch-day readiness, or Ubisoft+ access. Either way, check the individual game’s account-linking, launcher, cross-progression, edition, and refund details before paying.
Steam and Ubisoft Connect are not interchangeable licenses
Steam is a third-party PC storefront. Ubisoft Connect is Ubisoft’s free account and service layer, used for account authentication, friends, chat, rewards, library management, and other connected features. The Ubisoft Store is Ubisoft’s direct sales channel, while Ubisoft Connect PC is the launcher used for many Ubisoft PC purchases.
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A purchase creates a license through the storefront where you paid. Linking Steam to a Ubisoft account can enable supported online, crossplay, or cross-progression features, but it does not turn a Steam license into a second Ubisoft Store license. Conversely, buying directly from Ubisoft does not grant a Steam copy.
Ubisoft lists Steam, Epic Games Store, Amazon.com, Ubisoft Store, and other retailers among its approved worldwide retailers. It recommends using a digital retailer in your own country or region because availability, currency, taxes, editions, and activation rules can vary.
#1 Best Overall
![Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 1,200 R6 Credits | PC | Ubisoft Connect [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41+yBQvd5OL._SL160_.jpg)
- 1,200 in-game credits for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.
- Use these credits in-game to purchase the newest Operators, uniforms, weapon skins, charms, and more!
- R6 Credit code will be delivered via email from Amazon and redeemed in the Ubisoft Connect launcher
At-a-glance comparison
| Decision factor | Steam purchase | Ubisoft Store or Ubisoft Connect purchase |
|---|---|---|
| Storefront license | License is delivered through Steam; Ubisoft account linking may still be required. | License is delivered through Ubisoft’s account and store ecosystem. |
| Launcher | Exact behavior is game-specific. Some titles start from Steam and invoke Ubisoft Connect; newer integrations can differ. | Ubisoft Connect PC Launcher is required for the direct-store flow. |
| Account linking | Follow the title’s Ubisoft linking prompt and use the intended Ubisoft account. | Use the Ubisoft account that will own the game and receive progression. |
| Refund guidance | Check Steam’s current terms in Steam Support or at checkout; a specific Steam threshold is not established here. | Ubisoft’s current guidance allows a request within 14 days when played for less than two hours, subject to policy conditions and exclusions. |
| Crossplay and cross-progression | Available only when the particular game and platforms support it and accounts are linked. | Also title- and platform-dependent; direct ownership does not make every feature universal. |
| Launch timing | Follows Steam’s release and preload implementation for that title. | Ubisoft advertises games purchased from its Store as ready to play at midnight on launch day, where applicable. |
| Social features | Steam friends, achievements, overlay, reviews, cloud features, and community tools are available according to Steam and game support. | Ubisoft Connect provides Ubisoft friends, cross-platform chat, rewards, recommendations, library management, and Steam-friend import. |
| Subscription route | A Steam purchase is separate from Ubisoft+. | Ubisoft+ is a separate subscription with catalog access and other benefits that depend on tier, game, platform, and current terms. |
How Ubisoft account linking affects a Steam purchase
Ubisoft documents a flow for linking a Steam account to a Ubisoft account. Linking can make supported crossplay and cross-progression features available, but the exact result depends on the game and platform combination. The account used at first launch can therefore matter long after installation.
Before you launch
- Confirm which Ubisoft account you intend to use. Do not casually create a second account if your existing account contains rewards, friends, or progression.
- Read the game’s current support page for its required launcher and account-linking sequence.
- Check whether the feature you care about is crossplay, cross-progression, shared DLC, or merely online authentication; these are different entitlements.
What linking does not do
- It does not provide a second storefront license.
- It does not guarantee that a save, DLC package, competitive rank, or premium currency will move between platforms.
- It does not make every Ubisoft game launch through an identical sequence of clients.
If the game presents an account-selection prompt, stop and verify the email or account name before confirming. Changing a linked account later can require support intervention and may not preserve every entitlement.
