During the Ubisoft Forward livestream on July 12, the pirate game Skull & Bones was not a topic of discussion. However, it is now said that the game has been “rebooted” and we will get a live-service game that is inspired by Fortnite.
What is Skull & Bones? Skull & Bones was planned by Ubisoft as a pirate game focused on naval battles, stemming from the combat of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. The release was originally scheduled for 2018. MeinMMO author Jürgen Horn was able to try out the pirate game at Gamescom 2018.
There were several delays for the game. Most recently, it was said that it would come between April 2020 and March 2021. Ubisoft stated that more time was needed to improve the player experience.
A reboot for Ubisoft’s pirate MMO
What is the current status of the game? In recent months, it has been quiet around Skull & Bones. Even during the Ubisoft Forward livestream on July 12, the game was not a topic of discussion.
What information is available now? According to the magazine VGC, an insider reportedly revealed that Ubisoft has “rebooted” the game. The source, who wished to remain anonymous, disclosed that the developers struggled to place the game between Assassin’s Creed, The Division, and Watch Dogs, leading to a need for a reworked concept.
Skull & Bones is now expected to become a live-service game that focuses on storytelling similar to Fortnite but with a strong emphasis on PvE and teamwork.
How is Skull & Bones supposed to operate now? Allegedly, you are in a persistent game world that you explore with your crew, completing quests together, meeting NPCs, and experiencing stories. The story changes and evolves over time through the players’ actions.
Skull & Bones is said to differ from the live-service approach of the online shooter The Division 2. While the shooter receives regular content updates with a generally static world, the world in Skull & Bones evolves over time. Similarly to how it occurs in the seasons of Fortnite.
What about PvP? According to the insider, the focus is on teamwork. The specifics of PvP are still unclear, but allegedly Skull & Bones is not aimed at players seeking competition among each other, as there are other Ubisoft titles for that.
When will we learn more about Skull & Bones? Ubisoft is planning a second Forward event later this year, where more games are expected to be presented. Perhaps Skull & Bones will also be included.
During the Forward event, Ubisoft also presented several other interesting games. Far Cry 6 was introduced with an intense trailer. You might be interested as the shooter is rumored to also have a multiplayer mode.
