The remaking of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time is facing significant challenges. The project, driven by teams in India, experienced two ports and then shifted to another studio, a sequence that has raised questions about how the project was managed. An industry expert from India, Rishi Alwani, spoke to multiple sources within the studio to outline what went wrong in the development process and why the remake has struggled to gain momentum.
- One of the key issues cited is that Ubisoft did not provide a design document outlining the original game’s development path. Without a formal blueprint, the design team reportedly had to rebuild the game largely by eye, making it difficult to align on core mechanics, pacing, and the overall vision. This lack of a guiding document likely contributed to inconsistencies in the remake’s early iterations and a less cohesive final product.
- Initial plans indicated the remake would run on the Anvil Engine, the same technology behind Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Yet, management reportedly pressured the team to reuse animations from Bayek in Origins for the Prince. The mismatch in character body types led to animation choices that looked awkward in the reveal trailer, underscoring a disconnect between asset pipelines and the character’s silhouette and motion expectations.
- The project’s leadership drew scrutiny as well. The game director, described as lacking hands-on experience in game development, held a highly influential role. This has since prompted organizational adjustments, with the director reassigned to work on Riders Republic, signaling a broader shift in leadership structure during a fragile development phase.
- Following a negative reception to the trailer, development reportedly shifted again, this time to Electric Square. While the move signaled a renewed commitment to the project, it did not yield a tangible improvement in the game’s state or progress, suggesting deeper issues that required more than a change of scenery to fix.
There is no clear indication yet about when Prince of Persia will resurface in the public eye. Some observers fear the project may need a complete restart to restore direction and momentum after a series of missteps and realignments throughout the development lifecycle.