Prince of Persia creator Jordan Mechner has publicly commented on the cancellation of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake, describing the decision as deeply disappointing and expressing sympathy for the developers affected by Ubisoft’s recent restructuring.
In a blog post, Mechner wrote that he had hoped to begin the year celebrating the remake’s release, but that outcome never materialized. “I’d hoped my first post of the new year would celebrate The Sands of Time’s release, but alas, that’s not in the cards. The remake’s cancellation as part of Ubisoft’s restructuring was disappointing news to all fans who’d been eagerly awaiting it, myself included.”
Mechner specifically addressed the impact of the cancellation on the Montreal-based development team, calling attention to the emotional toll such decisions take on creators. “My sympathy goes to the development team in Montreal; I can only imagine how they must feel. Having a project killed is a brutal experience. It’s an aspect of the game industry that the public doesn’t often see, but developers are all too familiar with.”
He further noted that projects canceled close to release can be especially difficult for younger developers who lack a long list of shipped titles. “A cancellation so close to release can be particularly devastating for younger team members who don’t have decades of past shipped titles on their resumé,” Mechner stated. “It’s tough to suddenly absorb that the past four years of hard work you were proud of, and looking forward to seeing out in the world as your new calling card, will now never see daylight.”
Mechner also reflected on the personal sacrifices often involved in game development, suggesting that words such as loss and grieving are not overstated in this context. “Words like loss and grieving might seem exaggerated, but artists put their hearts into their work,” he wrote, referencing long nights, weekend crunch, and time spent away from loved ones.
The creator explained that news like this has reinforced his appreciation for focusing on books and art over the past five years. “The production budget of a graphic novel is minuscule; the creative freedom of trusting that what I write and draw will reach readers directly is priceless,” he said.
Despite the setback, Mechner expressed optimism about the long-term future of the franchise. “As for Prince of Persia, despite this month’s let-down, I feel the long-term outlook gives reason to hope,” he wrote. “The community of fans and developers that’s grown up around the prince holds an unquenchable spring of passion, talent, and determination. Our patience was rewarded recently with the wonderful Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown and The Rogue Prince of Persia. I know it will be rewarded again.”
