Ubisoft Disbands Team Behind Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

The team responsible for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown at Ubisoft Montpellier has reportedly been disbanded after failing to secure approval for a sequel and other project ideas. This development hints that the game’s commercial performance may have fallen short of expectations.

Ubisoft Montpellier, founded in 1994 as Ubi Pictures, is one of Ubisoft’s longest-standing studios. As of October 2024, the studio has around 400 employees, divided into several teams working on their own projects or assisting other Ubisoft studios. However, according to French journalist and YouTuber Gautoz (via TheGamer), one of these teams—the one behind The Lost Crown—has now been disbanded due to the game’s lackluster sales.

While Ubisoft hasn’t officially disclosed sales figures, a report from Insider Gaming in January 2024 claimed that Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown sold only 300,000 copies in its first two weeks, a number that fell well below Ubisoft’s expectations.

Ubisoft Montpellier Pitched a Sequel and Expansions for The Lost Crown

In a translated report from Gautoz shared by a ResetEra Forum user, Arubedo, the disbanded team had previously been pushing for a sequel to Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. After their proposal was rejected, the developers turned their attention to two potential expansions following the release of The Lost Crown’s first DLC, Mask of Darkness, which launched on September 17. Unfortunately, these pitches were also denied, with Ubisoft reportedly deciding to allocate resources to more commercially viable projects. The decision to cease support for the game reportedly came just weeks after its release, even as the Mask of Darkness expansion was still being developed.

Concerns Over a Sequel’s Impact on The Lost Crown’s Sales

When the idea for a sequel was declined in early 2024, Ubisoft management allegedly argued that a follow-up might hurt the long-term sales of The Lost Crown. While this wasn’t the primary reason given for rejecting the pitch, it was one of the factors discussed. The development team reportedly found this reasoning puzzling, but the strategy isn’t entirely unheard of in Ubisoft’s history.

Instead of immediately greenlighting sequels, Ubisoft has been known to focus on reviving sales over time for underperforming titles. A notable example of this approach is Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope, which saw a resurgence in sales just as The Lost Crown debuted in January 2024.

This situation raises questions about Ubisoft's future strategies, as they continue to navigate the challenges of balancing creative risks with financial performance.