Absolutely AWFUL Gaming News and UPDATES - Tons of Games CANCELLED and DELAYED...

Summary

Ubisoft has officially canceled its highly anticipated Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, along with five other games, as part of a broader operational reset. The company is refocusing its efforts on enhancing the quality of its open-world and games-as-a-service experiences, leading to the cancellation of the remake and other unannounced titles. While there are still new IPs in development, the Prince of Persia franchise is facing a major setback, with previous titles like The Lost Crown also underperforming. Fans are left wondering if the series will return in any meaningful way.

Takeaways

• 😀 Ubisoft has officially canceled the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake after several years of development.
• 😢 Alongside the cancellation, Ubisoft also discontinued five other games, including three new IPs and a mobile title.
• 😮 The Sands of Time remake had been in development for eight years, with two years spent before its official announcement in 2020.
• 🛠 Ubisoft is focusing on reorganization and resource reallocation to prioritize quality over quantity in their game portfolio.
• 🎮 Ubisoft’s focus moving forward is on delivering exceptional open-world adventure games and strengthening its position in the games-as-a-service market.
• ⏳ The Prince of Persia remake had undergone significant changes during development, with Ubisoft Montreal taking over after an initial negative reception.
• 😟 The game's cancellation is seen as part of Ubisoft’s shift toward live-service games and away from single-player remakes like Sands of Time.
• 💥 Ubisoft has been struggling with promoting its games effectively, as seen with the underperformance of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, despite it being a good game.
• ⏱ The Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake is also delayed, but it is expected to release in fiscal year 27, around the end of the calendar year.
• 🤔 The cancellation of the Prince of Persia remake reflects the increasing competitive pressure in the gaming market and the need for more selective and strategic game releases.
• 🔮 The future of the Prince of Persia franchise is uncertain, as the IP may be shelved for a long time, given the failure of recent projects and a shift in Ubisoft's priorities.

Q & A

What major decision did Ubisoft make regarding the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake?

Ubisoft cancelled the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake after nearly eight years of development.

How many games in total did Ubisoft cancel according to the announcement?

Ubisoft cancelled six games in total, including the Sands of Time remake, four unannounced titles, and one additional unclarified project.

How many games did Ubisoft delay as part of its restructuring?

Ubisoft delayed seven other games to ensure higher quality standards.

What is Ubisoft’s stated reason for cancelling and delaying these games?

Ubisoft said it conducted a major review of its content pipeline and decided to refocus resources, raise quality benchmarks, and prioritize projects with stronger long-term potential.

What strategic direction is Ubisoft emphasizing for the future?

Ubisoft is focusing on high-quality open-world adventure games and expanding its presence in live service (games-as-a-service) experiences.

Why is the cancellation of the Sands of Time remake particularly shocking?

The game had been in development since 2018, was believed to be close to release in early 2026, and had already gone through multiple reboots and studio changes.

Which studio eventually took over the Sands of Time remake after its initial backlash?

Ubisoft Montreal took over development after the original reveal received negative reactions.

What other Prince of Persia game is mentioned, and how did it perform?

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown was released in early 2024. Although critically solid, it underperformed commercially and was poorly marketed.

Why does the speaker believe Prince of Persia may be shelved for a long time?

Because Lost Crown underperformed and the Sands of Time remake was cancelled after massive investment, making the franchise seem financially risky to Ubisoft.

How does the speaker interpret Ubisoft’s shift toward games-as-a-service?

He believes Ubisoft is prioritizing live service titles over traditional single-player experiences, which contributed to cancelling the Sands of Time remake.

What is suspected to be one of the delayed games?

The unannounced Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag remake is believed to be one of the delayed titles.

Why does the speaker think the Black Flag remake delay is not too concerning?

Because it is likely just receiving additional polish and is expected to release in fiscal year 2027.

What does Ubisoft claim about competition in the current games market?

Ubisoft says the market is more competitive and selective than ever, requiring only the strongest projects to move forward.

What does the speaker criticize about Ubisoft’s handling of Prince of Persia?

He criticizes poor marketing, wasted development time, and a lack of clear creative direction for the franchise.

What overall conclusion does the speaker reach about Prince of Persia’s future?

He believes the franchise is effectively “cooked” and likely to be shelved for a very long time.