The Lost Crown Selling 1.3 Million Units in the First Year Raises Questions About Ubisoft Disbanding Team

The gaming industry has a peculiar way of defining success these days. While selling over a million copies would be cause for celebration for most developers, it seems that some publishers have different ideas about what constitutes a “hit.” Case in point: Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ubisoft’s critically acclaimed return to the beloved franchise’s 2D roots.

Despite garnering widespread praise and breathing fresh life into a series that had been dormant for over a decade, The Lost Crown‘s development team at Ubisoft Montpellier was disbanded in October 2024. Now, three months later, we’ve learned that the game has sold 1.3 million copies in its first year—a number that has many questioning Ubisoft’s decision to break up the team.

When X user Timur222 spotted an interesting detail on Ubisoft Associate Marketing Director Alexandre Guenounou’s LinkedIn profile (which has since been taken down?), it sparked a heated debate about what constitutes success in today’s market:

Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown sold 1.3 million units in its first year pic.twitter.com/rLhi4ZXAB3

— Timur222 (@bogorad222) January 30, 2025

Let’s put these numbers in perspective: 1.3 million copies for a $60 Metroidvania is no small feat, especially in a market where most genre hits like Hollow Knight ($15) and Dead Cells ($25) launched at less than half that price. Even with frequent sales dropping the price to around $40, The Lost Crown has managed to carve out its own space in a highly competitive genre.

Naturally, the revelation has left many fans scratching their heads about Ubisoft’s expectations:

1.3 is bad??? What they were expecting? It’s a great game but Ubisoft never treated it like a real PoP and it took too long to be released in Steam. Also, it’s an expensive game compared to others of the genre.

— IAMM_78 (@Ivan_M_M) January 30, 2025

Indeed, the game’s premium $59.99 price tag for a Metroidvania title likely didn’t help its commercial performance. For comparison, most successful games in the genre launch at $29.99 or less. Even more baffling is Ubisoft’s decision to initially skip a Steam release, only making the game available on the platform months after launch.

1.3 for a smaller title is good though, what was its budget for that to be bad, and how much was it that the studio had to shut down

— RockPegasus8032 (@gmscoop7) January 30, 2025

The frustration among fans is palpable, especially considering the game’s quality and positive reception:

Hey @Ubisoft you’re like @EA now? 1.3M isn’t enough? Get f’ bent

— Casey Payne (@casey_Payne23) January 30, 2025

If we do some quick math, even accounting for regional pricing differences and various sales discounts throughout the year, Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown has likely generated $45-50 million in revenue for the company. For a 2D Metroidvania with presumably modest development costs, that’s hardly chump change.

The disbandment of The Lost Crown’s team is just the latest in a series of concerning decisions from Ubisoft. The once-revered publisher seems to be struggling to understand its audience, with recent releases like Star Wars Outlaws falling short of expectations—because apparently, it’s possible to mess up a Star Wars game now.

I love how in the current climate selling over a million means the game flopped…this industry needs a reset

— Venomchuu~ (@venom2431) January 30, 2025

This isn’t just about numbers anymore; it’s about a fundamental disconnect between publisher expectations and market realities. While Ubisoft chases the elusive “billion-dollar franchise” dragon, they’re systematically dismantling teams that create unique, critically acclaimed experiences.

And nowhere is this disconnect more evident than in Ubisoft’s decision to reject The Lost Crown‘s sequel pitch and redistribute its talented team—ironically, to projects like Beyond Good & Evil 2, a game that’s been languishing in development hell since 2008. The irony of moving developers from a successful project to one that’s become infamous for its 15-year development cycle is almost poetic.

With Assassin’s Creed Shadows facing its second delay (now launching March 20, 2025), one has to wonder if Ubisoft has learned anything from these experiences. The company’s tendency to set unrealistic expectations while simultaneously undermining their games’ potential success through questionable business decisions is becoming a troubling pattern.

Perhaps most frustrating is the message this sends to developers: that critical acclaim and solid sales figures aren’t enough anymore. In Ubisoft’s world, it seems even a successful reimagining of a beloved franchise can’t save you from the chopping block.

What do you think about The Lost Crown’s sales figures? Was Ubisoft too hasty in disbanding the team, or is there something we’re missing? Share your thoughts in the comments below!