It’s been five long years since Ubisoft first promised a modern reimagining of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. And if you’re still waiting, well… you’re not alone.
Ubisoft broke its silence again this week with a blink-and-you-miss-it update. The remake? Still “deep in development,” the company says. The game may not be ready, but Ubisoft is clearly not ready to bury it either.
A Rocky Start That Set the Tone
When The Sands of Time remake was unveiled in September 2020, it wasn’t the triumphant comeback fans had hoped for. Far from it.
The reveal trailer was met with criticism—dated visuals, stiff animations, and an overall sense of underwhelming execution. Instead of riding a wave of nostalgia, Ubisoft was forced into damage control. It delayed the game from its original January 2021 release date, then delayed it again, and again.
Two years after that reveal, the project was moved from Ubisoft’s Indian studios in Pune and Mumbai to Ubisoft Montreal. That wasn’t just a change of address—it was a full reboot.
Fans weren’t thrilled. Investors weren’t either.
“Yep, We’re Still Deep in the Game,” Says Ubisoft
Fast forward to today, and Ubisoft has offered its most recent update, casually tossed onto social media.
That update? Just a few lines long. No new footage. No gameplay. No interviews. Just a stylized bit of concept art—a palace glowing under a dreamy pink sky—and some vague encouragement.
Here’s what the post said:
“Yep, we’re still deep in the game—exploring, building, and ensuring the sands move with purpose.”
“This game is being crafted by a team that truly cares… and they’re pouring their hearts (and a lot of coffee) into every step.”
That’s it. That’s the update.
2026 Is Still the Target—But Is It Realistic?
Ubisoft had already pushed the expected launch window to 2026. Now, halfway through 2025, there’s still no gameplay footage since the reboot. No dev blog. No teaser trailer. Just vibes.
The silence has people wondering: is 2026 just a placeholder? Or worse—wishful thinking?
This wouldn’t be the first Ubisoft project to go silent before vanishing altogether. Skull & Bones, anyone?
It’s worth noting that even the company’s reassurance—“we’re still in development”—reads more like a PR reflex than a strategy. A polite way of saying, “Please stop asking.”
A Publisher Struggling to Regain Its Footing
Ubisoft’s troubles don’t end with Prince of Persia.
The last few years have been painful. Tumbling stock prices. Major game flops. Internal restructuring. Layoffs. Studio closures. Even its big-name franchises haven’t always delivered.
Here’s a quick rundown of Ubisoft’s recent hits and misses:
| Game Title | Release Year | Reception | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Skull & Bones | 2024 | Mixed to Negative | Delayed over 5 times before release |
| XDefiant | 2024 | Lukewarm | Struggled with identity and community |
| Assassin’s Creed Mirage | 2023 | Decent | A step back to basics that fans appreciated |
| Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown | 2024 | Positive | A surprise hit, not from the original franchise team |
Ubisoft recently formed a new internal division to manage its biggest cash cows—Assassin’s Creed, Far Cry, and Rainbow Six. The hope? Let the studios focus solely on making those games work, while the central team cleans up the mess.
The Rogue Prince Fills the Void—Sort Of
Interestingly, while Sands of Time hangs in limbo, another Prince of Persia game is quietly doing the franchise proud.
The Rogue Prince of Persia, a side-scrolling roguelite developed by Evil Empire (the studio behind Dead Cells), launched in early access and is getting a full release this August.
It’s not what longtime fans necessarily wanted—but it’s something. And right now, “something” is a lot better than “nothing.”
Still, it says a lot when a spin-off, made by an entirely different studio, is carrying the weight of the brand while the main event is still sipping coffee behind the curtain.
Is the Fanbase Still Around to Care?
This might be the hardest question for Ubisoft to answer: who’s left?
People who were excited for the remake back in 2020 might’ve moved on. It’s a different gaming landscape now. Since then, we’ve had Elden Ring, Tears of the Kingdom, God of War: Ragnarök, and more. Standards have shifted. Expectations are sky-high.
Many gamers weren’t even born when the original Sands of Time came out in 2003. That nostalgia well only runs so deep.
And yet… some fans are still hopeful. Maybe not wildly optimistic, but patient. Clinging to the idea that Sands of Time still has a place—if Ubisoft can get it right this time.
That’s a big “if.”
