Ubisoft has introduced a new initiative called The Player Council, a play‑testing platform that gives members of the gaming community the opportunity to try out unfinished ideas and provide direct input to the studios that create them. The service is being rolled out in a soft‑launch phase and is integrated with Ubisoft Connect as well as the Games2Gether community hub, allowing participants to engage with both experimental prototypes and live, already‑released PC titles. During this initial phase, four distinct projects are available for testing.
Two of them are early‑stage prototypes: the multiplayer‑focused "Codename Split Point," which explores new online competitive mechanics, and the single‑player strategy title "Codename Rook," which experiments with novel tactical systems. In addition, two fully launched games are part of the program: the extreme‑sports open‑world experience "Riders Republic" and the sci‑fi shooter "Atomega." A notable aspect of the Atomega inclusion is that it is slated to receive its first major update in nine years, meaning that members of The Player Council will be among the first to experience fresh content for a game that has long been dormant. Ubisoft explains that the purpose of the council is to "test new ideas, gather player feedback and suggestions, and then make changes and develop future content based on community input," effectively turning the community into a partner in the development cycle.
Looking ahead, Ubisoft plans to expand the roster with two additional co‑op experiments, "Codename Decagon" and "Codename Harlequin," which are expected to join the platform later this year. These additions will broaden the range of genres and gameplay styles that participants can influence. Joining The Player Council is free of charge, but prospective testers must agree to a non‑disclosure agreement (NDA) before they can apply to any of the available projects. After completing the registration process, users can submit applications for the titles that interest them.
If a developer approves an applicant, that player gains access to the build, can play the game or prototype, and is then asked to provide structured feedback. The feedback loop is designed to be collaborative. Testers are grouped with other participants so they can discuss their experiences, suggest improvements, and highlight any issues they encounter.
At the same time, developers will share insights into their decision‑making processes, explaining why certain changes are made or why certain concepts are retained. This transparency is intended to give the community a clearer picture of how games evolve from concept to finished product.
Ubisoft has clarified a few practical points about the program. Testing of early prototypes carries no monetary cost, and for the live‑content tests, participants must already own the game in question. This means that players who already have "Riders Republic" or "Atomega" on their library can simply opt in to the testing phase without needing to purchase anything additional. The platform uses a tiered access model.
All new members start at the "Member Access" level, which grants them basic testing opportunities. As participants contribute more feedback and demonstrate consistent engagement, they can unlock higher tiers such as "Insider Access" and "Shaper Access." These advanced tiers open the door to more sensitive projects, earlier‑stage prototypes, and content that is not yet publicly disclosed. Ubisoft emphasizes that The Player Council is a living service; new tools, experimental features, and even full games will be added over time. The company sees this as a way to keep its development pipeline responsive to player desires while also reducing the risk associated with launching untested ideas.
The launch of The Player Council follows Ubisoft's broader strategic shift announced last month, in which the publisher said it would move toward a "more selective model" for releasing titles. Rather than relying heavily on blockbuster launches, Ubisoft intends to lean on its extensive back‑catalog and ongoing live‑service titles to generate revenue.
In its 2025/26 annual report, the company warned that releasing a game prematurely, or timing a launch against major competing releases, major in‑game events, or sudden updates to other successful franchises can severely diminish a title's commercial performance. 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 broader market.