The Rogue Prince of Persia Reveals Ambitious 2026 Plans with New Features and Challenges

The anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time may have been shelved, but fans still have a reason to celebrate with the spin-off title, The Rogue Prince of Persia. The development team has recently shared an extensive roadmap for spring 2026 that promises various new features and enhancements. In a message to their community on Steam, Evil Empire, the developer behind the game, greeted players with wishes for a prosperous 2026. Among the new additions is an intriguing tool called the Flaming Horses, commemorating the lunar Year of the Horse. This tool summons a stampede of flaming horses that gallop forward, leaving a fiery trail in their wake. "We have always envisioned a fiery tool akin to Altan’s Bracelets, and the Year of the Fire Horse inspired our creativity," the developers noted. They emphasized the significance of horses in Persian culture, referencing the legendary Nisean Horse and Rakhsh from Shahnameh. Additionally, the upcoming "Breathless" update is set to launch a public beta towards the end of March. This update aims to deliver a faster-paced and more exhilarating experience, including a comprehensive rework of the game's opening hour. Players can expect changes in how new content is unlocked and adjustments to boss difficulty. The redesign of the initial biomes will showcase the iconic wall-running mechanic while making these areas more challenging and engaging. Established players will also be introduced to new mechanics, including a Freeze element accompanied by a slingshot weapon. Furthermore, players will face new arenas that present waves of enemies to conquer in order to escape. The introduction of weapon affixes will enhance gameplay variety, offering players intriguing choices during their runs. The developers shared their roadmap, stating: "The Breathless update will arrive with a public beta around the end of March. This update is about creating a swift and intense experience, leaving players breathless! We’ve made significant revisions to the pacing of the first hour, including how new content and mechanics are unlocked and the adjustments to boss difficulty. We’ve also revamped the level design of the early biomes to emphasize our signature wall-run mechanic, making each area quicker and tougher." Looking ahead, an End Game update is planned for early May, introducing new challenges such as Speed Run modes and Daily Awakening. This update will allow players to rigorously test their skills, focusing on speed, precision, and strategy. Reflecting on 2025, the developers noted that it was a landmark year for The Rogue Prince of Persia, as they transitioned from Early Access and improved the game’s Steam rating from 70% to an impressive 88%. The game has also successfully launched on other platforms, including Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation, nearing a milestone of one million players. As the year unfolds, the game has already gained recognition, making it onto the BAFTA awards longlist and earning four nominations at the PEGASUS awards, including Best Game. Players eagerly await March for the awards results. To celebrate the success of the game, the developers are also planning to release vinyl and physical collector editions following the awards season. They are optimistic about the future of The Rogue Prince of Persia and are excited to enhance the game experience for their community in 2026. In related news, Ubisoft announced significant restructuring, resulting in the cancellation of six games, including the Sands of Time remake, and delays for seven others. The changes have led to the closure of two Ubisoft studios, with potential layoffs at others. Jordan Mechner, the original creator of Prince of Persia, expressed his sorrow over the cancellation of the remake, describing it as a devastating blow, especially for younger developers who had invested years of hard work into the project.