Launcher requirements: expect a game-by-game answer
There is no single launcher rule that applies to every Ubisoft title sold on Steam. A Steam installation may start from the Steam client and then call Ubisoft Connect for authentication or updates. Another title may use a newer integration or present different prompts. Ubisoft’s direct-store benefits page explicitly requires the Ubisoft Connect PC Launcher for games purchased through the Ubisoft Store.
Typical Steam workflow
- Install the game in Steam and select Play.
- When prompted, install or update Ubisoft Connect PC.
- Sign in to the Ubisoft account you want associated with the game.
- Approve the account link and allow both clients to finish authentication.
- Start the game from the client requested by that title. Do not assume that closing one client will leave the game running.
Typical Ubisoft Store workflow
- Buy the game while signed in to the correct Ubisoft account.
- Install Ubisoft Connect PC from Ubisoft’s official software channel.
- Sign in, open the Library tab, and select the purchased title.
- Install any required game, launcher, or anti-cheat updates before launch.
- Use the Ubisoft Connect library for future installation and account verification.
These are practical patterns, not guarantees for every release. A title’s own support instructions take priority, especially for preloads, early access, test servers, and anti-cheat components.
Refunds: the direct Ubisoft rule and the Steam question
For purchases made through Ubisoft Connect PC or the Ubisoft Store, Ubisoft Help’s current guidance says a refund request can be made within 14 days when the game has been played for less than two hours. The threshold is a policy condition, not a promise that every request will be approved: exclusions and the applicable policy still apply.
Rank #2
![Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 2,670 R6 Credits | PC | Ubisoft Connect [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51tsk1SwE7L._SL160_.jpg)
- 2,670 in-game credits for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.
- Use these credits in-game to purchase the newest Operators, uniforms, weapon skins, charms, and more!
- R6 Credit code will be delivered via email from Amazon and redeemed in the Ubisoft Connect launcher
For a Steam purchase, check Steam’s current refund terms in Steam Support or the checkout information for that transaction. Do not assume that Ubisoft’s 14-day and two-hour rule governs a license bought from Steam; the storefront that processed payment normally handles the refund request.
| Where you paid | Where to begin a refund request | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Ubisoft Store or Ubisoft Connect PC | Ubisoft’s account support and refund workflow | Current guidance: within 14 days and under two hours played, subject to exclusions and policy conditions. |
| Steam | Steam Support | Review the current Steam terms for that purchase; Ubisoft’s direct-store rule should not be substituted. |
Keep the purchase receipt, order number, account email, and date of first launch. Those details make it easier to identify the correct storefront when a game appears in both libraries.
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Ubisoft describes crossplay and cross-progression as features that can let you access progression on another linked platform where the game is owned. Availability depends on the specific game and platform. The same account-linking screen can therefore produce different results in two different titles.
Check these items before switching stores
- Story saves: verify whether the game uses cloud saves across the platforms you plan to use.
- Competitive progression: confirm whether ranks, matchmaking history, and seasonal rewards are shared.
- DLC and editions: determine whether expansions, deluxe items, and season passes are platform entitlements or account entitlements.
- Premium currency: check the game’s support documentation; currency often has stricter platform limits than ordinary progression.
- Ownership: make sure you own the game on each platform where you intend to play. Cross-progression is not cross-buy.
Before uninstalling an old copy, launch it while online, allow synchronization to complete, and record the Ubisoft account in use. If a new installation starts with an empty profile, stop playing and verify the linked account rather than creating fresh progress that could complicate recovery.
Library and social features
Why Steam may fit better
Steam is the more convenient home when you want Ubisoft games beside the rest of your PC collection, one checkout system, a single friends list, Steam achievements, the Steam overlay, and Steam’s community pages. It can also simplify controller configuration and family library organization for users already invested in Steam. Which of these features appears in a particular Ubisoft game depends on the game’s integration.
