Ubisoft has introduced a new initiative called The Player Council, a play‑testing hub that gives members of the gaming community the opportunity to try out unfinished game ideas and share their thoughts straight with the studio’s development teams. The service is being rolled out in a soft‑launch phase and is integrated with Ubisoft Connect as well as the Games2Gether community platform, creating a seamless bridge between players and creators. The Player Council is designed to let participants engage with both brand‑new prototypes and live, already‑released PC titles. During the initial launch, four projects are available for testing.
Two of these are early‑stage prototypes: the multiplayer‑focused "Codename Split Point" and the single‑player strategy experience "Codename Rook." In addition, two existing live games—"Riders Republic" and "Atomega"—are part of the offering, allowing players to experience upcoming updates and provide feedback on content that is already in the hands of the broader audience. A notable example is the game "Atomega," which is slated to receive its first major update in nine years.
Ubisoft explains that by involving members of The Player Council, the company can "test new ideas, gather player feedback and suggestions, and then make changes and develop future content based on community input." This collaborative approach aims to ensure that future patches and expansions are shaped by the very people who will be playing them. Looking ahead, Ubisoft plans to expand the roster of playable projects. Two additional co‑op titles—"Codename Decagon" and "Codename Harlequin"—are slated to join the platform later in the year, further broadening the range of genres and gameplay experiences that testers can influence. Signing up for The Player Council is free of charge, but prospective participants must agree to a non‑disclosure agreement (NDA) before they can apply to any of the listed projects.
Once registered, players can submit applications for the specific games they are interested in. If a developer selects a player, that individual gains access to the build, can play the content, and is then asked to submit detailed feedback. The platform also pairs testers with other community members, fostering discussion around potential improvements, while developers share insights into their decision‑making processes as they evaluate the feedback and iterate on the builds. Ubisoft has been clear that there is no monetary cost associated with testing prototypes.
For live‑service titles, testing is limited to participants who already own the game in question, meaning no additional purchases are required to join the testing loop. The program employs a tiered system to reward continued involvement.
All new members start at the "Member Access" level. As they contribute more feedback and demonstrate consistent engagement, they can unlock higher tiers such as "Insider Access" and "Shaper Access," which grant entry to more sensitive projects and earlier‑stage content that is not yet public.
The company also indicated that the platform will evolve over time, with fresh features, new development tools, additional games, and further prototypes being added as The Player Council matures. This ongoing expansion reflects Ubisoft’s broader strategic shift, announced last month, toward a more selective publishing model. Rather than relying heavily on the traditional blockbuster launch cycle for each new title, Ubisoft intends to lean more on its existing back‑catalogue and live‑service offerings to generate revenue. In its 2025/26 annual report, Ubisoft warned that releasing a game prematurely, or launching it alongside competing high‑profile releases, major technical or artistic innovations, or simultaneous in‑game events, can severely diminish its commercial impact.
By involving the community early through The Player Council, Ubisoft hopes to mitigate those risks, ensuring that games are polished, well‑timed, and aligned with player expectations before they hit the wider market. Overall, The Player Council represents a significant step toward a more collaborative development process, giving dedicated fans a voice in shaping the future of Ubisoft’s games while providing developers with valuable, real‑world data to refine their creations.