An early pitch and footage from Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake have allegedly been leaked.
The aforementioned leak offers an early look at Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake. A pitch deck paired with a focus-group screening, briefly appeared on YouTube (mirror here) before being swiftly hit with a DMCA takedown. The video was dated March 4, 2024, suggesting the footage is from around two years ago. It contained presentation slides for early motion-capture tests, rough alpha gameplay, concept art, character bios, creative direction, and combat system goals. Transcribed details from the latter three slides can be seen below.
Creative Direction
Time powers make a return in the remake, with rewind, slow time, stop time or even the mighty power of unleashing time (freezing your enemies while delivering rapid strikes). Players can use these powers to their advantage during their journey. The remake also brings back iconic puzzle elements from the franchise. Players can experiment with time powers, physics, and new elements to broaden the possibilities in puzzles. They may also solve puzzles together as a duo i.e. coordinate with Farah’s unique ways for interacting with the environment using her bow. Platforming is central to the experience and the player’s ability to move with grace and fluidity is crucial for success in these complex environments:
- High fidelity character control allowing you to keep control while in the air
- Use a diverse range of moves, be agile to evade traps and collapsing elements
- Stick together with Farah, help each other in progressing through the levels (thanks to her own moving skills and cooperative acrobatic moves)
- Parkour a world rebuilt from the ground up, expanded with 2 new locations
Character Bio: Princess Farah
Bio
- 19, cold-hearted, graceful and strong willed
- Daughter of Maharajah, the ruler of India
- Eldest child
- The Vizier was her tutor
- An agile trained archer and educated royal
- Not a playable character
Personality
Farah is a resourceful and courageous princess. marked by an all-business honesty and determination. Despite a softer side, most of her life is spent in anticipation of being a Queen and showing she is responsible and fit for the job.
Journey
Farah begins duty-bound and relentless in her ways, she has a “think twice, cut once” mentality. Initially weary of the Prince, her journey with him fosters trust, she opens up and sees that he is a good person and in order to live life, one must let loose. The romance is earned between the two.
Combat System Goal
Combat has been modernized in the remake, blending familiar acrobatic attacks with new advanced acrobatic moves. Time powers have been enhanced to offer a wider array of options in battles. The combat system and enemies have been revamped (new ways to defeat enemies, improved boss fights). Farah is a true ally, capable of fighting independently with her bow and executing cooperative attacks. There is no longer a need to protect her.
The footage indicates that it wasn’t polished gameplay, and was instead a behind-the-scenes presentation that was likely never intended for the public. Most environments shown appear in a basic greybox state, using placeholder geometry and default PBR materials. Characters seemed further along, however.
The presentation includes concepts based on an emulated versions of Prince of Persia 1 and 2, optional visual filters, behind-the-scenes development footage, developer commentary tracks for cinematic sequences, and character and weapon skins.
