Prince of Persia Creator Shares Thoughts on Canceled Sands of Time Remake: “It’s a Tough Blow to Have a Project Axed”
It’s been a few weeks since the cancellation of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, and the gaming community, including fans, developers, and actors involved in the project, are still processing the news. One notable reaction comes from Jordan Mechner, the original creator of Prince of Persia and a designer on the 2003 Sands of Time.
Although Mechner hasn’t been part of Ubisoft for many years and has shifted his focus to writing, he took a moment to express his condolences to the development team on his personal website.
“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. The cancellation, part of Ubisoft’s restructuring, is disappointing for all fans who were eagerly anticipating it, myself included.
My heart goes out to the Montreal development team; I can only imagine their feelings. Having a project canceled is a harsh reality in the industry. It’s a side of game development that often goes unnoticed by the public, but developers know it all too well.
For younger team members, a cancellation so close to launch can be especially crushing. They may have invested years into a project that now won’t be part of their portfolio. It’s a tough pill to swallow when the hard work they were proud of and excited to showcase will never see the light of day. Terms like loss and grief might sound dramatic, but artists pour their souls into their creations. The memories of late nights and weekends spent in the studio, sacrifices that felt worthwhile at the time, only amplify the pain when the project is suddenly gone.
I love games—both playing and creating them—but moments like this make me appreciate my recent focus on books and art. The budget for a graphic novel is minimal, and the creative freedom of knowing that my work will reach readers directly is invaluable.
It’s commendable that Mechner has found a path that feels less crushing than game development right now. He highlights a crucial point: those early in their game dev careers will feel this impact deeply, as they may have spent years on something that will never be seen. Ubisoft seems intent on erasing any trace of the project, removing leaked art and screenshots from the internet. Eman Ayaz, an actor believed to have contributed to the remake, recently shared a video expressing her disappointment, stating that her work on the project was among her best performances, now lost to time.
The cancellation of the Sands of Time remake is part of a broader restructuring at Ubisoft, which has led to the shelving of six games and the delay of seven others.
