Ubisoft Disbands Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Development Team, Sequel Canceled

The Prince of Persia series made a comeback in 2023 after a lengthy 13-year hiatus, but it wasn’t in the form of a traditional sequel. Ubisoft introduced players to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, an innovative 2.5D adventure that follows a heroic warrior on a quest to rescue a abducted prince. Despite receiving positive feedback from both fans and critics, the game’s sales have reportedly fallen short of Ubisoft’s expectations.

According to a recent report, the development team responsible for the title has been disbanded, and plans for a sequel have been scrapped. This information comes from games journalist Gautoz, who claims to have spoken with several developers from Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown (via ResetEra).

Gautoz mentioned in a social media update, “Over the weekend, I consistently heard comments like ‘This was the best game development experience of my life.’ Numerous sources indicated that the project provided a revitalizing and supportive environment for team members, especially those feeling the strain from [Beyond Good and Evil 2], but sadly, Ubisoft has chosen to disband the team.”

Screenshot from Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

The implications of the team’s dissolution remain uncertain; it may either signify their reassignment to different Ubisoft endeavors or an outright exit from the company, though the former appears more probable.

For those who may not know, Ubisoft Montpellier has been the creative force behind the beloved Rayman platforming series since 1995, with their last main game being Rayman Legends, released in 2013. They have also produced the critically acclaimed Valiant Hearts series, which focuses on World War I.

The report elaborates on how the development team had sought to obtain approval for a sequel or additional content, but due to the game’s less-than-stellar sales figures, Ubisoft rejected their proposals. Interestingly, “higher management”expressed concerns that a sequel might negatively affect long-term sales.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Es565STDDU

Prince of Persia The Lost Crown – PC Distribution Update Trailer (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Es565STDDU)

Even if future reports prove incorrect, the Prince of Persia franchise seems to be in a precarious position within Ubisoft at this moment. The announced remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which was initially revealed in 2020, has undergone delays, now shifting to a full remake with a new development team. So far, no timeline for this revamped project has been disclosed.

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