Ubisoft recently pulled the plug on the long-awaited remake of Sands of Time, among other things, but not everyone at the company received this memo.
Ubisoft recently announced that the company is undergoing extensive restructuring and, as a result, several studios will be closed and at least six game developments will be discontinued. This includes the remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which was announced in 2020.
The shocking news came as a surprise not only to gaming fans, but apparently not everyone involved was informed either.
Actress worked on “life-changing role” for 3 years
One of the actors involved in the game has now spoken out on YouTube. In the video entitled “The most terrible moment of my acting career,” Eman Ayaz reports that she first learned about the cancellation of the project via the internet:
She is currently still subject to a confidentiality agreement, which is why she cannot reveal any details. She also does not clearly state in the video which game it is, but she shared posts on social media linking her to the role of Farah in the game.
Three years ago, she auditioned for a life-changing role. The process was very tough and involved several stages. When she was actually booked, she cried with joy.
I spent the last three years getting to know the team, who became like family to me. I accompanied them through countless development phases and eagerly awaited the release so I could report on it. And this week, I found out on the internet that the project had been canceled. Her brother was the first to tell her about the news, which he had come across in an online article. Just two months earlier, she had filmed promotional material for the game. At that point, as far as she knew, the game’s development was still going well. This made the news all the more shocking.
As a woman of Pakistani origin, it is particularly difficult for her to get roles and gain a foothold in the industry. “It was the best performance of my career, and now no one will ever see it.”
As Ubisoft announced in its press release, the restructuring is aimed at regaining “creative leadership” while securing a robust source of revenue. The Sands of Time could no longer meet the new roadmap, which is why development had to be discontinued.
Ayaz says in her video: “Unfortunately, the entertainment industry is not just about entertainment, but also about securing cash flow. And that means making decisions that treat human lives as collateral damage and art as disposable items.”
You can find out more about the consequences of the French company’s decision in the article linked above.
