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As part of a significant corporate overhaul, Ubisoft has terminated several high-profile projects this week, including the long-anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. In the wake of this sudden cancellation, an individual claiming to be a developer on the project has shared a candid look behind the scenes via Reddit.
Posting under the handle SocramVelmar, the user addressed various inquiries on the r/PrinceofPersia subreddit. They detailed how late the decision arrived and the internal hurdles that plagued the game’s development. While their identity hasn’t been officially verified due to NDAs, the session provided specific insights into the project’s final months.
The developer noted that “restructuring” was the internal explanation given for the move, expressing deep frustration as the team felt they were on the cusp of a release. “I’m genuinely disheartened because I believe we were nearing the finish line,” the poster shared. “I had been working remotely and was recently told to prepare for a return to the office, only to find myself part of the layoffs instead.”
The Sands of Time remake faced a grueling production cycle, beginning with its 2020 announcement, enduring pandemic-related delays, and eventually being handed off to a new studio to be rebuilt from the ground up. According to the source, leadership suffered from a chronic lack of “internal alignment,” which led to crippling indecision.
“The design team likely had the most difficult time,” the Redditor explained. “They would attempt to finalize the game’s mechanics and feel, while other departments were already pivoting in different directions. This constant tug-of-war resulted in endless reworks rather than actual progress—friction that ultimately proved more damaging than any public leaks.”
This situation appears to be part of a larger systemic shift at Ubisoft, where traditional linear remakes are struggling to compete with the company’s focus on massive triple-A titles. “There has been a heavy emphasis on sprawling, open-world environments lately, which leaves little room for focused, linear games, even if they have a dedicated fanbase,” they added. “Sands of Time was built on pacing and flow, which no longer seems to match the studio’s current priorities.”
This project would have marked the first major 3D Prince of Persia title since 2010’s The Forgotten Sands. Although 2024 saw the release of The Lost Crown and The Rogue Prince of Persia—both of which were well-received and signaled a potential revival for the IP—the cancellation of the remake suggests a retreat from the franchise’s cinematic roots. When asked if another publisher could take over, the developer wasn’t optimistic.
“It’s theoretically possible, but it involves much more than just finding a new budget,” the source mused. “A new publisher would have to navigate complex licensing rights, redefine the project’s scope, and likely overhaul significant portions of the game to align with their own vision.”
Alongside this cancellation, Ubisoft reportedly scrapped five other unannounced titles and one mobile project. For now, it seems the Prince of Persia remains trapped in the past as Ubisoft continues to search for its future direction.
Source: gamesradar.com
