Ubisoft has introduced a new initiative called The Player Council, a dedicated play‑testing platform that invites members of the gaming community to try out upcoming ideas and provide direct input to the studio’s developers. Built on the foundation of Ubisoft Connect and the Games2Gether community framework, this service aims to bridge the gap between creators and players by allowing the latter to experience early concepts, prototype builds, and even live updates for existing PC titles. During its soft‑launch phase, The Player Council will feature four distinct projects.
Two of these are brand‑new prototypes: the multiplayer‑focused "Codename Split Point," which explores innovative online combat mechanics, and the single‑player strategy title "Codename Rook," designed to test novel AI and tactical systems. The other two entries are live games that already have an established player base: the extreme‑sports open‑world adventure Riders Republic and the futuristic shooter Atomega.
Notably, Atomega is slated to receive its first major update in nine years, making the Council’s involvement a potentially pivotal moment for the title’s evolution. Ubisoft emphasizes that participation in the Council will enable its teams 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 testers will not only play the games but also engage in structured discussion forums where they can highlight strengths, point out pain points, and propose enhancements.
Developers, in turn, will share insights into their decision‑making processes, explaining why certain features are tweaked, retained, or discarded based on the feedback loop. Looking ahead, Ubisoft plans to expand the roster with two additional co‑op projects—"Codename Decagon" and "Codename Harlequin"—which are expected to join the platform later this year. These titles will further diversify the range of experiences available to Council members, from asymmetrical multiplayer battles to narrative‑driven cooperative adventures. The enrollment process is straightforward and free of charge, though prospective testers must agree to a non‑disclosure agreement (NDA) before gaining access.
Once registered, participants can apply to the various projects that interest them. Acceptance is determined by the development teams, who will evaluate each applicant’s suitability based on factors such as platform ownership, prior testing experience, and availability.
Successful applicants are then granted permission to download the relevant builds, play them, and submit detailed feedback through the Council’s integrated reporting tools. Feedback is not a one‑way street.
Players are grouped with fellow testers to foster collaborative discussion, allowing them to compare notes and collectively suggest improvements. Meanwhile, developers will periodically release updates that reflect the community’s input, creating a transparent iteration cycle that keeps both sides informed of progress and rationale. Ubisoft makes it clear that there is no monetary cost associated with testing prototypes. For live‑content testing, participants must already own the game in question, but no additional fees are required to join the play‑testing sessions.
The platform employs a tiered access model to reward active contributors. All members start at the "Member Access" level, which grants basic testing privileges.
As users submit more feedback and demonstrate consistent engagement, they can unlock higher tiers—"Insider Access" and "Shaper Access"—which open doors to more sensitive projects, early‑stage content, and deeper involvement in the development pipeline. The company also hints at a steady stream of future additions. New tools, experimental features, and even entirely fresh game concepts are slated to appear on The Player Council as the service matures, ensuring that the community remains at the forefront of Ubisoft’s creative endeavors. This launch aligns with Ubisoft’s broader strategic shift announced last month, wherein the publisher intends to adopt a "more selective model" for its releases.
Rather than relying heavily on blockbuster launches for each new IP, Ubisoft plans to lean more on its extensive back‑catalogue and 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 fierce competition—whether from other AAA releases or from major in‑game events and updates—can severely diminish a title’s commercial impact. By involving players early through The Player Council, Ubisoft hopes to mitigate those risks, fine‑tune experiences before wide release, and sustain long‑term engagement across its portfolio. In summary, The Player Council represents Ubisoft’s commitment to a more collaborative development approach.
It offers gamers a rare opportunity to influence the direction of both nascent prototypes and established live games, while providing developers with authentic, real‑world data to shape their products. As the platform evolves, it may become a cornerstone of Ubisoft’s strategy to balance innovative releases with the stability of its existing franchises, ultimately delivering richer, player‑centric experiences across the board.