Ex-Developer Claims Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake Was Nearly Complete but Hampered by Internal Conflicts at Ubisoft

In a recent shake-up, Ubisoft has scrapped several projects, including the highly anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. A user on Reddit, claiming to be a developer involved with the game, shared some insights into the situation.

The Redditor, known as SocramVelmar, responded to questions on r/PrinceofPersia about the game’s cancellation, revealing that the decision came quite late in the development process and highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the project. Their identity remains unverified due to non-disclosure agreements, as they requested proof of their claims.

Internally, the reason cited for the cancellation was “restructuring,” which left many feeling frustrated, especially since it seemed the game was nearing completion. “I’m honestly upset because I think it was close to the finish line. I was working remotely and we were told that we had to go back to the office soon, but I didn’t make it out of the chopping block,” the developer expressed.

The Sands of Time faced delays primarily due to the pandemic, having been announced in 2020, and was later restarted by a different team midway through development. Allegedly, there was a lack of “internal alignment” among leadership, leading to indecision.

“Design probably had it the worst,” the Redditor noted. “They’d be trying to lock down how something should feel or play, while other teams were already moving in slightly different directions. That kind of push and pull leads to rework instead of progress, and over time that friction adds up way more than any leak ever could.”

This situation reflects broader issues at Ubisoft, where remaking a classic action-adventure title didn’t align with the company’s current focus on competing in the triple-A market. “There’s been a big push toward large, open-world experiences for a while, and that makes it harder for tighter, linear games to find oxygen, even when they’re well loved,” they added. “Sands of Time was always about pacing and flow, and that doesn’t always line up with where priorities seem to be.”

This would have marked the first major Prince of Persia release since 2010’s The Forgotten Sands. In 2024, two smaller titles, The Lost Crown and The Rogue Prince of Persia, were released, showcasing Ubisoft’s renewed interest in the franchise. However, the outlook now seems less optimistic, and the idea of another developer taking over the project doesn’t inspire much hope.

“It’s technically possible, but there’s a lot more going on than just finding new funding,” the developer reflected. “A new publisher usually means revisiting rights, scope, timelines, and sometimes even reworking parts of the game to fit a different vision.”

Alongside the cancellation of Sands of Time, five other unannounced games and one mobile title were also axed. Unfortunately, the sands of time continue to slip away for Prince of Persia as Ubisoft navigates its future direction.

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