Prince of Persia Yeniden Yapımının İptalinin İnsanî Maliyeti

I observed the aftermath of a major game cancellation through the eyes of someone directly involved. The actor Eman Ayaz, who is believed to have been cast as Farah in the ill-fated Prince of Persia: Sands of Time remake, found out about the project’s termination not from the studio but from the internet, just like the public.

The game's development had been notoriously troubled since it was first announced in 2020, facing multiple delays that worried its fanbase. For those working on it, however, the sudden end came as a profound shock, communicated impersonally through a news article.

In a video she shared on X, Ayaz recounted the experience, which she described in stark terms.

"Last week I experienced the most devastating moment of my career," Ayaz stated. "I was just in total shock."

Her brother sent her a message asking if she was okay, a question that initially left her confused. He followed up with a link to a news report. It was through that article that she learned the project she had poured years of her life into had been permanently shelved. For legal reasons related to her non-disclosure agreement, Ayaz did not explicitly name Ubisoft or the game itself, but the timeline she described aligns perfectly with when Ubisoft cancelled Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time remake last week. Her connection to the project was also suggested by users on Reddit, who noted she had previously retweeted content related to the game on her social media.

This role was more than just another job for Ayaz. At 26, the Canadian-Pakistani actor saw it as a "life-changing" opportunity, noting the scarcity of significant roles for performers of her background, who are often considered "unplaceable" by casting directors. She secured the part three years ago after what she called a "rigorous" audition process and had been planning to use the game's release as a launchpad for a career move to the United States. It was meant to be her stepping-stone, a moment of significant professional ascent.

Ayaz mentioned that she had dedicated the last three years of her life to the project, even continuing to perform her duties while nursing a broken foot. The end seemed to be in sight; she had filmed marketing materials within the last couple of months, and the team was anticipating a release this year. The sudden, impersonal discovery of the cancellation felt like "emotional whiplash." Because the game will never be released, she may not be able to publicly attach her name to the work she did. The cancellation was part of a major corporate restructuring at Ubisoft, which also involved closing two studios, canceling five other unnamed projects, and delaying several more. The official reason cited was that the canceled games failed to meet new, more selective quality standards. This corporate maneuvering had severe consequences, as Ubisoft shares plunge 34%, and it is expected to lead to labor strikes in France, where the company is based.

Read also, Ubisoft has initiated a " major organisational, operational and portfolio reset " to address market challenges, leading to significant changes across the company. The publisher announced the cancellation of six games and delayed seven others to meet enhanced quality standards.