Ubisoft’s attempt at reviving Prince of Persia hasn’t exactly gone to plan, with Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Remake having had to reboot development and, as such, being a long ways off from launch yet. However, fans of the franchise are nonetheless going to have something to look forward to in the relatively near future.
At yesterday’s Summer Game Fest showcase, Ubisoft unveiled Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, a new 2D sidescrolling action-adventure platformer that seems to be going back to the series’ classic formula with plenty of modern twists. In press release accompanying the game’s announcement, Ubisoft has also revealed new gameplay and story details.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is being developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the team behind the Rayman games, so clearly there’s plenty of knowhow there for how to make a solid 2D platformer. Interestingly enough, however, it’s also going to be a Metroidvania game, making it a first for the franchise.
The game is set on Mount Qaf, a “once wondrous” location inspired by Persian mythology that has become “cursed and hostile”. Players will “explore a handcrafted world at their own pace”, which, according to the game’s official website, will feature “a variety of highly detailed biomes, each with its own identity, wonders. and dangers”, like “the majestic Citadel of Knowledge” and “the colorful landscapes of the Hyrcanian Forest”.
Players will step into the shoes of protagonist Sargon, a member of a group of elite warriors known as The Immortals, who are sent to Mount Qaf to rescue Prince Ghassan- only to discover that “time itself will be a treacherous foe and that the world balance must be restored.”
Ubisoft says players will be able to acquire new time powers and unlock new abilities to use in combat and platforming challenges. The combat in particular is being billed as a “deep and engaging” system that will allow players to unleash a variety of different combos against “mythical enemies, larger-than-life bosses, and vicious traps.” Ubisoft also makes mention of “solving puzzles, finding secrets, and completing exciting side quests”.
The game’s soundtrack, which “mixes both traditional instruments and modern sounds”, is being composed Iranian-born composer Mentrix, as well as Gareth Coker, who’s best known for his work on the Ori games, Immortals Fenyx Rising, Halo Infinite, Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, and more.
Ubisoft has also confirmed that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will run at 60 FPS on all platforms. More details on the game will be arriving at Ubisoft Forward on June 12. Until then, check out some screenshots below.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches on January 18, 2024 for PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC.