The highly anticipated remake of *Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time* has been officially cancelled by Ubisoft, adding to a series of recent project closures within the company [[1]]. The decision, first reported several weeks ago amidst a company restructuring, has drawn reaction from those involved, including the game’s original creator, Jordan Mechner. This report details Mechner’s response to the cancellation and his outlook on the future of the franchise.
Ubisoft’s recent decision to cancel several projects, including a highly anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, has sparked disappointment among fans and raised questions about the French game developer’s future strategy. The cancellation, announced several weeks ago, came alongside news of a significant restructuring within the company, impacting multiple unannounced titles.
The move follows criticism from voice actors involved in the remake, who described the cancellation as “devastating.” Now, Jordan Mechner, the original creator of Prince of Persia, has shared his reaction to the news.
In a post on his personal blog, Mechner described the cancellation as “disappointing,” acknowledging the impact on the development team. The gaming industry, a major force in entertainment technology, often sees projects shelved due to shifting market conditions or internal strategic changes.
He expressed his sympathy for the developers affected, stating, “Having a project killed is a brutal experience.” Mechner continued, “It’s tough to suddenly realize that the last four years of hard work that you were proud of, and that you were looking forward to seeing out in the world as your new calling card, will now never see the light of day. Words like loss and grief may seem excessive, but artists pour their whole hearts into their work. Memories of evenings and weekends spent in the studio instead of at home with loved ones, sacrifices that felt worthwhile at the time, become all the more painful in retrospect, when the object no longer exists.”
Despite the setback, Mechner is currently working on a graphic novel set in the Prince of Persia universe, slated for release in 2026. The project will be previewed at Replay in Vienna in late February.
Despite the difficult news surrounding the remake, Mechner concluded his post with a note of optimism. “As for Prince of Persia, despite this month’s downturn, I feel that the long-term prospects give cause for hope. The community of fans and developers that has grown up around the Prince has an inexhaustible source of passion, talent, and determination. Our patience was recently rewarded with the fantastic Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and The Rogue Prince of Persia. I know it will be rewarded again.”
