Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is rumored to have sold approximately 300,000 copies, as disclosed by internal sources. Despite receiving favorable critical acclaim, the commercial performance appears to have been disappointing, potentially dashing hopes for a sequel among fans.
The latest installment in the Prince of Persia series was launched a few weeks ago, initially showing promise. Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown garnered glowing reviews, boasting Metacritic scores averaging between 86 and 88, depending on the platform. However, the enthusiastic reception from critics did not translate into robust sales.
Insider Gaming recently reported underwhelming sales figures for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. According to the publication, the platformer attracted a mere 300,000 players, generating an estimated revenue of $15 million. Allegedly disclosed by unnamed Ubisoft staff, this information suggests potential damage to the company's reputation among its player base, possibly contributing to the lackluster sales. While the game faced heavy criticism following the release of its initial trailer, the sentiment appeared to shift after its launch and the subsequent positive reviews. Regrettably, this shift did not significantly impact sales.
Implications of Low Sales for the Future of Prince of Persia
Following these seemingly disappointing sales, the future of the Prince of Persia franchise remains uncertain. Prior to this, the last mainline title in the series was Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands in 2009, and Ubisoft appears hesitant to release a new fully 3D game. Given the poor sales, the likelihood of a sequel for The Lost Crown seems slim, despite being regarded by some as one of the best Prince of Persia games.
Overall, Ubisoft appears to be facing challenging times. According to Insider Gaming's report, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora achieved moderate success, attracting 1.9 million players and generating approximately $133 million in revenue. However, these figures pale in comparison to the profitability of certain previous Ubisoft titles such as Assassin's Creed: Valhalla and The Division. Additionally, the upcoming Skull and Bones incurred costs exceeding $200 million, and Ubisoft anticipates challenges in recouping this investment. Fortunately, games like the next Assassin's Creed and Star Wars Outlaws are slated for release in 2024 and are anticipated to outperform these recent launches.