Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake’s Full Development History Explained

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When Ubisoft announced the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time six years ago, it felt like a welcome revival of a truly important game – one that deserved to be revisited by modern players. Too often, the gaming industry focuses on nostalgia without delivering quality remakes. Unfortunately, the remake’s development became a very public struggle, and ultimately, the project was cancelled along with several other unreleased games.

The cancellation of The Sands of Time Remake is a strange story, much like how innovative the original game was. The remake was essentially restarted twice over five years before being completely abandoned. Despite growing instability within Ubisoft, the development team consistently showed they were dedicated and working hard on the project. How things ultimately ended says a lot about the direction Ubisoft is heading, and to fully understand it – and what the company does next – it’s important to look back at the entire development history of Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake from the very beginning.

Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time’s 2020 Reveal

Ubisoft initially showed a preview of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time Remake during their Ubisoft Forward event in September 2020. The game was being developed by Ubisoft’s studios in Mumbai and Pune, and was originally scheduled to launch on January 21, 2021. The plan was to bring the classic franchise back to players with a smaller-scale, more modest update. While the preview showed a working version of the game, fans felt it was closer to a remastered version than a full remake, with graphics that didn’t impress and uncertainty about whether the gameplay would be significantly different.

When they first announced the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, the reaction was… complicated. Longtime fans like me were hyped to see the series come back, but almost immediately people started criticizing how it looked. That initial response really set the stage for everything that followed. It felt like Ubisoft was trying to please us fans, but behind the scenes, they clearly weren’t confident in the project. Looking back, that reveal was the last time anyone actually showed off a version of the game that felt close to being finished.

New Year’s Delays and Doubt

As a big fan of Prince of Persia, I was really excited when Ubisoft announced the Sands of Time remake. But then, in December 2020, they said it needed more development time and would be delayed until March 2021. Honestly, that was just the first sign of trouble. Then, just a couple of months later, in February 2021, they completely cancelled that March date and said the game was delayed indefinitely. It quickly became clear that the problems with the remake were much bigger than just needing a little extra polish – something was seriously going wrong behind the scenes, even though the initial reaction from fans wasn’t overwhelmingly positive.

Fan Feedback and Mixed Signals

People watching from afar began to worry this project might fail, or at least change significantly. At first, the many delays for the Sands of Time remake were seen as positive – most believed the game just needed more development time. However, Ubisoft stopped giving updates after postponing the remake indefinitely. As months turned into a year, the lack of news started to speak for itself; in the game industry, silence often means a project has been cancelled.

2022 Hard Reset with a Familiar Developer

As a big fan, I was so relieved when Ubisoft finally gave us an update in May 2022! They confirmed the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake was still happening, but they’d moved development to Ubisoft Montreal – the team that made the original game, which was awesome news. They admitted things weren’t going well with how they’d been working on it, so they basically started over. While it was a little frustrating to hear that almost two years of work had to be scrapped, knowing Montreal – the creators of the classic – was now in charge definitely made me feel a lot better.

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In retrospect, concentrating the project within a well-established studio aligns with Ubisoft’s current leadership’s broader strategy. However, initially, the decision primarily aimed to transform the remake into a more substantial undertaking. There was widespread dissatisfaction with what appeared to be a basic graphical refresh, so Ubisoft Montreal was assigned the task of reimagining the game for today’s standards.

2023 and Ubisoft Montreal’s Vision of Azad

Image via Ubisoft

After a long period of no updates, Ubisoft shared some initial details about the remake in May 2023. In an interview, Producer Jean-Francois Naud and Game Director Michael McIntyre explained the team was still in the early stages of development, creating prototypes and deciding what was most important for the gameplay. They also cautioned fans that there wouldn’t be any more news about the game in 2023.

The team at Ubisoft Montreal is carefully rebuilding the game, focusing on improving existing gameplay rather than completely changing it. According to McIntyre, they’re using everything they’ve learned from 20 years of game development, as well as studying successful recent remakes, to refine movement and combat. Naud explained that the goal is to modernize the game while still staying true to the original, and this approach provides a clear direction for the project, even though it’s still some time away from being finished.

Internal Milestones Hit in November

Image via Ubisoft

Later that year, in November, Ubisoft celebrated the 20th anniversary of the first Prince of Persia game and briefly announced the remake had reached a significant internal goal. While the update was short, it indicated the remake was still being actively developed. It wasn’t a major announcement, but it reassured fans that the project hadn’t been abandoned, even though its release was still some time away.

2024 Brought Full Production and Renewed Ambition

Image via Ubisoft

During Ubisoft Forward in June 2024, a brief cinematic trailer for The Sands of Time revealed the game would simply be titled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, dropping the “Remake” subtitle, and is now slated for a 2026 release. Ubisoft later confirmed the game is now in full production at Ubisoft Montreal, with help from several other studios, led by Michael McIntyre and Creative Director Jade Adam Granger.

The developers showcased a working version of the game, confirming that its main concepts were solid, and focused much of their discussion on story updates. Granger admitted the game had been in development for a long time, explaining that remakes have become much more complex, demanding significant improvements to the characters, camera work, and how the game is controlled. This update signaled that the game was now fully in production, briefly reassuring fans who had started to doubt whether it would ever be finished.

Ubisoft’s Crashing Wave

Even though Ubisoft presented a confident face with The Sands of Time, the company was facing growing financial difficulties in 2024. Rising production costs and a reliance on games that constantly needed updates and new content were putting a strain on their resources. Even well-promoted games often struggled to earn back their development costs, and Skull & Bones—another project that had been in development for a long time—became a prime example of how lengthy development and frequent changes in direction could ultimately harm a game instead of improving it.

2025’s Lone Sign of Life

Image via Ubisoft

After a year with no news, the official Prince of Persia social media account shared a quick update confirming that the game is still in development. Along with some new artwork, the post thanked fans for their patience and highlighted the team’s dedication. It was a small message, intended to reassure fans that the most exciting parts of the project are yet to come.

Looking back, what seemed like a comforting message feels much more uncertain now. By then, Ubisoft was clearly facing financial difficulties, which makes the remake’s development even harder to understand. It appears the project was moving forward amidst constant changes within the company and intense pressure to improve its stock performance.

2026, Ubisoft’s Restructuring, and The Sands of Time’s Cancellation

Image via Ubisoft

On January 21, 2026, Ubisoft unexpectedly canceled the Prince of Persia Remake, explaining that they couldn’t deliver a game that met fans’ expectations. This cancellation was part of a larger decision to cut six projects as the company restructured. It was a sudden end for a game that was once expected to be a major success, especially considering how much progress had been made.

According to Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot, the company is undergoing a major reorganization with the creation of new “Creative Houses.” However, this restructuring actually involves significant layoffs and the closing of some studios, with further cuts expected. The planned remake of Prince of Persia was cancelled as a result, highlighting a focus on profits and efficiency that overshadowed creative projects.

The Meaning Left Behind

Looking back at what happened can be tough, especially when people’s livelihoods are involved, but it’s easy to remember things differently than they actually were. Honestly, it’s becoming clearer and clearer that after that initial cancellation in 2020, the deck was really stacked against this game. Even a classic like Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time couldn’t escape problems with funding or just plain bad management, which is a real shame.

It’s still unclear what the latest attempt at recreating Sands of Time was like. While details will likely emerge, one thing is certain: remakes aren’t simply about staying true to the original game. They also have to consider the current gaming landscape and industry standards.

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2026-01-28 22:42