Skull and Bones (video game)

Short description: Upcoming 2024 video game

Skull and Bones

Developer(s)| Ubisoft Singapore[lower-alpha 1]
Publisher(s)| Ubisoft
Engine| Ubisoft Anvil
Platform(s)|

* Amazon Luna
* Microsoft Windows
* PlayStation 5
* Xbox Series X/S

Release| February 16, 2024
Genre(s)| Action-adventure
Mode(s)| Single-player, multiplayer

Skull and Bones is an upcoming action-adventure video game developed by Ubisoft Singapore and published by Ubisoft. The game is set to be released in February 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna, and Microsoft Windows. A version for Google Stadia was planned before the service's shutdown.[2] The game revolves around piracy and naval warfare with a fantastical setting during the late 17th century, the peak of the historical Golden Age of Piracy.

## Contents

* 1 Gameplay
* 2 Development and release
* 3 Awards
* 4 Adaptation
* 5 Notes
* 6 References
* 7 External links

## Gameplay

As of 2017, Skull and Bones was marketed as a tactical action game set in an open world environment and played from a third-person perspective.[3][4] Players take control of a customizable pirate ship,[5][6] and may choose to sail the Indian Ocean by themselves and set off on a single-player campaign, or gather up to five other players to ally in player versus player gameplay in Disputed Waters.[7][8][9][10]

Wind positioning can be assessed to gain an advantage in battle. Players may collect additional ships throughout the game, such as sloops-of-war, frigates and brigantines, whose weapons include mortars, broadside cannons, and rockets. Ships can be charged into with brute force and boarded. The rate of inflicted damage is gauged by the health bar. A core component is the multiplayer mode Loot Hunt, where two groups of players are challenged in treasure hunting to further accumulate their riches. Each given ship's crow's nest is scalable for use as a lookout point,[3][10][11] and spyglasses will be available.[6] Microtransactions will be included.[12]

## Development and release

Skull and Bones is the first video game led by developer Ubisoft Singapore, which drew inspiration from the naval battles of Assassin's Creed IV.[9] The game began development in 2013, being initially envisioned as an expansion of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, then an MMO spinoff title under the name Black Flag Infinite.[13] It was then spun off as an independent project, in part due to its initial technology becoming outdated.

According to a Kotaku report, the game has undergone multiple changes in direction and scope during development, exceeding its budget multiple times. Initially set in the Caribbean, it was moved to the fantastical Hyperborea, then finally the Indian Ocean. Gameplay was redesigned multiple times, focusing variously on naval exploration and ship-to-ship combat, before both were scrapped in favour of land-based survival elements inspired by games like Rust. Developers contacted by journalist Ethan Gach attributed these difficulties to conflicting ideas, management issues, and lack of consistent direction.[13] The project reportedly cost Ubisoft more than $120 million.[13]

It was revealed during Ubisoft's press conference at E3 2017. It was confirmed for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, with enhancements for PlayStation 4 Pro and Xbox One X. Alongside the game, Ubisoft Singapore announced the "Keepers of the Code" program, designed to allow players to aid in the fine-tuning of its live-service aspects.[8][14]

Originally set to be released in Q3/Q4 2018,[8] the game was later delayed into 2019,[15] and again to sometime after March 2020.[16] On a call with investors in October 2019, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot confirmed that the game had been pushed back to at least the 2021–2022 fiscal year.[17]

In September 2020, it was revealed that while development was continuing, a "new vision" for the game had emerged, which resulted in release delays as more development time was needed. Additionally, it was stated that additional Ubisoft Studios, such as Ubisoft Berlin, were co-developing the game alongside Ubisoft Singapore.[1]

In May 2021, Ubisoft announced a subsequent delay to the 2022–2023 fiscal year.[18] In July 2022, the company revealed a November 8 release date for the game, and that the game would launch on the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S (replacing the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One).[19] In September 2022, Ubisoft announced that the release was pushed back to March 9, 2023.[20] In January 2023, Ubisoft delayed the game to the 2023–2024 fiscal year due to the underperformance of recent launches. However, new footage for the game was released.[21][22][23] A closed beta was released on August 25, 2023.[24] In October 2023, it was announced that the game would be released in early 2024.[25] At The Game Awards 2023, the final release date of February 16, 2024 was revealed.[26]

