If you play PC games through the Xbox app, you’ve probably noticed something frustrating: many big-budget titles from EA and Ubisoft don’t support Xbox achievements. While first-party Microsoft games and even plenty of smaller indie titles shower you with Gamerscore, major releases like the Battlefield series, The Sims, or Assassin’s Creed leave your achievement list untouched. This gap can feel confusing, especially when you’re playing the same game as a console owner but receiving a lesser experience. Here’s why this happens, what it means for your profile, and what you can do about it.
Understanding Xbox Achievements on PC
Xbox achievements aren’t just a console perk. They are a platform feature tied to your Microsoft account. When a game is part of the Xbox ecosystem, whether on a console, PC, or cloud, developers can integrate the same achievement system. On PC, this typically happens through the Xbox Live service, which is built into games obtained from the Microsoft Store or the Xbox app. When it works, your Gamerscore carries over seamlessly between devices.
However, the landscape on PC is fragmented. Many publishers, including EA and Ubisoft, prefer to operate their own storefronts and launchers. Games on Steam, for example, usually have Steam achievements. On Ubisoft Connect, you earn units and progress through a separate challenge system. On EA’s own app (formerly Origin), there are in-game accomplishments that don’t feed into Xbox. When those same games are offered on the Xbox PC app, they sometimes run through these third-party launchers in the background, which breaks the achievement chain.
Why EA and Ubisoft Games Lack Achievements
The root of the missing achievements lies in how the games are delivered and authenticated. When you install a game through the Xbox app that also exists on another launcher, two things can happen. In some cases, the game is a true native Xbox PC version with full Xbox Live integration. In others, it’s essentially a repackaged version that launches through the publisher’s own client. For the latter, achievements often go unsupported.
EA Play and the Dual-Launcher Problem
EA’s catalog on Xbox PC is offered through EA Play, a subscription bundled with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate. When you download an EA game, the Xbox app triggers a download and launch via the EA app. This means you are playing the EA version of the game, not an Xbox-specific build. The EA app has its own overlay and tracking, but no connection to Xbox achievements. Because the game never touches Xbox Live services beyond verifying your subscription, no achievements are unlocked.
EA could bridge this gap, but it would require each title to be rebuilt or patched to support Xbox Live achievements while running through the EA app. This is a non-trivial engineering effort for a back catalogue of dozens of games. Newer EA titles sometimes launch directly on the Xbox app without the EA launcher dependency, and those do have achievements, but they are the exception.
Ubisoft Connect and the Achievement Void
Ubisoft follows a similar pattern. Games like Assassin’s Creed Valhalla or Rainbow Six Siege on the Xbox PC app launch through Ubisoft Connect. Inside Ubisoft’s ecosystem, you have a Core Challenge system that rewards you with units and badges, but there is no integration with Xbox achievements. Even though these games are available on the Xbox app and you’re paying for them through Game Pass or outright purchase, the achievement list remains empty.
Some Ubisoft games on the Microsoft Store do have achievements, but these are typically the versions sold directly by Microsoft without Ubisoft Connect integration. Confusingly, Ubisoft sometimes lists the same game in two different editions on the Xbox PC store, one that uses the Ubisoft launcher (no achievements) and one that is a true Xbox version (with achievements). The problem is that this isn’t made clear before you download.
Technical and Business Reasons
Behind the scenes, the decision not to implement Xbox achievements on these games comes down to cost, control, and competition. Let’s break it down.
Developer Effort and ROI
Adding Xbox achievements to an existing game is more than flipping a switch. Developers need to implement the Xbox Live API, define achievement triggers, test them across platforms, and maintain them through patches. For a game already launched on Ubisoft Connect or EA’s platform, the return on investment may not be there, especially if the game is older or has a smaller PC player base on the Xbox app. Publishers prioritize features that drive sales, and achievements rarely influence purchase decisions on PC as much as they do on console.
