Ubisoft is finally reviving the Prince of Persia series after a 13-year hiatus with Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown in 2024. This highly anticipated game will introduce players to a new hero and take them on an exciting adventure. While it may not be the expected Sands of Time remake, it still promises to be a valuable addition to the franchise. Although the brief gameplay trailers have already generated excitement among some players, Ubisoft is aware of the daunting challenge they face as the release date approaches. The Lost Crown has the potential to revive the series, but it deviates from fan expectations by presenting a brand-new adventure with a fresh hero and an unfamiliar style. This bold move carries risks, and Ubisoft must go above and beyond to ensure that the game lives up to its full potential.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Has a Lot to Prove
The Prince of Persia series had experienced a surge in popularity with the release of Ubisoft's Sands of Time reboot trilogy. This success led to various spin-offs, adaptations, and inspiration for other games. However, after the release of Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands in 2010, the franchise went on hiatus, similar to Ubisoft's treatment of the Splinter Cell series. As a result, the once iconic action-adventure games faded into obscurity, leaving fans uncertain if a revival would ever happen.
Ubisoft surprised fans in 2020 with the announcement of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, slated for an early 2021 release. However, the initial gameplay trailer failed to meet expectations, resulting in multiple delays and a switch to a different studio. As a result, the project faded from public view, leaving fans uncertain about its ultimate fate.
In a recent Ubisoft Forward event, the studio unveiled Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, marking the first entirely new game in the series in 13 years. This 2.5D platformer offers a fresh experience that appears to be separate from the Sands of Time series. While it presents an intriguing return to the franchise's origins, it is a departure from the action-adventure titles that fans have grown accustomed to. Rather than providing an update to the Sands of Time remake or another familiar installment, Ubisoft is opting to deliver a completely original game.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, set to release in January 2024 on multiple platforms including PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S, holds the weight of being the franchise's long-awaited comeback. While it may not have met the expectations of dedicated fans, it stands as the sole offering for Prince of Persia enthusiasts in the foreseeable future. Its success is crucial, not only in winning over skeptics, but also in proving to the industry that the franchise's strength remains intact. However, the outcome of this daunting task remains uncertain, as failure could potentially halt any future plans Ubisoft has for the beloved series.