Prince of Persia Creator Jordan Mechner Shares Heartfelt Response to Ubisoft’s Cancellation of Sands of Time Remake: “Artists Invest Their Hearts in Their Creations”
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The Prince of Persia franchise is widely recognized for its iconic PS2 classic, Sands of Time, and its sequels, but it all started back in 1989 with the original game created by Jordan Mechner and developed by Broderbund. Following the cancellation of the long-anticipated Sands of Time remake, which had been in development at Ubisoft for years, Mechner took to his blog to share his thoughts with fans and fellow developers affected by the news.
“I had hoped my first post of the new year would celebrate the release of The Sands of Time, but unfortunately, that’s not the case,” Mechner wrote on February 4. “The cancellation of the remake as part of Ubisoft’s restructuring is disappointing for all fans who were eagerly awaiting it, myself included.”
Mechner expressed his sympathy for the Sands of Time remake team at Ubisoft Montreal, who faced numerous internal challenges during production. “Having a project canceled is a harsh reality,” he noted. “It’s a part of the gaming industry that often goes unseen by the public, but developers know it all too well.”
Many games are quietly shelved without any public announcement, often due to funding issues, creative differences, or shifting business priorities. Blizzard, known for titles like World of Warcraft and Overwatch 2, has a particularly extensive list of canceled projects. Mechner later mentioned that he feels “grateful” to be working on books and graphic novels now, where production costs are lower and creative freedom is invaluable.
“A cancellation so close to launch can be especially tough for younger team members who lack a long list of shipped titles on their resumes,” Mechner continued, highlighting the impact of recent industry layoffs. “It’s hard to come to terms with the fact that the last four years of hard work, which you were excited to showcase, will never see the light of day.”
“Terms like loss and grief might sound dramatic, but artists pour their hearts into their creations,” he added, emphasizing that losing such efforts, especially due to decisions beyond their control, is a significant setback.
“Reflecting on the nights and weekends spent crunching in the studio instead of being with loved ones, sacrifices that felt worthwhile at the time only amplify the pain once the project is no longer a reality,” he concluded.
Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more
Eman Ayaz, one of the actors involved in the Sands of Time remake, described the cancellation, which she discovered online, as “the most devastating moment” of her career. She shared that she broke her foot during the project but “continued to work,” and felt she had delivered some of her best performances during the recording sessions.
After six years of anticipation, multiple delays, and a complete reboot, comments from the Prince of Persia remake development team acknowledged the cancellation: “We know this is deeply disappointing.”
