The much-anticipated Skull and Bones game from Ubisoft is finally scheduled to launch in early 2024, after nearly ten years of waiting. There have been numerous delays in the game's release, which has made it a running joke in the gaming world. But as the release date comes near, everyone is wondering if Skull and Bones will be able to rise above its current status as a joke.
Evolution from Concept to Industry Shifts
Skull and Bones looked like an appropriate choice for Ubisoft when it was first revealed, building on the popularity of the ship combat in Assassin's Creed Black Flag. Yet, unforeseen shifts in the gaming world, including a complete RPG relaunch of its founding series and the shift from multiplayer-centric games to the dominance of live services, have left Skull and Bones feeling like it's chasing a trend that has passed away.
A Dual Identity: Single-Player vs. Multiplayer
The game features both a single-player story and a multiplayer option where players compete for control of "Disputed Water." The game's main objective is to command a pirate ship to engage in ship-to-ship warfare and loot collecting. Still, the most important question needs to be answered: What is included in the single-player campaign? Who is Skull & Bones' main character? Is the ship the main subject of the story, or is it one particular pirate character? Regretfully, even going back to the game's basic idea finds that it lacks the immersive experience that made living as a pirate in Assassin's Creed Black Flag so memorable.
The unclear Vision of Ubisoft: A Success for the Unique or Something More?
What Ubisoft plans to do with Skull and Bones is still unknown. Is the studio happy to settle for a small-scale cult success similar to For Honour, a game that received poor reviews but remained popular for years due to constant updates? Or does Ubisoft have higher goals in mind for Skull and Bones? The lengthy development process can indicate a goal for a release that goes above the status of a simple "bin fire."
Miracle or Mirage: The Quest for Success
Given the significant amount of time, money, and effort that went into developing Skull and Bones, a successful launch would be a gaming miracle. Finding a committed player base for the multiplayer component could save it from becoming a forgotten artefact in the gaming world, even though it may never recover its whole cost for Ubisoft.
The Mystery of Skull and Bones: An Unsolved Curiosity
The game is still a major mystery as of right now, but the reasoning behind Skull and Bones' avoidance of cancellation and the entire production process will undoubtedly make for an interesting book one day. Though maybe not for the reasons Ubisoft had originally intended, it's still one of the most anticipated games of 2024 despite the uncertainty. With a solid roster, including Star Wars Outlaws and the successful release of Avatar Frontiers of Pandora in 2023, Ubisoft has something to rejoice. Still, Skull and Bones' greatest hope could be a startling discovery, or maybe a world record set by repeatedly delaying the film.