Ubisoft has offered a fresh update on the development of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake following cancelation rumors. Although 2003's Prince of Persia is regarded by many as one of the greatest video games of all time, Ubisoft's eventual remake has been criticized for dated graphics, and it's been repeatedly delayed since its announcement in 2020. The remake's development has been in a state of uncertainty for some time, but Ubisoft has finally given fans some answers.
Although announcements that Prince of Persia was delayed indefinitely earlier this year have sparked rumors that the action game may never be released, Ubisoft has clarified that the Prince of Persia remake is still in development at Ubisoft Montreal, as reported by VGC. Pre-orders for Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time have been canceled and refunded, but Ubisoft has stated that they may re-open when a release date is finally confirmed for the title. Ubisoft has also confirmed that there are no other Prince of Persia remakes planned, and any other details regarding The Sands of Time will be revealed in later stages of development.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake Has Had A Troubled Past
The initial announcement trailer showed off Ubisoft's stylistic Prince of Persia graphics, which were ultimately deemed off-putting and extremely outdated by viewers. While many fans assumed this style was due to deadlines or a lack of funds, Ubisoft India assured viewers that the graphical style was just to make The Sands of Time's remake stand out. That said, the Prince of Persia franchise is very beloved, and many of its fans are expecting the remake to provide impressive visuals that can more easily compare with modern AAA titles. This expectation has contributed to the negative reaction Ubisoft India's initial reveal received.
Although Ubisoft India did respond to fans' concerns over the game's graphics, Prince of Persia's negative fan response appeared to be the reason for its first delay. The Sand of Time's release date moved from January 2021 to March 2021, and in November 2022 it still has yet to be released. Since development moved from Ubisoft India to Ubisoft Montreal and has been stuck in a state of delay, it's likely that the visuals of the Prince of Persia remake have been completely altered.
It's worth noting that with all the waiting and the updates provided by Ubisoft regarding Prince of Persia's development, fan expectations of The Sands of Time's remake may have been raised even higher. It will be difficult to please everyone, but if The Sands of Time's graphics have improved, and the time-rewinding, action-packed aspects that had fans impressed in 2003 are intact, then the eventual release may be successful. While rumors of the development of a new Prince of Persia game inspired by Ori are circulating, fans are still waiting for Ubisoft's remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.
