Ubisoft's stable of franchises is so large that even IPs with loyal followings sometimes get neglected. Though Prince of Persia has had a huge impact on gaming and arguably birthed the now-inescapable Assassin's Creed series, Ubisoft has not given the franchise the attention it deserves. As a result, even though the Prince of Persia remake has been announced, there has been no word on it for a while, and signs don't seem good for the game's future.
Ubisoft claims it is experiencing financial strains which are causing it to cancel lower priority projects in favor of higher priority ones. It wouldn't be surprising to learn that the Prince of Persia remake has been put on the back burner as the company focuses on bigger games like Assassin's Creed and Avatar. This could be upsetting for fans of the platforming franchise, though it would be best if Ubisoft would simply confirm or deny the game's existence instead of leaving things up in the air.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake's Initial Reception and Troubles
With its mix of slasher fun and precision platforming, Prince of Persia is a unique franchise that earned its iconic position in gaming. Unfortunately, there hasn't been a new entry in the series since 2010, which has left fans begging for more intriguing adventures. It initially seemed that Ubisoft heeded the calls of fans because, in 2020, it was revealed that a remake of 2003's Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was on the way. This sparked plenty of excitement because Sands of Time is considered to be one of the best entries in the series thanks to its time-twisting mechanics and action-packed gameplay.
Trouble started showing up early on, however, as the announcement trailer came with less than enthusiastic reception, with the main complaint being that the graphics were subpar. Ubisoft defended the project, claiming that the graphics were an intentional artistic choice. Nevertheless, the game was delayed from January 2021 to March 2021, though this soon turned into an indefinite delay. Signs of troubled development appeared again when the game was moved from Ubisoft Mumbai and Ubisoft Pune to Ubisoft Montreal in 2022. With this came the announcement that Ubisoft is no longer targeting a 2022 to 2023 release window and the Prince of Persia remake was delayed again, suggesting that gamers could be waiting a while before they see more of the game.
Should Gamers Still Expect the Prince of Persia Remake?
Although Ubisoft has not publicly canceled the Prince of Persia remake, it might be a good idea for gamers to not hold their breath for it. Even if the game is not officially canceled, it is almost certainly not a top priority for the company currently. In 2022, it was revealed that Ubisoft is choosing to stop the development of certain games so that the development team can focus on higher-priority projects. This came in the wake of Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora being delayed.
Already, several previously announced titles have been canceled, and a recent financially-focused press release revealed that the company has canceled three more unannounced games. With Ubisoft canceling seven games in seven months, it would not be a surprise to learn that Prince of Persia has been put on hold indefinitely or canceled without a public announcement. Although this may be disappointing, it may be a necessity for the company due to its current financial position, as the press release also revealed that Mario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope underperformed during the holiday season.
Although Prince of Persia doesn't seem like it is in the cards for 2023, gamers can expect other releases from Ubisoft this year. This includes Assassin's Creed: Mirage which will focus on Basim, as well as Skull and Bones. Though Prince of Persia's fate is sad, it does not endure this fate alone.
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake is in development.