## Awards

Following E3 2017, Skull and Bones was nominated for Game Critics Awards' Best Original Game and Best Online Multiplayer awards.[27] It was nominated for Outstanding Animated Character in an Episode or Real-Time Project at the 21st Visual Effects Society Awards.[28]

## Adaptation

It was announced in early 2019 that Ubisoft was partnering with Atlas Entertainment to adapt Skull and Bones into a television show. It will be executive produced by Danielle Kreinik, Jason Altman, Andy Horwitz, Richard Suckle and Amanda Segel, with Segel slated to write the pilot episode.[29]

## Notes

1. ↑ Additional work by Ubisoft Berlin, Ubisoft Chengdu, Ubisoft Kyiv, Ubisoft Paris and Ubisoft Philippines[1]

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "An Update on Skull & Bones". September 9, 2020. https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/56OPWg2TTgiV54dCwBAHP2/an-update-on-skull-bones.
2. ↑ Romano, Sal (July 7, 2022). "Skull and Bones launches November 8 for PS5, Xbox Series, PC, Stadia, and Luna". https://www.gematsu.com/2022/07/skull-and-bones-launches-november-8-for-ps5-xbox-series-pc-stadia-and-luna.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 Hansen, Steven (June 12, 2017). "Skull and Bones is a tactical action pirate game from Ubisoft". ModernMethod. https://www.destructoid.com/skull-and-bones-is-a-tactical-action-pirate-game-from-ubisoft-441806.phtml.
4. ↑ Hannley, Steve (June 12, 2017). "E3 2017: Ubisoft Announces Expansive Pirate Game 'Skull & Bones'". http://www.hardcoregamer.com/2017/06/12/e3-2017-ubisoft-announces-expansive-pirate-game-skull-bones/260848/.
5. ↑ Whitaker, Ron (June 13, 2017). "Ubisoft Shows Off New Pirate Game Skull and Bones". Defy Media. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/170550-Skull-and-Bones-New-Ubisoft-Pirate-Game-Trailer-E3-2017#&gid=gallery_7508&pid=1.
6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Fenlon, Wes (June 12, 2017). "Ubisoft announces Skull and Bones, an open world multiplayer pirate game". Future plc. http://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-announces-skull-and-bones-an-open-world-multiplayer-pirate-game/.
7. ↑ Chalk, Andy (June 21, 2017). "Ubisoft confirms that Skull and Bones will have a single-player 'narrative campaign'". http://www.pcgamer.com/ubisoft-confirms-that-skull-and-bones-will-have-a-single-player-narrative-campaign/.
8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 Sanchez, Miranda (June 12, 2017). "E3 2017: Ubisoft Singapore Reveals Pirate Game Skull and Bones". Ziff Davis. http://www.ign.com/articles/2017/06/12/e3-2017-ubisoft-singapore-reveals-pirates-game-skull-and-bones.
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Purchese, Robert (June 12, 2017). "Ubisoft reveals new pirate game Skull & Bones". Gamer Network. http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2017-06-12-ubisoft-reveals-new-pirate-game-skull-and-bones.
10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Martindale, Jon (June 14, 2017). "Here's all we know about Ubisoft's new pillaging pirate title, 'Skull and Bones'". https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/skull-and-bones-news-roundup/#/3.
11. ↑ Van Allen, Eric (June 12, 2017). "Ubisoft Announces Skull And Bones, Pirate Game Based On Black Flag's Ship Combat". Univision Communications. http://kotaku.com/ubisoft-announces-skull-and-bones-pirate-game-based-on-1796031673.
12. ↑ Makuch, Eddie (August 13, 2017). "Skull And Bones Dev Talks Single-Player, Loot Boxes, And Why It's Not An Assassin's Creed Game". https://www.gamespot.com/articles/skull-and-bones-dev-talks-single-player-loot-boxes/1100-6452203/.
