Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown

The Lost Crown is a side-scrolling action-adventure video game. The game's protagonist, Sargon, can jump, slide, and air dash to quickly travel between platforms.[2] He can also use his pair of blades to defeat enemies. A well-timed parry will help build up Sargon's Athra's Glow, which allows him to unleash a special ability when it is completely filled. Player will have access to several time-based powers for both combat and platforming purposes. Rush of the Simurgh allows Sargon to instantly dash forward through time, while Shadow of the Simurgh lets him place a "shadow marker", which serves as a tempoarily checkpoint that players can return to instantaneously. Sargon can also be equipped with talismans that alter his abilities.[3]

The game also includes elements commonly found in Metroidvania video games. The game world is interconnected and filled with shortcuts and secret rooms, and players have to solve various puzzles in order to progress.[3][4] By exploring the game's world, players will find Time crystals, which can be used to purchase new upgrades for Sargon's weapons. Players may not immediately have the tools or skills to overcome an obstacle, though the game allows players to take a screenshot and pin them to the game's map, allowing them to easily recognize and remember any unsolved puzzles they have encountered in their journey.[2]

The game introduces a new hero named Sargon, a young member of a warrior clan named The Immortals. Sargon must travel to the cursed city of Mount Qaf to rescue the kidnapped Prince Ghassan.[5]

The game is currently being developed by Ubisoft Montpellier, the studio behind the Rayman series.[6] Development of the game lasted for around three and a half years. Gareth Coker and Iranian-based composer Mentrix served as the game's composers. The game was heavily inspired by Persian mythology, with the game's director Mounir Radi adding that the team wanted to "bring some light to a mythology that maybe should be better known", as well as showing how Persian culture affect other mythologies by introducing monsters like the manticore, as one of the game's boss characters.[7]

The Lost Crown is an original game set in the Prince of Persia universe, being neither a sequel nor a prequel. The time powers from the The Sands of Time series is also featured in The Lost Crown, though they are used by the game's antagonist rather than Sargon.[8] Sargon was described by the team as a "gifted young warrior", one who is "acrobatic", "fast" and "agile". With Sargon, the team hoped to modernize the image of the franchise. According to art director Jean-Christophe Alessandri, the team wanted to introduce some "fresh visual design" for the franchise, taking references from "modern culture, urban culture, and fashion".[9]

The game was officially announced in June 2023, though its debut trailer received divisive reactions. Series creator Jordan Mechner, while not directly involved in the game's development, voiced his support for the team and described it as the "Prince of Persia game I've been wishing for".[10] The game is set to release for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S on 18 January 2024.[11]

• Official website