The dagger of time has run out of sand. Ubisoft shocked the gaming world in January 2026 by canceling Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake after over five years in development hell. A Reddit post on r/GamingLeaksAndRumours recaps the saga, from 2021 delays to yesterday’s kill order amid Ubisoft’s massive layoffs and studio closures. Fans mourning a modern take on the 2003 classic now wonder if Prince will ever rewind properly.
The Cancellation Bombshell
Ubisoft’s official statement hit hard: The project showed potential but fell short of quality bars, demanding too much time and cash to fix. Originally announced in 2020 for a 2021 launch by Indian studios, it shifted to Montreal in 2022 for a reboot with Unreal Engine 4. A 2024 teaser promised 2026 delivery, but fiscal pressures won. It’s one of six axed games, with seven more delayed including Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag remake.
Creator Jordan Mechner called project kills brutal, sharing his own pains. Dev leaks claim it was near finish but halted by layoff fears, scattering teams.
Timeline of Delays and Drama
This remake’s journey was a mess from jump:
- 2020: Announced for Jan 2021 with CGI trailer; fan backlash over visuals.
- 2021: Delayed to 2022; first bad trailer fuels memes.
- 2022: Full reboot at Montreal; radio silence.
- 2024: Ubisoft Forward teases 2026 window.
- 2025: Rumors peg mid-Jan 2026; earnings hint FY26 inclusion.
- Jan 2026: Canceled in restructure; staff layoffs follow.
Recent Prince titles like Lost Crown (2024 metroidvania hit) and Rogue Prince (2025 roguelite) sold soft, sealing the remake’s fate.
Why It Fell Apart
Ubisoft’s woes piled up: mismanagement, flops like Star Wars Outlaws, investor pressure. The remake symbolized endless scope creep – faithful parkour, time powers, Farah AI upgrades proved tricky. Devs jumped ship amid uncertainty, per Reddit posts from insiders. Quality dipped below OG’s charm, echoing Assassin’s Creed Shadows backlash.
Bright side: Franchise lives via spin-offs. Evil Empire’s Rogue Prince keeps momentum; potential sequels eyed.
| Project | Status | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| Sands of Time Remake | Canceled | Cost/quality issues |
| Lost Crown Sequel | Canceled | Low sales |
| Rogue Prince | Released 2025 | External dev success |
| Black Flag Remake | Delayed | Restructuring |
Future for Prince of Persia
Ubisoft vows no franchise exit. Rogue Prince updates roll; Lost Crown DLC lingers. Fans push fan remakes or emulation of OG. State of Play might nod Ubisoft projects, but Sands is dust. Mechner eyes indie paths post-cancel.
Community split: Relief from remake dread, grief for what-ifs. Original’s rewind magic deserves respect – maybe a spiritual successor rises.
FAQs
Why cancel now?
Ubisoft restructure; too costly to polish after 6 years.
Was it almost done?
Dev leaks say near release, but quality lagged.
Other Prince games?
Rogue Prince out; Lost Crown had soft sales.
Refunds for preorders?
Yes, automatic via Ubisoft Connect.
Creator’s reaction?
Mechner: Brutal, but understands business.
Franchise dead?
No – Ubisoft commits to future titles.
Play original?
Ubisoft+ or emulation; holds up great.
Final Thoughts
Sands of Time remake’s end hurts, but frees Prince for fresh starts. Ubisoft learns hard lessons; fans rewind to classics. Dagger might glow again – stay hopeful. What’s your fave PoP memory?