Rank #3
![Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 7,560 R6 Credits | PC | Ubisoft Connect [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ges8-R9PL._SL160_.jpg)
- 7,560 in-game credits for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.
- Use these credits in-game to purchase the newest Operators, uniforms, weapon skins, charms, and more!
- R6 Credit code will be delivered via email from Amazon and redeemed in the Ubisoft Connect launcher
What Ubisoft Connect adds
Ubisoft Connect is designed around Ubisoft’s own catalog. Ubisoft lists cross-platform chat, friends, rewards, game-library management, Steam-friend import, and personalized recommendations among its features. Those functions can be useful if most of your playtime is in Ubisoft titles or if you want Ubisoft rewards and account activity in one place.
Buying from Steam does not eliminate Ubisoft Connect from the account layer. Buying directly does not provide Steam’s social ecosystem. Decide whether you value a broad platform library or a publisher-specific service before treating a small sale-price difference as the deciding factor.
Launch-day timing, preloads, and direct-store benefits
Ubisoft’s Store benefits page advertises direct-store games as ready to play at midnight on launch day. Treat that as Ubisoft’s advertised availability for the relevant release and region, not as a universal promise that every game, edition, time zone, or platform unlocks identically.
Steam releases follow the schedule and technical implementation shown by Steam for that title. A publisher may coordinate a simultaneous release, but storefront unlocks, preload windows, patches, and regional timing can still differ. Check the game’s official release information shortly before launch if playing at a precise hour matters.
Direct Ubisoft purchases also keep the commercial relationship with Ubisoft in one account and use Ubisoft’s own refund workflow. Those advantages matter most to buyers who expect to use Ubisoft Connect long term, rather than to someone who wants every game managed in Steam.
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Rank #4
- Visa Virtual eGift Cards are designed for online use only. Gift Cards are subject to Terms and Conditions: a.co/5bw3qXJ
- When you access your Visa Virtual eGift Card for the first time, you’ll need to register your name, address, phone number, and email address via activationspot.com. These details should also be used as your billing address for online purchases, as many merchants require address verification for purchase authorization.
- This Visa Virtual eGift Card is non-reloadable. No cash or ATM access. Visa Virtual eGift Cards are emailed active.
- Funds do not expire but your Visa Virtual eGift Card has a ‘valid thru’ date (9 years from date of purchase). If funds remain after this date has passed, please call the Toll Free number found on your Visa Virtual eGift Card for a replacement card. A one-time purchase fee applies at the time of checkout.
- This item is not eligible for refund, resale, or return. Available for sale within the United States only. Not available to residents of Puerto Rico, Hawaii, New Mexico, South Dakota, West Virginia and the US Virgin Islands.
Ubisoft+ is a separate buying path
Ubisoft+ is a subscription, not a different way to convert a Steam purchase into a Ubisoft license. Ubisoft’s support information describes subscription tiers with benefits that can include catalog access, eligible cross-platform access, day-one releases or early access when offered, preload on Ubisoft Connect PC, rewards, and discounts. Eligibility depends on the tier, title, platform, region, and current terms.
Consider the subscription when you want to sample several Ubisoft games, play a new release for a limited period, or use included catalog access instead of owning individual licenses. Consider a purchase when you want permanent access to that storefront license after a subscription ends. Confirm which edition and downloadable content a subscription includes; inclusion can differ from buying a complete edition.
Regional pricing, editions, and approved retailers
Prices, taxes, currencies, stock, bundles, and activation restrictions change by country and date. Ubisoft recommends choosing a digital retailer in your own region. A lower displayed price in another country may be unavailable to your account, use a different edition, omit local taxes, or violate the seller’s activation terms.
Compare like with like: standard versus deluxe editions, included season passes, preorder bonuses, language packs, and platform-specific extras. A discount percentage is not meaningful if one store is selling a different package.
