The next major instalment in the Prince of Persia franchise is almost here. And we’ve had to wait a while, as it’s the first POP game since 2010's The Forgotten Sands. Time flies. But it looks like Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will be well worth the wait, with hours of 2.5D side-scrolling fun in store.
The Lost Crown is set in a Middle Eastern-inspired world filled with mesmerising landmarks, unbeaten paths, and secret treasures to discover. You’ll get to play as sword-wielding Sargon — using his unique powers and combat skills to battle past time-corrupted enemies and mystical monsters on a quest to save the abducted Prince of Persia.
Let’s find out more about the upcoming game from the famous action-adventure series. We’re talking everything from the release date and price, to the gripping gameplay.
What is Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s release date?
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown dashes its way onto all major platforms on January 18th, 2024. If being more adventurous is one of your New Year’s resolutions, then we can’t think of a better game. But you should probably break up those marathon gaming sessions with some fresh air too…
How much will Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown cost?
The Lost Crown will cost £44.99 for Playstation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, Playstation 4, Xbox One and Windows. Not bad for a title that offers “exciting encounters, technical fights, challenging platforming” and much more expansive gameplay.
But for an extra fiver, the digital Deluxe Edition will help you get even more out of your quest. You’ll get a handy guide as well as some juicy in-game content, like the ‘Prosperity Bird’ amulet and an ‘Immortal’ outfit for Sargon. Oh, plus 3 days early access for a healthy head start.
Can I pre-order Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown?
Digital pre-orders for Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown are available on the PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo, and Ubisoft online stores right now. In fact, pre-purchasing the game will bag you the iconic ‘Warrior Within’ outfit too — for a blast from the past!
Fancy a physical copy instead? You can pre-order Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for PS5, Xbox One/Series X and Nintendo Switch straight from Currys.
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown platforms and crossplay
As we’ve already mentioned, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown will be playable on all 9th gen gaming consoles (PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, and Nintendo Switch) as well as PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. That should cover just about everybody.
There’s no cross-platform play unfortunately though, folks. But there’ll be so many tough enemies to defeat — as well as puzzles to pass — that you won’t even have time to think about challenging your mate to a duel online.
How to play Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown
The Lost Crown harks back to the earliest games in the Prince of Persia series. It’s a stylish side-scrolling “Metroidvania” game that’ll have you jumping, sliding, slashing, and even teleporting your way through ancient monster-riddled ruins filled with deadly traps and secret rooms.
You'll play as Sargon — one of seven elite warriors known as ‘The Immortals’. He’s been sent on a mission by the Queen to save her captured son Prince Ghassan, who's trapped somewhere in the mysterious Mount Qaf. This non-linear, interconnected world is filled with dangerous inhabitants driven mad by a time curse where past and future coexist. So, you better watch your step and keep those blades razor-sharp...
But it’s not just an arcade-style, button-bashing monster hunt. You’ll be hitting several dead ends early on, so you’ll have to use your head to keep track of your exploration on the vast overworld map. And only once you’ve unlocked the right ‘Time Powers’ will you be able to progress past those blocked paths to eventually reach the kidnapped Prince.
How many hours of gameplay will Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown have?
Some lucky game reviewers have managed to get their mitts on Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown early. And beyond piling on the praise for the new POP title, they’ve estimated about 20-25 hours of gameplay for the main story. That should keep you going for a good while.
And there are loads of side quests to complete too, where “your curiosity will be greatly rewarded” according to developers Ubisoft. We’re talking various items and resources to unlock, which should grow your power and give you the upper hand in combat.
What are Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown’s main factions/characters?
Sargon is the main man in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. But remember those Immortals we mentioned? Well, they’re bound to help you from time to time as you delve deeper into Mount Qaf’s mysteries.
And it looks like there’ll be a wide cast of additional characters to interact with too, who’ll sell you ability-boosting items and offer up some clues as to the prince’s whereabouts. Boss battles are also a certainty, which we’re sure will be as memorable as they are difficult. You’ll need to rely on some powerful combo moves to overcome them!
What Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown features are player-customisable?
There are plenty of ways to get creative in The Lost Crown. At the start of the game, Sargon won’t have much in the way of health and abilities. You’ll have to quickly master the timing of his parry and slide mechanics to get out of the way of enemies and counter their attacks.
But as you progress, you’ll earn new abilities and amulets that’ll not only level-up Sargon’s battle skills, but also open up new paths to explore. You’ll have to be smart with which amulets you equip him with though. As there’s a limit, you’ll have to choose the right amulets depending on the situation you’re in and what fighting style you prefer.
And you won’t be able to change things up whenever you like either. You’ll only get to swap out amulets and abilities at golden ‘Wak Wak’ trees — which also restore your health, potions, and arrows for your bow. These are where you’ll save the game and respawn after you die too. And from the reviews we’ve read, that might be quite often!
What are the different Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown game mode options?
It’s all about the huge, cinematic main story mode in Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown. But if the going gets tough, those shorter side quests might be a good way of increasing Sargon’s strength so he’s ready for those big boss battles.
Will Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown have a multiplayer mode?
We’re afraid not. The Lost Crown is a solo quest that puts you right at the centre of the action. You won’t have any of your friends to count on, but that’ll only make the challenge more exhilarating.
Previous Prince of Persia game releases in chronological order
The Prince of Persia series is a lot older than many people think. Its history stretches all the way back to 1989, and three different time periods have been covered featuring a mix of main instalments and spin-offs. Heck, there was even a movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal!
To keep it simple, here are some of the main console releases from the last two decades:
Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time (2003)
This critically acclaimed game follows an unnamed prince as he tries to stop a malevolent ruler from unleashing the Sands of Time, a mystical artifact that can control time.
Prince of Persia: Warrior Within (2004)
The prince is being hunted by the Dahaka, a creature attempting to erase him from the timeline due to his actions in The Sands of Time. The prince sets sail for the Island of Time to prevent the creation of the Sands of Time, encountering various characters including Kaileena, the Empress of Time, and an old man who helps him on his quest.
Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones (2005)
Following on from Warrior Within, the prince returns to Babylon with Kaileena to try and change his fate and save her. The game sees the prince's struggle to reclaim his kingdom as he faces off against his alter ego, the Dark Prince.
Prince of Persia (2008)
In this second reboot, the prince and a princess called Elika travel across the barren landscapes of ancient Persia to heal the lands corrupted by the evil entity Ahriman. Scaling walls, crawling on ceilings, and battling various enemies along the way.
Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (2010)
Set between The Sands of Time and Warrior Within, the story follows the Prince of Persia as he visits his brother's kingdom only to find it under siege by an army led by a powerful sorcerer. Using his acrobatic skills and time-manipulating powers, the prince must defeat the sorcerer to save the kingdom.
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