Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia Remake Reportedly Near Completion Before Cancellation

Ubisoft’s planned remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time was recently among six projects that faced cancellation as part of a significant overhaul in the company’s internal framework. Following this announcement, which hinted at future developments involving more “player-facing generative AI,” Ubisoft’s stock plummeted to its lowest level in over 14 years.

Adding to the discontent, a series of posts on Reddit, allegedly from a developer involved in the project, suggest that the remake was nearing its completion. The user, known as SocramVelmar, stated, “Although the game was close to release, development halted abruptly due to internal doubts and fears about layoffs. With uncertainty in the air, some team members opted to move to other studios that offered greater job security.”

If the game was so near to its final stages, one might question why not make an effort to push it through to completion. SocramVelmar elaborated, “Just because something is ‘close’ doesn’t imply it’s ‘ready.’ At that juncture, the focus shifts from how much time and money has already been invested to how much additional effort would be required to produce a product that the publisher is willing to endorse. Sometimes, management determines that it’s more economical to cut losses than to release a product they lack confidence in, even if it seems wasteful from the outside.”

Essentially, the repercussions of a failure could be more detrimental for Ubisoft than the decision to halt production, affecting not just their finances but also their reputation. In today’s gaming landscape, there’s an expectation for post-launch support, meaning that even a game labeled as “finished” demands further resource investment.

Furthermore, SocramVelmar pointed out that titles like The Sands of Time have struggled to align with Ubisoft’s current strategic direction. They mentioned, “There has been a significant emphasis on expansive, open-world experiences for quite some time, making it increasingly challenging for more compact, linear games to gain traction, even when they are cherished. Sands of Time has always focused on pacing and flow, which doesn’t always sync with the current priorities.”

While the remake seemed poised to retain much of what made the 2003 version beloved, there were also intended modifications. “One feature we were excited about was the concept of time not merely acting as a rewind mechanism but rather as something that leaves a trace. Instead of simply undoing errors, players could interact briefly with echoes of their previous actions. For instance, you could activate a short time frame where a past version of yourself completes a jump, pulls a lever, or distracts an adversary while you advance,” SocramVelmar explained.

As SocramVelmar articulated, “You weren’t merely correcting mistakes; you were collaborating with time itself.” This innovative approach to the original concept sounds intriguing, leaving fans disappointed that they will not witness its realization. “I doubt there will be any leaked source code,” SocramVelmar remarked, “at least not from my end.”