Skull & Bones is a pirate-centric multiplayer action game that Ubisoft first revealed back at E3 2017. Very little of the game has surfaced since then, and after numerous delays, many believed that the game was in development limbo. However, as is tradition with Ubisoft, new footage of Skull & Bones has leaked, and it looks a lot further along than you might expect.
Skull & Bones was revealed as a multiplayer game where players take on the role of pirates and fight each other as well as AI enemies on the open seas. The leaked video covers various mechanics and gameplay demonstrations that showcase a game with more depth than what Ubisoft has shown in the past.
The gameplay is coming together
When Skull & Bones was announced, there was a mixed sentiment among gamers who were concerned that naval combat on its own wouldn’t be enough to sustain a game like this. Thankfully, the newly leaked footage shows a game that looks expanded upon in promising ways.
The game world is inspired by the Indian Ocean during the golden age of piracy. Players start as unknown pirates and try to make their way up the ladder by gaining infamy. Infamy is a new mechanic and the core progression system by the looks of things. It can be increased by taking on NPC contracts, finding treasure, and more, and it will let players unlock rewards such as crafting recipes, cosmetics, and ship upgrades.
The leaked Skull & Bones video showcases third-person gameplay as a player navigates through the hub area of pirate den Sainte-Anne. This area will let players acquire provisions for their long journeys, take on contracts from NPCs, and craft new ships and equipment. You can even interact with other players in a similar vein to The Tower in Destiny 2. Naval battles will, of course, be a large part of the game. Players can take on missions solo, or as a group of three friends depending on the specific contract. Ship battles look like evolved versions of the Naval ship battles from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Taking on enemy ships, large forts, and players will make up much of the combat experience.
Skull & Bones seems like it is in a positive state of development, and Ubisoft has responded by posting a short video that ends with the words “stay tuned.” Hopefully, it won’t be much longer before we hear more about the game.
