Summer Games Fest 2023 has officially kicked off, with the promise of multiple announcements and surprises over the course of the event. Many publishers and studios have been confirmed to be in attendance, ranging from Warner Bros Interactive to PlayStation. Ubisoft in particular was first up during the main presentation, with the surprise reveal ofPrince of Persia: The Lost Crown, a brand-new 2D platformer set to revitalize the classic franchise on most major gaming platforms.
While there is still clearly so much to learn, the reveal trailer teases an epic story, stunning new visual style, and fun 2D platforming combat that seems like a breath of fresh air for the franchise. Due for release next January,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownseems like the most logical direction to take the franchise based on the colorful teaser trailer, boasting a promising 2D game adventure set within this iconic series.
RELATED:Assassin’s Creed Mirage Can Beat Prince of Persia to the Punch
A Return to Form for Prince of Persia
ThePrince of Persiafranchise has had a rough few years in terms of finding its footing. The 2008 reboot simply titledPrince of Persiaboasted a stunning visual look, but arguably failed to offer anything gripping in the gameplay department. Meanwhile, the 2010 installmentPrince of Persia: The Forgotten Sandswas a solid, albeit safe entry into the franchise. The latter game is already 13 years old, leaving fans starved for something new, especially in light of thetroubled development forPrince of Persia: Sands of Timeremake.
In an almost ingenious move, rather than trudging forward trying to find new concepts to explore from the 3D perspective,Ubisoftseems to be rewinding the clocks to bring the series back to its roots. Although the 2003Sands of Timemay be the game that elevated the series to a more popular mainstream status, it’s worth noting that the franchise began as a 2D platformer on PC in the late 80s and early 90s. It emphasized stunning animation work and excellent platforming challenges, something whichThe Lost Crownalready looks to be recapturing.
Taking Advantage of the 2D Point of View
Prince Dastan has always been a nimble protagonist, pulling off death-defying leaps and aerial acrobatics. The animations on display inPrince of Persia: The Lost Crownare already quite dazzling, blending a nice sweet spot between pitch-perfect platforming skill and fast-paced combat. In fact, it looks as if Ubisoft may have taken a page or two fromHollow Knight’s book when crafting thislatestPrince of Persiaadventure. Dastan is able to gracefully leap and dash in the air, all while juggling enemies with his set of razor-sharp swords.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownhas also been confirmed to be a Metroidvania style of game, similar to the aforementionedHollow Knightor theiconicCastlevania: Symphony of the Night. Allowing players to explore dense environments will only further encourage players to get a full grip on the many platforming mechanics at hand in the upcoming game.
While this was certainly present in the 3D outings, it was more timing based in relation to other obstacles in the environment.The Lost Crownseems to be allowing more freedom for players to fully master their movesets, giving the game a more organic feel in the process.
This first reveal of the game is a promising direction for thePrince of Persiaseriesand a breath of fresh air for fans awaiting the latest adventure starring Prince Dastan. It’s still quite a few months away from launch, but fans will hopefully get to see of Persia: The Lost Crownand all of its acrobatic, fantasy-themed goodness during the upcoming Ubisoft Forward showcase on June 12.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crownlaunches August 06, 2025, for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
MORE:The Prince of Persia Remake is Following the Same Path as KOTOR
