Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake release date in doubt, as leaker says game needs more work

It seemed that the troubled development of the Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake was finally coming to an end. Tom Henderson of Insider Gaming predicted a January 16th debut, but it did not materialize. Now, another reliable leaker has cast doubt on an imminent release date for the Ubisoft game.

Responding to a fan, NateTheHate2 addressed a question about the project's status on social media. He said, “Nothing new to share. It'll be released when it's ready. Game still has work to be done.” The last part of his message will concern supporters who had been waiting for the title since its 2020 announcement.

The puzzle platformer originated in 2003 as a highly successful release on consoles and PC. When the remake surfaced in 2020, viewers were less than impressed by the trailer. Ubisoft Montreal eventually took over development after the publisher decided to delay the title. At Ubisoft Forward in 2024, the company narrowed down a 2026 Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake release date.

The Sands of Time shadow drop was a bust

Insider Gaming had seen materials suggesting that marketing would begin by the end of 2025, followed by an arrival on January 16th, 2026. However, after a quiet December, hopes turned to a shadow drop. Positive signs, such as activity with the official website’s domain, led to more optimism. Nevertheless, the day came and went without the anticipated news.

The new update from NateTheHate2 is consistent with his past statements about Sands of Time. He didn’t expect it appear at The Game Awards, which ultimately proved true. Now, the game may need more fine-tuning, even if Ubisoft is sticking to a 2026 window.  

Even with strong sales of Assassin’s Creed: Shadows, Ubisoft still faces financial turmoil. Layoffs continue at several of its studios, with the Halifax and Abu Dhabi locations as two of the latest victims. A successful launch could pave the way for more entries in the franchise, but the publisher can’t afford more missteps. Considering the lackluster response to previous footage, it may opt for a longer marketing campaign to convince skeptics.