The Rogue Prince of Persia A Royal Revolution in the Making
The sands of time are shifting once more. The Prince of Persia franchise, a cornerstone of action-adventure gaming, is poised for a daring and unexpected return. But this isn't the nostalgic remake fans have been clamoring for, nor is it a direct sequel to the acclaimed Sands of Time trilogy. Instead, Ubisoft and developer Evil Empire (the brilliant minds behind the acclaimed Dead Cells post-launch content) are taking a colossal gamble with The Rogue Prince of Persia.
This new entry promises to blend the acrobatic, fluid combat the series is famous with the punishing, repeatable loop of a modern rogue-lite. It’s a fusion that has both veterans and newcomers intensely curious. Is this a blasphemous departure from tradition or a genius reinvention that will breathe new life into the iconic franchise?
In this deep dive, we'll explore everything we know about The Rogue Prince of Persia, from its stunning visual identity and core gameplay loop to its story, potential release date, and how it aims to carve its own name alongside the legendary titles that came before it.
From the Sands of Time to the Roguelite Loop: A New Genre for a Prince
The most defining and discussed aspect of The Rogue Prince of Persia is its genre. For the first time in the mainline series, the game is a rogue-lite (or rogue-lite). This represents a fundamental shift from the carefully crafted, puzzle-box levels of the past to a dynamic, ever-changing experience.
What Does "Rogue-Lite" Actually Mean for the Prince?
For the uninitiated, a rogue-lite is a sub-genre where death is not just a setback; it's a core mechanic. When the Prince falls in battle (and he will, repeatedly), he will be sent back to a central hub. However, unlike starting completely from scratch like in a traditional "rogue-like," a rogue-lite incorporates persistent progression.
This means that each run, while potentially ending in failure, contributes to your overall power. You might unlock new permanent weapons, discover key story clues, upgrade your core abilities, or gain currency that can be spent on lasting upgrades. This creates a compelling "one more run" addiction, where each attempt feels meaningful, and the player's skill and knowledge grow alongside the character's power.
This is a perfect fit for a character known for his agility and ability to learn from his mistakes—thematically, it mirrors the Prince's own resilience.
The Gameplay Loop: Parkour, Perish, and Progress
Based on the gameplay reveal, the loop looks engaging:
1. The Invasion: A mysterious threat attacks Persia, and the Prince is its first line of defense.
2. The Run: You leap, wall-run, and fight your way through procedurally generated districts of a besieged Ctesiphon.
3. The Demise: You are overwhelmed by the enemy or fail a treacherous platforming section.
4. The Return: You wake up back at your camp, a safe haven suspended from a balloon, but you retain something from your previous run—a new weapon, a story revelation, or currency.
5. The Upgrade: You talk to allies, upgrade your gear, and plan a new strategy for your next attempt into the city.
6. Repeat: Armed with new knowledge and tools, you dive back in, hopefully progressing further than before.
A Canvas in Motion: The Breathtaking Art Style
If the rogue-lite genre was the first surprise, the art style was the second. The Rogue Prince of Persia foregoes hyper-realistic graphics for a vibrant, painterly, and stylized aesthetic that feels alive and dynamic.
The visuals are heavily inspired by hand-painted animation and the work of legendary French animation studio Studio La Cachette (Genndy Tartakovsky's Primal, The Summit of the Gods). The result is breathtaking. Every frame looks like a moving painting. The character animations are fluid and exaggerated, making the Prince's acrobatics feel more weighty and impactful than ever before.
The color palette is a stark departure from the often monochromatic browns and yellows of ancient Persia. Instead, we see lush greens, deep blues, and vibrant magentas. This style doesn't just look unique; it serves a gameplay purpose. In the chaotic heat of battle, the clear, bold art direction makes it easier to read enemy attacks, environmental hazards, and platforming opportunities.
Acrobatic Combat Reimagined: Fluid, Fast, and Fatal
The Prince would be nothing without his signature movement and combat, and Evil Empire seems to have nailed the feel.
