Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake was set to be one of Ubisoft’s many ambitious re-releases celebrating the legacy of its best titles. Unfortunately, turmoil within the company has seen the French studio cancel this remake multiple years after it was first announced.
Although most of the inner details regarding the remake’s cancellation remain a mystery, a developer who worked on the project has shared details on why the game was axed so suddenly. It is said that Ubisoft’s fixation on open-world games played a major role in this outcome.
As reported by Prince of Persia universe on Twitter/X, the developers behind this cancelled project answered several fan questions on Reddit following the latest announcement.
When asked why the project was let go of so suddenly, SocramVelmar explained that Ubisoft’s general focus is on open-world titles, and this seemed to clash with the core philosophy of the Prince of Persia remake’s more linear style.
Ultimately, it appears internal and management problems brought about the demise of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, with every small thing playing a role in the eventual cancellation. If the developer is to be believed, such a remake won’t come to fruition until Ubisoft moves away from its focus on open-world adventures.
Unfortunately, the French gaming giant has publicly reiterated its focus on this style of gameplay, leaving little room for smaller-scale linear games, even when they are related to an iconic franchise like Prince of Persia.
It felt like Ubisoft was heading in a different direction overall. There’s been a big push toward large, open-world experiences, and that makes it harder for linear games to find oxygen”. – SocramVelmar
Replying to the same thread, Prince of Persia Universe also pointed out that the Reddit topic has now been deleted. Still, it comes as a surprise that Ubisoft wasn’t willing to bet big on Prince of Persia, especially after The Lost Crown was so well received by critics and players alike.
For the fans, this news has come as a major shock. Many have been left disheartened by the fact that Ubisoft is so inclined toward the open-world format that it ended up cancelling a new entry in the series that was the precursor to Assassin’s Creed and ultimately paved the path for the team’s long-term success.
