2024 saw Ubisoft bring back the long-dormantPrince of Persiafranchise in a big way, though it hasn’t been all sunshine and rainbows for the publisher. This new game,Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, has been one of the year’s more critically acclaimed titles, but its sales numbers have ostensibly been much less impressive. This seems to have taken its toll on its development team at Ubisoft Montpellier, which Ubisoft has reportedly disbanded.
It’s disheartening to hear thatthe team behind such a fantastic gameis set to disband. Despite this, a rare silver lining exists, as the development team will be transferred to work on other projects at Ubisoft. One of these projects will be a revival of another long-dormant Ubisoft franchise, a series whose revival has been a long time coming - Rayman.
The Prince of Persia Team Is Heading To A New Franchise
Ubisoft Montpellier Is Set To Bring Back Rayman
Among the numerous games thePrince of Persiateam will be transferred to work on, reports indicate that the team will begin work on aremake of a game in theRaymanfranchise. Ubisoft has even confirmed this, noting that Ubisoft Montpellier is set to assist Ubisoft Milan in the project’s creation. The publisher stressed that this title is in the very early stages, but this is the closest gamers have gotten to confirmation of a newRaymangame in a long time.
Once one of Ubisoft’s biggest mascots,Rayman’s own popularity started to wane once his 2006 title,Rayman Raving Rabbids, became so popular that it led to the titular Rabbids receiving their own spin-off series.Raymanwould receive two more fantastic games in 2011’sRayman Originsand 2013’sRayman Legends, but their seemingly lower sales numbers put the series on ice for the next decade. Since then,Raymanhas been relegated to smaller appearances, with his only noteworthy role being in a DLC for 2022’sMario + Rabbids: Sparks of Hope.
Rayman Has Long Been Deserving Of A Comeback
Without question,Raymandeserves to make a comeback. Beyond the character’s previous standing as Ubisoft’s mascot, theRaymanseries is home to a bevy of incredible platformers of both the 2D and 3D variety, and it’s been one ofUbisoft’s most consistent and high-quality franchisesin its portfolio. It’s shocking that a game likeRayman Legends, was released in 2013 and never got a chance to follow up on that, and there’s no better time than now to change that.
Bringing back a game likeRaymancould provide fresh flavor from Ubisoft’s typical approach. As a publisher, Ubisoft has faced as much criticism as anyone for its insistence on sticking to a formula of cookie-cutter AAA open-world games, to the point where it feels like fireworkswhen Ubisoft does something different. Ubisoft could use a few games that veer away from that, and bringing back an old mascot likeRaymancould be just what the doctor ordered.
Bringing back a game likeRaymancould provide fresh flavor from Ubisoft’s typical approach.
The Prince of Persia Team Is Perfect For A Rayman Revival
Ubisoft is also setting the franchise up for success by combining the teams of Ubisoft Montpellier and Ubisoft Milan. Both teams have clear experience with the license, with the former being the franchise’s primary developer and the latter creating theMario + Rabbidsduology that saw Rayman feature in the most recent title. This combination of teams is exactly what theRaymanfranchise needs to make a stunning comeback, and if the former buoys some of the magic fromThe Lost Crowninto this new title, gamers could be in for the bestRaymangame yet.
Again, this newRaymanproject is very early in production, and Ubisoft may not show it for several years. Still, it’s fantastic news to see the publisher finally return to the series, and it’s wonderful to hear that the developers at Ubisoft Montpellier will still get to work on new games for Ubisoft. It may not be the sequel toThe Lost Crownthat the team was supposedly pitching, but perhapsthe return of theRaymanfranchisewill further open Ubisoft’s eyes to the benefits of breaking away from the formula.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
WHERE TO PLAY
Dash into a stylish and thrilling action-adventure platformer set in a mythological Persian world where the boundaries of time and space are yours to manipulate. Play as Sargon and evolve from sword-wielding prodigy to extraordinary legend as you master acrobatic combat and unlock new Time Powers and unique super abilities.UNLEASH YOUR INNER WARRIORUse your Time Powers, combat, and platforming skills to perform deadly combos and defeat time-corrupted enemies and mythological creatures.LOSE YOURSELF IN THE PRODIGIOUS MOUNT QAFDiscover a cursed Persian-inspired world filled with larger-than-life landmarks and explore a variety of highly detailed biomes, each with their own identity, wonder, and danger.LIVE AN EPIC ADVENTUREImmerse yourself in a Persian mythological fantasy through an intriguing and original story as you use your wits to solve puzzles, find hidden treasures, and complete quests to learn more about this corrupted place.