Movement is King
The core traversal—wall-running, vaulting, swinging from poles, and chaining moves together—looks incredibly smooth. The rogue-lite structure means the level design must accommodate this fluidity, and the procedural generation appears to be built with flow in mind, creating pathways that encourage continuous motion.
The Dance of Death
Combat is fast, kinetic, and based on mobility. The Prince wields a primary melee weapon and a secondary tool, like a bow or throwing knives. The key is to never stop moving. You can kick enemies off ledges, use your environment to your advantage, and chain attacks between multiple foes.
The combat system seems to take notes from Dead Cells' success, emphasizing dodges, parries, and a variety of weapons that each change your playstyle. Finding a powerful new weapon during a run will dramatically alter your tactics, adding to the replayability.
Unraveling the Mystery: The Story of The Rogue Prince
The narrative setup is intriguing. The great Persian capital of Ctesiphon is under attack by a mysterious, powerful army of Huns—but these are not ordinary invaders. They are wielders of a dark, corrupting magic that defies explanation. Their leader and motives are still unknown.
The Prince, ever the brash and overconfident hero, rushes headfirst into the fray only to discover he is hopelessly outmatched. Just as all seems lost, a mysterious medallion transports him back to the safety of his camp, moments before the invasion began. This artifact is the key to the rogue-lite mechanic, serving as the narrative justification for the Prince's repeated deaths and returns.
The story will likely be uncovered in fragments. Each run will yield more information: scrolls detailing the Huns' origins, conversations with captured allies, and glimpses of the larger threat. This "piecing together" of the narrative is a staple of the genre and fits a mystery-driven plot perfectly.
The Legacy: Where Does "The Rogue Prince" Fit in the Pantheon?
This is not the first time the series has experimented. From the cel-shaded Prince of Persia (2008) to the side-scrolling Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands, the franchise has never been afraid to reinvent itself.
The Rogue Prince of Persia appears to be a completely new continuity, separate from the Sands of Time storyline. This is a smart move. It allows the developers the creative freedom to tell a new story without being constrained by decades of established lore. It respects the legacy of the main series while boldly stepping out on its own to attract a new generation of players.
It also exists in a fascinating space alongside the other announced Prince of Persia game, The Lost Crown. While The Lost Crown is a Metroidvania, The Rogue Prince is a rogue-lite. This shows Ubisoft's strategy: to revitalize the brand by exploring its core tenets—acrobatics, combat, and time manipulation—through different, modern genre lenses.
Release Date, Platforms, and Pricing
The Rogue Prince of Persia will be released on PC (via Steam) first. The developers have announced an Early Access launch, meaning the game will be available to purchase and play while it is still in active development. This allows the community to provide feedback, report bugs, and help shape the final game.
The exact date for the Early Access launch is TBA, but it is expected in 2024. The full version of the game will later be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and other platforms. The pricing for the Early Access version has not been announced, but it will likely be lower than the final retail price.
A Daring Leap of Faith
The Rogue Prince of Persia is one of the most exciting projects in the gaming landscape. It represents a beloved IP being placed in the hands of a specialist developer known for perfecting the very genre they are now tackling. The fusion of Evil Empire's rogue-lite expertise with the timeless appeal of Prince of Persia has the potential to be something truly special.
While the shift in genre may initially alarm purists, the core identity—the fluid parkour, the acrobatic combat, the setting, and the charismatic, cocky hero—seems not only intact but enhanced by its new format. The stunning art style is a bold choice that sets it apart visually from any other game on the market.
This is not just a cash-grab on a famous name; it feels like a passionate, creative, and respectful reimagining. The Rogue Prince of Persia is not trying to be Sands of Time. It's trying to be the best Rogue Prince of Persia it can be. And based on what we've seen, that is a thrilling prospect indeed. We eagerly await our first run into the beautiful, deadly streets of Ctesiphon.
