Prince of Persia Returns: The Long Road to The Sands of Time Remake

September 2020, when Ubisoft announced a remake of the 2003 classic. Excitement was there, but things quickly went south. Now, there's no reason to panic, guys; if you're a Prince of Persia fan, you must read till the very end.

The game was initially meant for a January 2021 release and was being developed by Ubisoft Pune and Mumbai. Things seemed promising, but the first reveal trailer sparked a lot of hate online. Fans weren't impressed with the visuals, which looked a lot like the PS3 days, and that's not acceptable in today's day and age, of course. 

Ubisoft defended the design, saying it was meant to evoke a storybook vibe. The reaction from fans was so strong that the game's release was pushed to March 2021. They announced another delay in February 2021. Fans started to worry. By May 2022, the remake went to Ubisoft Montreal. The new team promised to build on what had been done but didn't give a release date. 

Pre-orders were canceled and refunded, and the project was considered dead. It really felt like the Prince was lost in the "sands of time." Despite all this, Ubisoft said the remake wasn't canceled. They said in May 2023 that Montreal had restarted the project from scratch. 

This necessitated changing everything, from the design and animations to the fighting and even the motion capture. They informed the fans that the team was fully committed, but they also stated that there wouldn't be many updates. Unfortunately, iconic voice actor Yuri Lowenthal reportedly won't be returning, which is a bummer for fans like us. 

Ubisoft Forward offered a teaser in June 2024 and confirmed a 2026 release window. By May 2025, that window was narrowed to January to March 2026. Ubisoft Montreal is now working with Ubisoft Toronto and rebuilding the classic from the ground up. There's even a rewritten story that keeps the original storybook charm alive. They even passed a key internal milestone in November 2023, showing that progress is being made. 

Ubisoft hasn't abandoned the Prince of Persia franchise. In January 2024, they released The Lost Crown, a 2D Metroidvania, and in May 2024, The Rogue Prince of Persia, a roguelike. Both games have reminded fans that the series still has a lot to offer, but let's be for real: the Sands of Time remake is the holy grail. Now, fans expect a game that honors the 2003 classic while feeling fresh for 2026.

There's reason for optimism now. Ubisoft Montreal and Toronto have big guns to deliver something worthy of the legacy. After years of heartbreak, it looks like the Prince is ready to swing back into our lives. 

The Sands of Time remake is going to be now or never for the game. For us, it's been a long wait, and we hope you're ready to grab your dagger of time and dive back in or maybe just grab your popcorn and watch the Ubisoft drama unfold. Either way, the Prince might just be worth the wait.