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| Verify before checkout | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Country and currency | Determines taxes, payment acceptance, activation region, and support eligibility. |
| Edition contents | Deluxe items and season passes may be separate entitlements. |
| Storefront account | Determines where the license, receipt, and refund request live. |
| Launcher requirement | Controls installation, updates, sign-in, and offline behavior. |
| Release timing | Preload and unlock times can differ by store and region. |
Step-by-step decision process
- List your non-negotiable features. Choose Steam if a unified Steam library and social layer are essential. Choose Ubisoft’s store if direct account ownership, advertised midnight readiness, or Ubisoft+ is the priority.
- Open the game’s support documentation. Confirm launcher sequence, supported account links, crossplay, cross-progression, cloud saves, and DLC behavior.
- Compare equivalent editions in your region. Include taxes, currency conversion, bonuses, and any subscription entitlement.
- Read the applicable refund terms. Ubisoft’s direct guidance is 14 days with less than two hours played, subject to conditions; Steam buyers must check Steam’s current policy.
- Buy through the storefront you are prepared to keep using. The license remains tied to that storefront even when accounts are linked.
- Record the account used at first launch. Save the receipt and Ubisoft account email so future installations use the same ownership path.
Troubleshooting common problems
The game appears in Steam but Ubisoft Connect says it is not owned
Confirm that Steam and Ubisoft Connect are signed in to the accounts linked during first launch. Sign out of both clients, restart them, and repeat the title’s official linking process. Do not purchase the game again until support confirms which account owns the entitlement.
Best Value
![Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege 16,000 R6 Credits | PC | Ubisoft Connect [Online Game Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/516X+h+c-bL._SL160_.jpg)
- 16,000 in-game credits for Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege.
- Use these credits in-game to purchase the newest Operators, uniforms, weapon skins, charms, and more!
- R6 Credit code will be delivered via email from Amazon and redeemed in the Ubisoft Connect launcher
My saves or progress are missing
Check that you are using the same Ubisoft account and the same game edition. Then verify whether that title supports cross-progression for the two platforms. A missing save can reflect unsupported transfer rather than a failed download.
The launcher loop keeps returning to sign-in
Update Steam and Ubisoft Connect, close duplicate client processes, and launch from the client specified by the game. Temporarily disable overlays or security software only for troubleshooting, then restore your normal protections. If the loop persists, use the game’s Ubisoft support instructions instead of unlinking accounts repeatedly.
A refund request is rejected
Check which store charged your payment method, whether playtime and purchase age meet that store’s current terms, and whether an exclusion applies. Submit the request to the charging storefront with the order number and account details.
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| Your priority | Better starting point | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Every PC game in one library | Steam | You keep the purchase alongside your existing Steam collection and social tools. |
| Direct Ubisoft account relationship | Ubisoft Store | The license, launcher, support path, and Ubisoft rewards remain in one ecosystem. |
| Midnight launch-day availability advertised by Ubisoft | Ubisoft Store | Ubisoft specifically advertises this benefit for direct-store purchases, subject to release conditions. |
| Trying several Ubisoft games | Ubisoft+ | A subscription may provide catalog access, releases, or discounts according to its current tier terms. |
| Cross-platform friends or progression | Either, after verification | The deciding factor is title support and correct account linking, not simply the storefront. |
| Most flexible refund assumption | Neither without checking | Refund rights follow the store’s current policy; Ubisoft’s documented threshold does not automatically apply to Steam. |
Bottom line
Steam is the practical default for players who value one broad PC library and Steam’s social ecosystem. Ubisoft Store or Ubisoft Connect is the better fit for direct Ubisoft ownership, Ubisoft’s advertised midnight launch readiness, and Ubisoft+ integration. The purchase decision does not remove the need for Ubisoft Connect account management: verify the game’s launcher, linking, cross-progression, DLC, regional, and refund rules before checkout.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
