E3 2021 is right around the corner, and with almost two years since the last major conference in E3 2019, fans are clamoring for a plethora of new announcements and showcases.Ubisoft has confirmed its Foward event for June 12, with several confirmed reveals for games likeFar Cry 6, and fans speculating that long-forgotten franchises likeSplinter Cellare making a return.
To many a fan’s disappointment, Ubisoft has confirmed that thePrince of Persia: The Sands of Timeremake wouldn’t be making an appearance at Ubisoft Forward next week. It’s ultimately best to keep thePrince of Persia: The Sands of Timeremake in the oven until it’s properly cooked, but such a long silence definitely has some implications for the game’s release.
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Building Up Expectations for Prince of Persia
Fans have been clamoring for the fan-favorite Prince to make a return for a long time, and thePrince of Persia: The Sands of Timeremake announcement certainly got everyone excited during its last year’s reveal. However, the game’s visuals weren’t up to the mark for a modern remake, and coupling that with issues related to the Covid-19 pandemic, the team has now delayed the game twice.
Many were hoping to see a revised look and a new release date for the game this E3, butit’s confirmed to not make an appearance. Another delay has now raised fan expectations for the game to a higher degree, and Ubisoft has accumulated additional pressure to deliver on that front.
Not to suggest that fans shouldn’t expect improvements, buta possible Nintendo Switch release of the gamedoes prohibit the developer’s ambition to a certain degree. It would certainly be great to see the remake standing tall with next-gen games, but keeping expectations in check seems to be important.
Making The Best Out Of Prince of Persia’s Delay
While another delay for a comparatively smaller remake title is certainly shocking, it shouldn’t come as a surprise. Covid-19 has caused a bunch of delays for game development, but Ubisoft Pune might have received the heaviest blow owing to its location in India. However, a new release window of next year should be relieving and give time to the developers to polish the game to an immaculate degree, which could potentially dictate a future for the franchise as well.
Prince of Persiaused to be one of the biggest gamesonce, but now remains dormant due to Ubisoft’s focus open-world games almost exclusively, compared to linear adventure games. While there’s nothing wrong with blockbuster open world games, linear action-adventure experiences have become more or less extinct, leaving comparatively smaller studios like Ninja Theory and Asobo Studios to fill the void with titles likeHellblade: Senua’s SacrificeandA Plague Tale: Innocencewith a middle-market budget.
An extra year in development should give Ubisoft Pune the opportunity to fully realize its vision, possibly even expanding the scope of the remake. It wouldn’t exactly be a surprise if higher executives at Ubisoft give this relatively small studio a green light to continue with the franchise after the remake, should it garner critical and commercial acclaim. Either way, it’s always best to delay a game rather than release it in an unfinished state.
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Timeis in development now for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
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