Almost everyone uses Steam, Epic or other software. But which platform is the best? MeinMMO presents you with a ranking of the most important platforms.
How did our ranking come about? For our ranking, we recorded all the important platforms and then voted internally on the various platforms in the editorial department. Our ranking was created from this data and is therefore reliable.
We have deliberately not included pure key seller shops, such as Gamesplanet or Humble Bundle, in the list because otherwise the selection would have been too limited. Humble Bundle also offers DRM-free offers, but does not have its own client or other functions.
8th place: Ubisoft Connect (formerly: Uplay)
Company: Ubisoft | Security: 2FA with email or mobile number | Download link
The strengths: Ubisoft Connect is the platform of the French company of the same name, Ubisoft. They distribute all of their games via this software. In addition to a shop and a library, achievements and cloud saves for certain games are also integrated. Games can be installed and updated relatively easily via this.
Ubisoft+ also offers a paid subscription with which you can play all Ubisoft games at no extra charge.
There is also a loyalty system: for certain achievements or purchases you receive so-called Ubisoft Connect Units (formerly: Uplay Units), which you can use for a discount coupon in the in-house shop. You can redeem 100 points for a 10% discount.
The weaknesses: Ubisoft requires Ubisoft Connect for all games. This regularly leads to chaotic situations and compatibility problems with Steam. In addition, there are sometimes serious problems with the authentication of game licenses, which are sometimes not recognized correctly.
Ubisoft Connect also uses aggressive advertising for its own products after starting the client and after closing games. Some people report that some payment options only work to a limited extent or not at all via Ubisoft Connect.
Ubisoft had undermined its own loyalty system by introducing an expiration date for Uplay units. Saving up for a discount voucher for years is now only possible to a limited extent.
Some people on Reddit complain that you always have to give Ubisoft Connect admin rights multiple times when starting up. We were able to confirm the problem in our editorial office.
Ubisoft Connect does not offer any community features such as reviews, guides or discussions. Additionally, Ubisoft shut down the official forums on April 25, 2023 and only offers a Discord group.
7th place: EA App (formerly: Origin)
Company: ElectronicArts | Security: 2FA with email | Download link
The strengths: The EA app is the official software from Electronic Arts. You can buy games in the EA app, otherwise the EA app is mandatory for all EA games, no matter which platform you buy on.
EA App offers a shop, a library and internal achievements. Rudimentary profile functions (such as comparing with friends) are also included.
EA offers two paid subscription models for games, EA Play and EA Play Pro, with which you can play numerous EA games at no extra charge.
The weaknesses: The EA app has compatibility issues with other platforms like Steam. Players report faulty licenses or that their game won’t start on Steam because the EA app doesn’t run properly.
If you use Game Pass and Steam, you will have multiple versions of the EA app installed in parallel instead of using the same installation.
On the next page you will find places 6 to 3, which we would like to introduce to you in detail.