Ubisoft cancels Prince of Persia ‘Sands of Time’ remake, 5 other games: Here’s why | Technology News – Knoow.in

Development was originally handled by Ubisoft’s studios in India, but after delays and criticism, the project was moved to Ubisoft Montreal in 2022. Last year, the remake reappeared with a tentative 2026 release window, and as recently as mid-2025, Ubisoft had said the project was still moving forward, until now. (Image: X/Geoff Keighley)

Ubisoft is undergoing radical shifts in its games and organisational structure, cancelling six games that were in development, along with the postponement of some of its titles. Among the cancelled projects is the much-hyped remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which has been plagued by setbacks ever since it was first announced close to five years ago.

The company recently briefed the media about what it described as a wide-ranging reset of its organisation, how it operates, and the kinds of games it plans to focus on in the future. Ubisoft said these decisions come at a time when the market for big-budget, or AAA, games has become more selective and expensive, while competition, especially in popular genres like shooters, has grown far more intense. Rising development costs have also made it harder for publishers to launch new brands successfully.

In this shake-up, Ubisoft will shift its operations to a new structure based on five creative groups, or what the company calls “creative houses”. These groups would have their own franchises and genres, and would also develop expertise in them. The new structure would help Ubisoft make decisions faster and allow the firm to shift its focus on its strengths.

The company said it wants to prioritise open-world games and live-service titles, supported by new technology and targeted investments. This reorganisation is expected to begin in early April.

Following a detailed review of its development pipeline, Ubisoft decided to cancel the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake. The game was first revealed in 2020, with an initial release planned for 2021.

Development was originally handled by Ubisoft’s studios in India, but after delays and criticism, the project was moved to Ubisoft Montreal in 2022. Last year, the remake reappeared with a tentative 2026 release window, and as recently as mid-2025, Ubisoft had said the project was still moving forward. Despite that, the company has now concluded that the game no longer fits its revised quality standards and portfolio priorities.

4 unannounced projects cancelled

In addition to Prince of Persia, Ubisoft has cancelled four unannounced projects, including three new intellectual properties and a mobile game. The publisher also confirmed that seven other unannounced titles have been delayed to allow more time for development and polish. One of these delays pushes a game originally planned for release in the 2026 financial year into 2027. Though it isn’t clear which projects have been delayed, one rumour is that an Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag remake might be part of the bunch.

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These changes come as part of a torrid period for Ubisoft, which has seen poor performances from several recent major releases. Last year alone, it reorganised several studios, announced its Vantage Studios division to manage key IPs, and confirmed studio closures with potential job losses. This latest restructuring comes as Ubisoft looks to stabilise its business and develop fewer, higher-quality games in a rapidly evolving industry.