“A masterpiece that deserves to shine.” Ubisoft handled Prince of Persia so poorly that GOG ultimately stepped in to secure the long-term preservation of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time. The digital storefront has officially confirmed that the original 2003 release will be added to its Preservation Program.

One of the bleakest industry stories of the week was Ubisoft’s decision to carry out a full reboot, resulting in the cancellation of six games, including the long-awaited Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake. Fans erupted across social media, and the publisher behind Assassin’s Creed faced a wave of criticism for shutting the project down. In response, GOG announced that the original 2003 version of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time will join its Preservation Program.

In a statement shared on X, GOG confirmed that the team is working intensively to bring Patrice Désilets’ iconic title into its video game preservation initiative. “The cancellation of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake was a hard blow and understandably disappointing for many of us, but it also gives us a chance to celebrate the game that started it all. It’s not just a classic, it’s a masterpiece that deserves to shine brighter than ever,” the message reads. “We’re happy to announce that we’re working hard to bring the original Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time to the GOG Preservation Program as quickly as possible.”

For those unfamiliar with the Preservation Program, it is a GOG initiative designed to ensure that classic games remain playable on modern systems. The company is committed to maintaining every title selected for the program, even after the original developers have stopped supporting compatibility with current hardware. The list continues to grow and now officially includes Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time.

“We know how much this world means to you. While the future is always changing, the glory of the past is something we can still control,” the GOG statement continues. “We’re not just making sure the original Sands of Time runs well. We’ll make sure it’s the best version you’ve ever played. To the Prince of Persia community: we see you, we feel this moment with you, and we’re with you. Long live the Prince!”

Ubisoft’s Reboot

Ubisoft is currently facing one of the most fragile periods in its history. The cancellation of the Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake was followed by other troubling decisions, including the delay of seven games, the closure of two studios – Ubisoft Halifax and Ubisoft Stockholm – and thousands of additional layoffs scheduled for February. Financially, the restructuring represents losses of hundreds of millions of euros and paints an alarming picture for the company’s future.

Looking ahead, Ubisoft plans to redirect development resources toward delayed projects while restructuring internal processes to improve overall quality. The French publisher is pursuing a new operating model built around “native” open-world titles and games as a service, reinforced by cutting-edge technologies and increased investment in generative artificial intelligence. Many players already see this direction as another step toward the studio’s complete decline.

Source: 3djuegos