Ubisoft’s track record with thePrince of Persiafranchise has been a bit of a mixed bag. One on hand, Ubisoft is responsible for publishingPrince of Persia: The Sands of Time, by far the most beloved entry of the franchise, and one of the most adored action-platformers of all time. On the other hand, Ubisoft hasn’t put outa newPrince of Persiagamein over a decade, with 2010’sPrince of Persia: The Forgotten Sandsbeing the last mainline game released. But that’s all about to change withPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown.
Justannounced at Summer Game Fest,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownis a 2D platformer that takes the best elements of the modernPrince of Persiafranchise and gives them a Metroidvania overhaul. Debuting alongside a rather lengthy gameplay trailer,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crowndoesn’t look like any old cash-grab, with visuals, music, and gameplay that all seem worthy of the franchise, at long last.
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Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown Finally Looks Like a Return to Form
It’s been 13 long years since fans last played a newPrince of Persiagame, and in that time, many fans have expressed their deepest desires for a hypothetical next entry in the series. While many fans longed for a return to the 3D action-platforming thatTheSands of Timeoffered, a good portion of the fanbase was hoping for a true return to form, hearkening all the way back to the very first game in the series, andPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownlooks like it might finally deliver on both of those wishes.
Set in the mysterious region of Mount Qaf,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownreturns the franchise to its 2D roots. Released in 1989,the firstPrince of Persiaand several of its sequels pioneered next-generation 2D platforming gameplay, offering realistic animations and pinpoint accurate jumps and acrobatics.Prince of Persia: The Sands of Timetook this general premise 14 years later, and translated it to a 3D plane, revolutionizing platforming for a new age. From what fans have seen so far, it seems likePrince of Persia: The Lost Crownmarries both of these gameplay styles, takingSands of Time’s fluid parkour mechanics and translating them back into a rich 2D plane.
It’s not just platforming thatPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownseems to get right, either. ThroughoutPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s gameplay trailer, the game’s player-character, a Persian warrior named Sargon, is seen battling a number of foes, both real-world and mythological. From the glimpses fans have seen so far,The Lost Crown’s gameplay looks incredibly fluid and smooth, channeling the best parts ofHadesandDead Cells.
Ranged combat, close-quarters combat, a parrying system, and cinematic special moves are all shown off repeatedly throughout the trailer, all looking very stylish and satisfying to pull off. And to top it all off,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownteased a few of its boss battles, all of which appear to be against some kind of intimidating mythological beasts, such as a manticore or giant snake.
WhilePrince of Persia: The Lost Crownlooks and sounds great, this trailer could all still be smoke and mirrors. That said, the game’s developer should be enough to inspire true hope in fans.Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownis being developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio best known for its leading work onRayman OriginsandRayman Legends. If any studio can create a fluid, satisfying 2DPrince of Persiagame, it’s Ubisoft Montpellier.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownlaunches July 25, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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