Ubisoft has introduced a brand‑new initiative known as The Player Council, a dedicated play‑testing platform that allows members of the gaming community to engage with unfinished game concepts and give their thoughts straight to the creators. Built on the foundation of Ubisoft Connect and the Games2Gether community service, this hub is designed to bridge the gap between developers and players by offering a structured environment where early ideas can be examined, refined, and ultimately shaped by real‑world player input. The platform’s soft launch currently showcases four distinct projects. Two of them are fresh prototypes that are still in the conceptual phase: the multiplayer experiment titled Codename Split Point and the single‑player strategy venture called Codename Rook.
In addition to these nascent titles, Ubisoft has opened up two live, already‑released games for testing purposes – Riders Republic, its extreme‑sports open‑world title, and Atomega, a futuristic combat shooter that has not seen a major update in nine years. By allowing participants to experience both brand‑new prototypes and existing live services, The Player Council aims to gather a wide spectrum of feedback that can inform everything from core gameplay loops to post‑launch content strategies. Ubisoft explains that the purpose of this program is to "test new ideas, gather player feedback and suggestions, and then make changes and develop future content based on community input." In practice, this means that once a player signs up, they can apply to join any of the open projects. If a developer approves the application, the tester gains access to the build, plays through it, and then submits detailed impressions, bug reports, and improvement ideas through the platform’s feedback tools.
The process is collaborative: testers are grouped with other participants to discuss their experiences, while developers share insights about why certain design decisions were made and how the community’s comments will influence subsequent iterations. Participation is free of charge, but Ubisoft requires all testers to sign a non‑disclosure agreement (NDA) before they can access any material. This legal safeguard ensures that unreleased features, story elements, or technical innovations remain confidential until Ubisoft decides to make them public. Existing owners of the live games – such as Riders Republic or Atomega – can join the testing streams without purchasing additional copies; the only prerequisite is that they already possess a valid license for the game in question.
The Player Council uses a tiered membership system to reward active contributors. Everyone who registers starts at the "Member Access" level, which grants basic testing privileges.
As testers provide valuable feedback and demonstrate consistent engagement, they can advance to higher tiers. The "Insider Access" tier unlocks more sensitive projects, giving participants a glimpse at earlier‑stage concepts that are not yet ready for broader exposure. The top‑most tier, "Shaper Access," offers the most privileged position, allowing members to work on the most confidential prototypes and to influence the direction of games that are still in the very early phases of development.
This gamified progression encourages a steady flow of high‑quality input while giving enthusiastic community members a sense of ownership over the games they love. Looking ahead, Ubisoft has promised that the catalog of projects available through The Player Council will continue to grow.
Two additional co‑op prototypes, Codename Decagon and Codename Harlequin, are slated to join the platform later in the year, further expanding the variety of genres and gameplay experiences that testers can explore. Ubisoft also hinted that future updates may include new tools for creators, experimental mechanics, and even early builds of upcoming titles that have not yet been announced to the public.
The launch of The Player Council aligns with Ubisoft’s broader strategic shift outlined in its 2025/26 annual report. The publisher is moving away from a reliance on blockbuster, single‑launch titles and is instead focusing on a more selective model that leverages its extensive back‑catalog and live‑service games for sustained revenue. By involving the player base directly in the development cycle, Ubisoft hopes to mitigate the risks associated with releasing games that are either under‑cooked or launched at inopportune times, such as during competing AAA releases or major in‑game events.
The company argues that early community involvement can highlight potential pitfalls, improve polish, and ultimately increase a game’s commercial impact when it finally reaches the wider market. In summary, The Player Council represents Ubisoft’s commitment to a more collaborative development philosophy. It offers gamers a rare opportunity to shape the future of both new prototypes and existing live titles, all while receiving transparency about the decision‑making processes that drive game design.
By rewarding active participants with tiered access and by expanding the roster of projects over time, Ubisoft aims to create a vibrant ecosystem where player insight directly informs the evolution of its games, ensuring that upcoming releases are more aligned with the expectations and desires of the community.