More than five years after its reveal, and just when fans of the series were expecting the shadow to be cast, the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake is no more. Ubisoft's explanation didn't really explain why this is the case at all, so a developer working on the project held a Q&A to try and answer as many questions about the remake's cancellation as possible.
A developer led by SocramVelmar claims on Reddit that he worked on the Sands of Time remake, and judging by the in-depth answers they've given to some of the questions Prince of Persia fans have about him, it looks like he's telling the truth.
Why cancel The Sands Of Time remake after so many years in development?
One of the most confusing parts of this situation is, after all these years of development, why now? The developer hosting the Q&A was asked exactly that, and the fan who asked the question commented that after spending all that time and money, Ubisoft would rather have something to show for it than nothing at all when the game seemed so close to completion.
It turns out that almost done and actually ready are not the same thing. The developer responded that it wasn't about how much time and money had already been spent, but rather how much of it would need to be pumped in to get the remake to a state where Ubisoft was happy with it. They refer to the situation as bosses choosing to “stop the bleeding” rather than release something they don't have confidence in.
This is why the higher ups at Ubisoft had no faith in a Sands of Time remake that could leave Prince of Persia fans shaking their heads. The developer explains that internal challenges, differing opinions and even rumors surrounding the game were factors that contributed to its cancellation.
Ubisoft's share prices have plummeted following a major restructuring and game cancellations
Ubisoft's share price is now at its lowest level in more than a decade.
A Sands Of Time remake will simply never be what modern Ubisoft is all about
However, it sounds like Sands of Time just isn't the kind of game Ubisoft is interested in right now, as it doesn't fit the open-world formula it's become known for. “There's been a big push towards big open-world experiences for a while, so it's harder for more strictly linear experiences to find oxygen, even though they're very popular,” explains the developer. “Sands of Time has always been about pace and flow, and that doesn't always match where the priorities seem to be.”
With all of this in mind, it's still somewhat puzzling that Ubisoft gave the green light to a Sands of Time remake and let development continue for a long time before pulling the plug. The Sands of Time remake was never going to be the big open-world experience you've come to expect from Assassin's Creed. It also sounds like, despite Ubisoft's claims to the contrary, the Prince of Persia series may not have a future unless there is a talented enough development team to fit Ubisoft's open-world formula. While it's possible, I'm not sure it would be a game that would interest Prince of Persia fans.
- Released
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October 28, 2003
- ESRB
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Teen // Blood, obscene themes, violence
- Developers
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Ubisoft Montreal
- Engine
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Nephrite
