The iconic Prince of Persia is making a notable return, with a new installment set to follow closely after his recent adventures. Following the launch of Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown in January, Ubisoft has announced a second title titled The Rogue Prince of Persia. This new 2D action-platforming rogue-lite will be available in Early Access on Steam starting May 14. Developed by Evil Empire, the studio known for Dead Cells, this latest entry showcases a vibrant art style while integrating the platforming and combat elements that fans of the series have come to expect.
The Rogue Prince of Persia was officially unveiled during a livestream for the Triple-I Initiative, featuring an engaging trailer that highlighted both cinematic elements and gameplay. Set in a fictional representation of Ctesiphon, the capital of the Persian Empire, the game plunges players into a narrative where the city is besieged by a cursed army of Huns. In a departure from The Lost Crown, players will directly control the prince, who wields a magical bola that enables his resurrection upon death.
In typical rogue-lite fashion, players will experience death, only to be resurrected and placed back at the game’s beginning. This cycle of failure and rebirth continues until players enhance their skills and abilities, allowing them to ultimately complete a full game run. Each attempt offers opportunities to explore new environments, experiment with various weapons, and gather items that aid in their quest to liberate the city from the overwhelming invaders.
The trailer features an agile prince adept at executing wall runs, spin jumps, and slides, navigating through perilous platforming challenges. Players will traverse procedurally generated levels filled with adversaries, including Huns endowed with dark magical powers, set against a backdrop of colorful regions inspired by Persian architecture.
In combat, the prince has access to an arsenal of weaponry. According to Ubisoft, players can customize their approach with twin daggers, spears, broad swords, and axes, alongside secondary options like shields, bows, and grappling hooks.
Evil Empire’s expertise in the roguelike realm, having co-developed Dead Cells with Motion Twin, suggests a strong foundation for this new title. The studio proposed their unique rogue-lite take on Prince of Persia to Ubisoft, who welcomed the idea. The series had seen a revival earlier this year with the release of The Lost Crown, a 2.5D Metroidvania platformer that redefined the franchise with its dynamic gameplay and fluid mechanics. Early impressions of The Lost Crown highlighted its innovative direction for the future of the series, a path that The Rogue Prince of Persia appears to follow.
The Rogue Prince of Persia is set to launch in Early Access on Steam on May 14, with additional platform releases to be confirmed by Ubisoft later.
