Prince of Persia is heading to the MSX2 through a newly completed unofficial homebrew port. Belgian developer David Heremans has spent several years adapting Jordan Mechner's foundational cinematic platformer for the 1980s computer standard, and a final project update indicates the game is now ready to launch next month.
The achievement is notable not simply because of Prince of Persia's enduring reputation, but because the MSX2 has never received an official version of the original game. Decades after the Apple II debut that introduced players to its rotoscoped animation, tense trap-filled chambers and iconic one-hour rescue mission, the title is finally being prepared for another vintage platform through dedicated community development.
Heremans' final update outlines how the project developed beyond its earliest technical goals. What began as a release envisioned primarily for digital distribution, with audio designed around the Y8950 sound chip, ultimately grew into a release with physical ambitions and support for the more broadly accessible PSG audio hardware found across the MSX ecosystem.
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A classic built for tension, timing and careful movement
The original Prince of Persia remains one of the most influential platform games of its era. Created by Jordan Mechner and first released on Apple II, it separated itself from many contemporary action games through deliberate pacing and unusually lifelike character animation. The Prince does not simply sprint and bounce through a linear course. He runs, stops, jumps gaps, clings to ledges, draws his sword and cautiously confronts guards, all with animations that give each movement weight.
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That deliberate control scheme is central to the game's appeal and its challenge. Players need to read rooms carefully, account for momentum, avoid spike traps and falling floors, and make split-second decisions when an armed guard blocks the route. The wider game structure places those dangers under pressure from a strict time limit: the Prince must reach the imprisoned Princess before time expires.
Its cinematic presentation and animation techniques helped make Prince of Persia a landmark. The game was subsequently adapted to numerous systems, and it has remained a regular point of interest for retro developers who enjoy the challenge of bringing classic software to hardware that did not originally receive it. The MSX2 project now joins that tradition, offering owners of the machine a purpose-built version rather than a release from the platform's original commercial lifespan.
From Y8950-focused digital project to a broader release
Heremans initially approached the port with a digital release in mind. In that form, the game's audio implementation was planned around Y8950 support. The Y8950 is an audio chip associated with certain MSX sound expansions and can offer capabilities beyond the baseline sound setup, but it is not present across the full MSX2 audience.
That compatibility question became more important once the project was encouraged toward a physical edition. After being persuaded that the game deserved a boxed or cartridge-style release, Heremans worked with Hans Cnossen and WYZ to expand its sound options. The final version adds support for the PSG sound chip, along with additional music.
PSG support is a particularly practical inclusion for an MSX2 release because the chip is much more widely available among MSX systems. Rather than restricting the game's audio experience to users with a less common configuration, the project is designed to accommodate both setups. This makes the port more approachable for collectors using original equipment while still providing options for players with enhanced sound hardware.
The final build will also allow players to mix Y8950 and PSG music and sound effects based on their preferences. That is an unusually flexible feature for a retro-targeted release. It gives users the ability to tailor the audio arrangement to the hardware they own or simply to the combination they prefer, instead of forcing one complete audio profile.
New features go beyond a straight conversion
While the central goal is to bring the original Prince of Persia experience to the MSX2, Heremans has also added several quality-of-life and presentation features. Among them is a new opening animation inspired by the Sega Mega-CD edition of Prince of Persia. The Mega-CD version is remembered for expanding the game's audiovisual presentation, and the MSX2 port's nod to that release gives this adaptation its own distinct identity.
The game will also include an in-game manual viewer. For a classic title that relies on players understanding precise controls and a range of environmental hazards, this is a useful addition. Vintage releases frequently depend on separate printed manuals, which can be inconvenient for users of digital versions and are easy to lose for owners of older physical software. Including the instructions in the game itself makes the port more self-contained.
Another added feature is a cheat menu. Players will be able to skip levels and adjust guard behaviour. These options should be useful in multiple ways: newcomers can explore later areas without needing to clear every preceding screen, while experienced players and retro enthusiasts can experiment with enemy encounters or revisit particular sections. For a game built around demanding jumps and escalating hazards, such tools can also make the port more welcoming for players who want to study its design without immediately facing the full pressure of the original structure.
- PSG sound support for wider MSX compatibility.
- Y8950 audio support retained for users with compatible hardware.
- Customizable audio combinations that let players mix music and sound-effect choices.
- Additional music created as part of the expanded sound work.
- A new intro animation inspired by the Sega Mega-CD release.
- An in-game manual for readily available instructions.
- A cheat menu with level skipping and guard-behaviour adjustments.
Why the MSX2 version matters
The MSX2 occupies an important place in computer game history. Released during the 1980s as part of the broader MSX standard, it had a substantial audience in several regions and hosted a varied software library. Its legacy has remained especially visible among collectors, preservationists and homebrew creators, who continue to develop software for the platform long after its commercial peak.
New projects like this unofficial Prince of Persia port illustrate why the machine still inspires work. Developing for vintage hardware requires working within tight limits while accounting for the quirks of particular video and sound configurations. A project can therefore become more than an exercise in moving an old game from one platform to another. It also becomes an effort to make sensible technical choices for real users of that hardware, including those who own different expansions or expect a physical product to work on commonly available systems.
The inclusion of both PSG and Y8950 options demonstrates that approach. The port is not treating the MSX2 as a single, uniform specification. Instead, it recognizes the range of sound hardware that players may have, then provides choices that preserve compatibility without abandoning enhanced audio possibilities.
It is also encouraging to see a project of this scale reach completion. Retro homebrew work can take years, especially when a developer is balancing accuracy, performance, new features and plans for distribution. Announcing that a project is nearly ready is one thing; delivering a final version with expanded functionality and release preparations is another. Heremans' update suggests this adaptation has progressed from a promising technical undertaking into a finished release intended for the MSX community.
Release details are still to come
Prince of Persia for MSX2 is expected to release next month, but further specifics on the planned launch have not yet been confirmed. Details such as the exact release date, the format of the physical edition, ordering information and the scope of any digital distribution remain unannounced.
For now, the completed status of the project is the major news. MSX2 players can look forward to an unofficial take on one of the medium's most famous cinematic adventures, enhanced with modern homebrew conveniences but still rooted in the careful movement, deadly traps and sword-fighting tension that made the original such a classic.
With its flexible audio configuration, Mega-CD-inspired introductory sequence, integrated documentation and optional cheats, the MSX2 version appears to be aiming for more than historical curiosity. It is shaping up as a thoughtfully adapted way to experience Prince of Persia on hardware that missed out on the game during its original era.
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