Summary
A gigantic company that controls around 40 studios now, Ubisoft has become the owner of a mountain of video game franchises, some of which have become, or once were, the biggest franchises in the entire industry. While it may not have ever been on the same level as the likes ofHalo,Call of Duty, or its own spin-off seriesAssassin’s Creed,Prince of Persiaused to be a pretty influential video game franchise, but one that Ubisoft eventually gave up on.
After three reboots in quick succession, thePrince of Persiafranchise was left to fade into the background while Ubisoft’s other franchises continued to grow and overshadow it. But in a surprise twist of fate, Ubisoft releasedPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownat the start of this year, and shockingly, it’s been quickly followed byThe Rogue Prince of Persia. It feels safe to say that thePrince of Persiafranchise is back, and the less conventional return of the series should be something Ubisoft learns from for its other franchises.
Ubisoft Should Produce More Small-Scale Risks
Prince of Persia Should Mark The Start of a New Era for Ubisoft
After 13 long years of waiting,thePrince of Persiafranchisefinally returned in January 2024, and it did so with a real bang. A 2D Metroidvania with an incredible amount of style and a high level of polish,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownmarks a new high point in the series' long history, and paves the way for a potential new strategy for Ubisoft. Rather than return with a big blockbuster 3D action-adventure game, Ubisoft decided to allow its Montpellier studio to take a few experimental risks withPrince of Persia’s long-awaited comeback, and that was the right call, with it being a big critical hit on launch.
Now, just a few months later, thePrince of Persiafranchise has continued its comeback tour withThe Rogue Prince of Persia, anEvil Empire-developed roguelikethat’s just entered Steam early access. Arguably,The Rogue Prince of Persiais even more experimental thanThe Lost Crown, being developed by an Indie studio that’s taking the series in yet another bold, new direction. Though it’s a little too early to tell howThe Rogue Prince of Persiawill shake out, Ubisoft allowing Evil Empire to put such a creative spin on the franchise is definitely a good thing, keeping fans and critics invested in the series' now-unpredictable future.
Other Ubisoft Franchises That Could Use Experimental Indie Spin-offs
Ubisoft owns well over 50 gaming franchises, and so many of these have been milked to death over the last few decades. The publisher has a habit of finding a successful formula, and reusing it until fans are completely burnt out on it, and this has often led to franchises likeSplinter Cell,Ghost Recon, andFar Crybeing husks of their former selves, with onlyAssassin’s Creedreally experimenting via the Chronicles games and its RPGs. However, therecentPrince of Persiagamesmight have paved the way for a new future for these franchises.
While big AAA blockbusters will always be Ubisoft’s biggest money-makers, there should be more room for experimental, smaller-scale, Indie-developed spin-offs of beloved franchises; something like aSplinter Cellturn-based tactics game, aFar Cryextraction shooter, aGhost Reconstrategy game, or anAssassin’s CreedMetroidvania. There are so many different ways other developers could put a spin on Ubisoft’s franchises, and it would go a long way in breaking the mold of Ubisoft’s usual open-world blockbuster formula.
The Rogue Prince of Persia
WHERE TO PLAY
Experience a fast-paced, challenging but accessible roguelite as you master acrobatic moves and flow seamlessly between platforming and combat. Find new weapons, equip trinkets with special effects and upgrade them to make your own builds. Discover new characters, information and areas as you attempt to find a way to save Persia from a Hun invasion and become the hero you have always wanted to be.Lead the Prince in his fight against a Hun army corrupted by dark shamanic magic and find your place in the royal family as you explore a vibrant reinterpretation of Persia. Put the pieces of the puzzle together and discover new areas as you enter the fight again and again, meeting a cast of colorful characters through non-linear story progression.Flow seamlessly between platforming and combat, using your acrobatic moves to outmaneuver and outsmart your enemies. Use the iconic wall-run to open new routes of attack, avoid traps and explore hard to reach areas. Kick and dodge to manage groups of enemies when the odds are against you.Choose from a variety of deadly weapons and equip new medallions each run to unleash devastating effects, giving you the freedom to change your fighting style as you wish. Secondary weapons offer even more options, from bows to shields to grappling hooks. Switch your loadout mid-run to adapt to new challenges.