13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 13.2 Gach, Ethan (20 July 2021). "First It Was An Assassin's Creed Expansion, Now It's Ubisoft's 8 Year Nightmare". https://kotaku.com/first-it-was-an-assassins-creed-expansion-now-its-ubis-1847326742.
14. ↑ Dring, Christopher (June 12, 2017). "How Ghost Recon Phantoms influenced Ubisoft's Skull and Bones". Gamer Network. http://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2017-06-12-how-ghost-recon-phantoms-influenced-ubisofts-skull-and-bones.
15. ↑ Good, Owen S. (May 17, 2018). "Skull & Bones, Ubisoft's pirate game, delayed into 2019-2020". https://www.polygon.com/2018/5/17/17366090/skull-bones-delayed-launch-date-ubisoft.
16. ↑ Bankhurst, Adam (15 May 2019). "Ubisoft Planning Four AAA Releases Through March 2020". https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/05/15/skull-and-bones-not-being-released-until-after-march-2020.
17. ↑ Guillemot, Yves (24 October 2019). "Conference call - October 24, 2019 - 6:15 PM Paris Time". https://www.ubisoft.com/en-us/company/investor_center/earnings_sales.aspx.
18. ↑ "Ubisoft has delayed Skull & Bones again" (in en-GB). 2021-05-11. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/ubisoft-has-delayed-skull-bones-again/.
19. ↑ Kim, Matt (July 7, 2022). "Skull and Bones Release Date Announced". https://www.ign.com/articles/skull-and-bones-release-date-announced.
20. ↑ Phillips, Tom (September 28, 2022). "Skull and Bones delayed to March 2023". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/skull-and-bones-delayed-to-march-2023.
21. ↑ Wales, Matt (January 11, 2023). "Ubisoft cancels three unannounced games, delays Skull and Bones again". Gamer Network. https://www.eurogamer.net/ubisoft-cancels-three-unannounced-games-delays-skull-and-bones-again.
22. ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (2023-01-11). "Ubisoft Cancels Three Unannounced Games, Delays Skull and Bones for the Sixth Time" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/ubisoft-cancels-three-unannounced-games-delays-skull-and-bones-for-the-sixth-time.
23. ↑ Nair, Rupesh (2023-01-16). "Skull and Bones Receives New Gameplay Footage Update; Beyond Good and Evil 2 Still Happening Despite Recent Ubisoft Cancellations, and More" (in en-in). https://in.ign.com/skull-and-bones/178279/news/skull-and-bones-receives-new-gameplay-footage-update-beyond-good-and-evil-2-still-happening-despite.
24. ↑ "Skull and Bones Closed Beta Date Revealed". https://news.ubisoft.com/en-us/article/4kihDSXL6Uvzu7njpvvccq/skull-and-bones-closed-beta-date-revealed.
25. ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (2023-10-26). "Skull and Bones Has Yet Another New Release Window" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/skull-and-bones-has-yet-another-new-release-window.
26. ↑ Valentine, Rebekah (2023-12-08). "Skull and Bones Release Date Finally Revealed, Again | Game Awards 2023" (in en). https://www.ign.com/articles/skull-and-bones-release-date-finally-revealed-again-game-awards-2023.
27. ↑ Keefer, John (June 26, 2017). "Ubisoft Rakes In 14 Nominations for E3 2017 Game Critics' Awards". http://www.shacknews.com/article/100443/ubisoft-rakes-in-14-nominations-for-e3-2017-game-critics-awards.
28. ↑ Tangcay, Jazz (January 17, 2023). "Avatar: The Way of Water Leads Visual Effects Society Awards Nominations". Variety (Penske Media Corporation). https://variety.com/2023/artisans/news/visual-effects-society-2023-awards-nominations-announced-ves-1235491339/.
29. ↑ Shanley, Patrick (February 20, 2019). "Ubisoft Developing a Female-Driven 'Skull & Bones' TV Show (Exclusive)". https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/ubisoft-developing-a-female-driven-skull-bones-tv-show-1187642.

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