Ubisoft Cancels Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake

The Prince of Persia community has been waiting for a modern return to the classic Sands of Time adventure for nearly six years. That wait has now come to an abrupt and disappointing end. Ubisoft has officially announced the cancellation of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake, a project that has been in development hell since its initial announcement.

The decision was revealed as part of a major business reshuffle at the company. For fans who have followed the game's turbulent journey, the news marks the final chapter in a saga filled with delays, studio changes, and unmet expectations. The project's cancellation comes exactly five years to the day after its original planned launch date of January 21, 2021.

Ubisoft shared the news directly with fans through the official Prince of Persia social media channels. The statement acknowledged the deep disappointment felt by the community and the development teams who had poured years of work into the project.

We've made the difficult decision to stop development on Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake. We know this is deeply disappointing. The game carries enormous meaning for fans and for the teams who worked on it.

The company explained that while the project held real potential, they were unable to reach the level of quality fans deserve. Continuing development would have required more resources than the company could responsibly commit. Ubisoft emphasized that they did not want to release something that fell short of what The Sands of Time represents.

• Development officially halted after 5+ years
• Project failed to meet quality standards
• Decision made to avoid releasing a subpar product
• Franchise future remains uncertain

The path to cancellation was long and complicated. The remake was first announced in September 2020 with an initial release target of January 21, 2021. The project began development at Ubisoft's studios in Mumbai and Pune before undergoing a significant reboot in 2022.

Following the reboot, development was moved to Ubisoft Montreal—the studio behind the original 2003 game. Despite this change and the additional development time, the project struggled to find its footing. The company never fully detailed the specific challenges that plagued the remake's development over these years.

The cancellation is part of a broader restructuring at Ubisoft. The company also scrapped a planned sequel to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown following lackluster sales in 2024. Additionally, five other games were canceled and seven titles were delayed, including the Assassin's Creed: Black Flag remake.

Despite the cancellation, Ubisoft insists the Prince of Persia franchise is not dead. The company stated that the universe and legacy of the series continue to matter deeply to them. This commitment is reflected in the company's new organizational structure.

The Prince of Persia franchise has been named as part of Ubisoft's new fourth "Creative House" division. This suggests the brand remains an ongoing concern for the company, even if this specific remake project has been shelved. The franchise's most recent release was 2025's The Rogue Prince of Persia, developed externally by Evil Empire.

Prince of Persia as a universe and a legacy continues to matter deeply to us, and this decision does not mean we're stepping away from the franchise.

However, the exact future direction for the series remains unclear. Fans are left wondering what comes next for the iconic gaming franchise.

The announcement sent shockwaves through the gaming community. Fans who had been following the project for years expressed their disappointment across social media platforms. Many had held out hope that the game was nearing completion after years of silence.

Reactions ranged from sadness to resignation. Some fans noted they had seen the cancellation coming, while others expressed disbelief that the project had been abandoned after so much development time. The community's passion for the franchise was evident in their responses.

• Longtime fans expressed deep disappointment
• Some had predicted the cancellation after years of delays
• Others held out hope for a surprise release
• Many questioned the future of the franchise

The cancellation represents a significant loss for fans who were eager to experience the classic game with modern graphics and gameplay improvements. The project's failure to reach completion after nearly six years highlights the challenges of game development in the modern era.

The cancellation of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake marks the end of a long and uncertain journey. What began as an exciting announcement in 2020 has ultimately become a cautionary tale about the complexities of game development. The project's failure to reach completion despite years of work and multiple studio changes demonstrates the high standards required for modern game releases.

While the specific remake is no longer in development, the Prince of Persia brand continues. The franchise's inclusion in Ubisoft's new Creative House division suggests that the company still sees value in the series. However, fans will need to wait for future announcements to understand what lies ahead for their beloved franchise.

The gaming industry has lost a potentially great remake, but the original Sands of Time trilogy remains available for those wishing to revisit the classic adventures. For now, the Prince's story continues through other means, even if this particular retelling never materialized.