Initially scheduled for March 2021, the remake of the legendary Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time has had a chaotic journey. Between studio changes, criticism of graphic quality and prolonged radio silence, Ubisoft seemed to have buried the project. However, on January 14, 2026, a concrete element revives hope: the game was officially rated by the ESRBthe American organization responsible for age marking. A necessary step which suggests that the launch could be very close.
An ESRB sheet that reveals key gameplay details
The sheet published by the ESRB confirms that we remain faithful to the spirit of the original game. “This is an action-adventure game where players take on the role of a Persian prince on a quest to break a curse.” The player moves in a third-person view, solving puzzles, crossing traps and facing enemies in sword fights. It’s all there: the oriental atmosphere, the sand creatures, the cursed soldiers and the iconic platform mechanics.
Even though the classification doesn’t mention the exact release date, this kind of validation usually comes shortly before the official launch. This reinforces the rumors of a release in 2026, mentioned last November by Insider Gaming.
A tumultuous development and a completely redesigned project
The remake was announced with fanfare in 2020. Originally scheduled for March 2021, it immediately attracted criticism for its visuals, which were considered dated. Ubisoft then postponed the game several times, until a silence set in, suggesting a discreet cancellation.
But in 2024, a report indicated that the project had been completely redesignedwith a transfer of development towards Ubisoft Torontoa studio used to ambitious narrative games. This strategic change has apparently brought new life to a title that many thought was lost.
A cult game whose return is eagerly awaited
Originally released in 2003 on PS2, Xbox, GameCube and PC, Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time marked a turning point in action-adventure gaming. Its time manipulation system, fluid gameplay, and environments inspired by ancient Persia made it an instant classic. In 2014, the game had exceeded 14 million copies soldconfirming its cult status.
This remake, beyond the nostalgia effect, could relaunch an entire franchise that fans hope to see reborn. Ubisoft, which is now banking heavily on its flagship licenses, seems to want to capitalize on this highly anticipated return.
An official announcement in the coming days?
If no date has been communicated by Ubisoft, recent elements converge towards a very close release. The month of January has been mentioned by several sources, but it is likely that the studio will prepare a formal announcement in the coming days.
With this ESRB classification, the remake finally enters its final phase. Players can now look forward to discovering – or rediscovering – the Sands of Time in a modernized version that will hopefully pay homage to the 2003 masterpiece.