Ecosystem Lock-In
Both EA and Ubisoft want you inside their own ecosystems. By keeping achievements exclusive to their launchers, they encourage you to use their client, where they can show you ads, sell you in-game items, and build brand loyalty. If all features were identical across storefronts, there would be less incentive to buy directly from the publisher, where they keep a larger share of revenue. This is the same reason you often see timed exclusives or exclusive in-game items on certain platforms.
Certification and Compliance
Microsoft has strict certification requirements for Xbox Live integration. Games must pass testing to ensure achievements unlock correctly and don’t break platform rules. Some older EA and Ubisoft games might not meet these standards without significant work. Publishers may decide it’s not worth the hassle for a game that’s already years old.
How to Track Progress Without Xbox Achievements
Just because you’re locked out of Xbox achievements doesn’t mean you can’t track your gaming milestones. Here are a few alternatives.
Ubisoft Connect Challenges
For Ubisoft games, the Core Challenges system offers a similar sense of progression. Completing challenges grants you units that can be spent on in-game rewards across all Ubisoft titles. While not identical to Gamerscore, it provides tangible goals. You can view your progress in the Ubisoft Connect overlay (Shift+F2 by default).
EA App In-Game Tracking
EA’s app often includes achievements or accomplishments for its games, though they are less prominent. Check the game’s hub in the EA app to see what you’ve earned. Some games, like The Sims 4, have internal collection systems that act as de facto achievements.
Third-Party Services
Platforms like Exophase and RetroAchievements can track your progress across multiple launchers, including Ubisoft and EA, by reading data from linked accounts. They won’t give you Xbox Gamerscore, but they provide a unified place to see all your gaming accomplishments.
Are There Any Workarounds?
Unfortunately, there is no official way to force Xbox achievements in games that don’t support them. The achievements must be built into the game code. Some players have attempted to use third-party tools to trigger achievement unlocks, but this violates Microsoft’s terms of service and carries a risk of account suspension. The only legitimate path is to check before you buy: look for the “Xbox achievements” label on the game’s store page in the Microsoft Store. If it says “Xbox Live” under capabilities, it should have achievements.
Buying the Right Version
If a game is available in multiple editions on the Xbox PC store, examine the details. Look for a version that does not mention Ubisoft Connect or EA app requirements. These are more likely to be native Xbox builds. Ask in community forums like Reddit’s r/XboxGamePass to see if other players confirm achievements work.
Will This Change in the Future?
There is a glimmer of hope. Microsoft and third-party publishers are slowly moving toward more unified experiences. EA has started releasing a few newer games that natively support Xbox achievements on PC without the EA launcher, such as It Takes Two and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. As older titles get remastered or re-released, they may receive achievement support. Ubisoft has not made similar moves yet, but the industry trend is towards reducing launcher fragmentation. Still, don’t expect a mass retrofit of back catalogue games; it’s more likely that future titles will launch with proper achievement support if the business case aligns.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all EA games on Xbox PC lack achievements?
No. Some newer EA titles that are fully integrated with the Xbox app and don’t require the EA launcher do have achievements. Examples include It Takes Two and Star Wars Jedi: Survivor. However, most older or EA Play titles rely on the EA app and lack Xbox achievements.
Can I earn Gamerscore for Ubisoft games on PC?
Only if you purchase the Xbox-specific version of the game that doesn’t launch through Ubisoft Connect. Check the Microsoft Store listing for the Xbox Live capabilities. Many Ubisoft games on Game Pass launch through Ubisoft Connect and do not support achievements.
Why do some EA games have achievements on Xbox console but not on PC?
The Xbox console versions are all tightly integrated with Xbox Live, guaranteeing achievements. On PC, EA games often use the EA launcher, which bypasses Xbox Live services. It’s a result of the different technical pipelines on each platform.
Is there a way to transfer Ubisoft Connect challenges to Xbox achievements?
No. The two systems are completely separate, and there is no bridge between them. Progress in one does not affect the other.
Will Microsoft force publishers to add achievements in the future?
It’s unlikely. Microsoft encourages but cannot mandate achievement support, especially for games distributed through third-party launchers. However, they may offer incentives or simplify the process to make it more appealing for publishers to include achievements on PC.
