Ubisoft surprised fans with an announcement: Prince of Persia The Lost Crown. The game feels modern while returning to its roots—a side-scrolling platformer filled with parkour, immersive moves, traps, and clever puzzles. Yet the community voiced disappointment again. Who’s to blame this time—Ubisoft or the players?
There’s always a lot of chatter around Prince of Persia. Why is that?
In short, Prince of Persia has been a cornerstone of the industry, shaping how action and adventure games feel and play. The series has left a lasting imprint on many modern titles, and several current projects owe a debt to its innovations.
The early era of the 90s established the adventure genre’s core mechanics: trap-filled corridors, riddles, time manipulation, and obstacle courses solved with rolling, sliding, and leaping. Those elements helped seeds that would later sprout in games like Tomb Raider, Uncharted, and Mirror’s Edge.
When did you first encounter Prince of Persia?
The early 2000s trilogy introduced 3D body-controlled combat and parkour within a dynamic, third‑person world. Those ideas found new life in later titles such as Batman: Arkham and other action-adventure games. The Sands of Time stood at the origin point for a broader undertaking, influencing not just gameplay but how locations and landscapes were imagined in the Assassin’s Creed series.
Today, the Prince of Persia franchise maintains a dedicated, albeit tightly wound, community awaiting a fresh, exciting entry from Ubisoft—an audience that often feels the franchise’s needs are not fully met and that the series keeps getting reinterpreted without a clear direction.
Some fans worry the series has faded or stayed too long in a loop, waiting for a revival that never fully lands. Ubisoft has leaned into experimentation for years, yet each attempt seems to miss the mark for many players. The core question remains: what exactly is the right path for Prince of Persia?
Ubisoft’s footing feels tenuous
Prince of Persia has always been bold, shifting between genres—side-scrolling platforms, 3D platform adventures, third‑person action, and hybrid forms blending parkour with puzzles. Each shift brought its own risks, and not every choice resonated with the fans.
Prince of Persia carried Ubisoft’s influence in contrast to the more popular Assassin’s Creed brand
From project to project, the look and feel of the series evolved as different studios and artists contributed. Some releases offered lush, oriental storytelling; others chose harsher, grittier tones. This variability means the series hasn’t locked into one single formula the way some other franchises have, like Watch Dogs or Splinter Cell. Those wary of Prince of Persia’s direction worry that future titles may drift away from what fans expect, chasing commercial success rather than a cohesive vision.
Wall running and acrobatic leaps were a defining element of the series
A strained community mood
Many fans argue: a classic Sands of Time remake would be the ideal path. They crave a title with refined combat, breathtaking parkour, polished finishing moves, smoother animations, richer level design, and more challenging puzzles—the essence of a beloved formula brought forward with modern polish.
The 2020 remake reveal intensified the debate, with critics quickly labeling the idea an underfunded, rushed effort. The discourse around Prince of Persia mirrors a broader pattern seen with other cult classics: if a remake or reboot doesn’t meet lofty expectations, backlash follows fast.
Prince of Persia now sits in a challenging space, similar to long‑time favorites like Half‑Life—beloved, but often overshadowed by newer releases. The bottom line is sales figures have been modest compared with hits like Assassin’s Creed, fueling questions about return on investment and creative direction. Fans and observers alike debate whether a faithful revival is possible without compromising the spirit of the original games.
In the debate over a future direction, the divergence in positioning between regional studios is noted. It’s not about right or wrong, just different interpretations of what the Prince should be. Ubisoft teams in India and Montreal have imagined the series through distinct cultural lenses, which complicates a single, universal vision for the franchise. The remake idea sparked discussions about how to honor the source material while offering something new, and critics pressed for a clear creative thesis that resonates with long-time fans and newcomers alike.
However, a lack of a concrete, artistically grounded plan for the next Prince of Persia remains the most persistent obstacle for the franchise’s evolution.
Prince of Persia of the future—what could it be?
Cold reception for The Lost Crown
To illustrate the current moment, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown serves as a practical example. The announcement arrived, and the conversation quickly shifted to reactions and expectations.
Taglines such as “Prince of Numibia, Prince of the Apocalypse, Prince of TikTok” joined the chorus of opinions, alongside remarks about the hero’s freshness, and skepticism about whether the game can recapture the classic vibe or feel like a modern reimagining. The broader sentiment suggested that fans would like to see a traditional Prince with recognizable roots, even as they remain open to new ideas.
Initial chatter hints that The Lost Crown will be judged over time. The game looks promising, yet the wave of opinion has already begun to shape the narrative, and longtime supporters are actively weighing the trajectory of the series.
Ubisoft’s challenge is clear: attract a new, younger audience without erasing what made the original titles special. Some fans argue for a faithful revival, while others embrace fresh takes, understanding that every Prince has its own voice. The question is whether The Lost Crown can win over both camps and build a durable legacy.
Whether the game will meet expectations remains to be seen. The next six months will likely reveal how much room there is for interpretation and how much fidelity fans demand. What do readers think? Share their thoughts in the comments.
Source: VG Times