How to Disable Game Center in IPadOS 16?

I just upgraded my iPad Air (v.3) to iPadOS 16 and now it's trying to make me create a Game Center account just to play the one game that I use. I have played this game for years without Game Center. I don't want Game Center. I'm never going to play against anyone else (it's a card game) and I'm never going to post results online.

As soon as I open my game, the Welcome to Game Center splash comes up and the only way to get rid of it is to quit the game (or, presumably, create an account). In prior OS versions Game Center may have launched but there was a way to close it. At one time there was a way to disable Game Center in the Settings app, but now Game Center is invisible in Settings.

Can anyone advise how to get rid of this thing?

Thanks!!