Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown gets free trial and 70% discount
Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown is available to download and play without cost on Nintendo Switch for subscribers of the Nintendo Switch Online service. The limited-time Game Trial window opened on Thursday (24) and remains active through September 30, 2026, allowing users to experience the complete campaign rather than a restricted demonstration slice.
Players can finish the entire story before the event concludes, with Nintendo confirming that all save data transfers seamlessly into the full version should users choose to buy it. Alongside the trial, Ubisoft placed the digital release on a 70% discount on the Nintendo eShop to encourage players to retain access once the temporary access period expires.
Details of the Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown trial on Nintendo Switch
- Platform: Nintendo Switch
- Trial period: September 24, 2026, at 10:00 PT to September 30, 2026, at 23:59 PT
- Store promotion: 70% discount on the Nintendo eShop
- Progression: Save data transfers directly to the purchased base game
- Subscriber reward: 100 Platinum Points through My Nintendo missions
Who can play Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown for free on Nintendo Switch?
Access to the game is restricted to active members of the paid Nintendo Switch Online membership across all standard tiers. The release operates under the Game Trial designation, meaning access to the software will automatically lock after the cutoff time on September 30, 2026, unless a digital purchase is finalized.
Members can also clear an in-game objective during the event window to claim 100 Platinum Points through the My Nintendo rewards system. The points can be redeemed on digital platform rewards, providing an added incentive for subscribers to test the game before the software returns behind its standard paywall.
Ubisoft Montpellier critical reception and commercial sales background
Developed by Ubisoft Montpellier and launched in January 2024, the title marked a structural shift for the long-running series by adopting a 2.5D metroidvania design centered on exploration, platforming, and parry-heavy combat. Players control Sargon, an elite warrior navigating Mount Qaf, in an adventure that critics described as “lavish, grandiose, and consistently theatrical in style” upon release, earning strong marks across gaming review platforms. The benchmark for the property had remained Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which established a 92 average rating on review aggregator Metacritic after debuting in 2003.
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Despite critical enthusiasm and praise for its performance on Nintendo Switch hardware, the game fell short of initial commercial sales projections set by Ubisoft. Following the post-launch window, the publisher chose to disband the original production unit at Ubisoft Montpellier, reassigning developers to other active projects across the company’s internal studio network rather than commissioning an immediate direct sequel.
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Key dates for the Prince of Persia franchise and the 2026 trial
- 2003 — Ubisoft releases Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, which achieves a 92 rating on Metacritic and sets the historic high for the franchise.
- January 2024 — Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown launches on Nintendo Switch and other systems, introducing protagonist Sargon in a metroidvania framework.
- September 24, 2026 — The full title goes live as a Nintendo Switch Online Game Trial at 10:00 PT, paired with a 70% digital markdown.
- September 30, 2026 — The trial window closes officially at 23:59 PT, locking software access for users without a purchased license.
- October 7, 2026 — The 70% promotional discount is scheduled to conclude on the Nintendo eShop in select regional digital storefronts.
Future prospects for the Ubisoft Montpellier development team
There is no official confirmation from Ubisoft that temporary surges in digital sales or player activity during this Game Trial will prompt management to greenlight a sequel with the original creative leads. Following the modest retail returns recorded in early 2024, team members were integrated into other production teams, leaving the continuity of Sargon’s story unresolved by the publisher.
The free trial concludes at 23:59 PT on September 30, 2026, while the accompanying 70% promotional pricing on the Nintendo eShop remains active until October 7, 2026, with some regional stores extending the price drop through October 8.
