Ever since the ship combat proved to be so successful inAssassin’s Creed 3, Ubisoft fans have been asking for the publisher to create a pirate-themed title. WhileAssassin’s Creed: Black Flaggave players an adventure on the high seas, Ubisoft’s upcoming releaseSkull and Bonesappears to be building on the precedent set byAssassin’s Creed’snaval combat while also departing from the popular franchise. WithSkull and Bonesbeing one of only two major releasesUbisoft has lined up for the rest of 2022, there’s a fair amount of pressure on the game to do well.
AsSkull and Bones’November release date approaches, Ubisoft has been unveiling more about the game and what fans can expect from it. In a recent interview, Ubisoft Director Ryan Barnard spoke about the core mechanics of the pirate title, specifically referring to how the story will be constructed inSkull and Bones. It seems largely thatSkull and Boneswill rely on players influencing the story they’ll experience within the game.
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Barnard noted that he wants players to “create their own stories” in the game and choose which type of a pirate’s life is right for them. This isn’t to say thatSkulland Boneswon’t have a story. As Barnard stated in a previous interview,Skull and Boneswill not follow a long storylinethat will end with credits rolling, but there will be key characters that players can interact with by taking on contracts. These “kingpins” will have their own stories that can be discovered through the various missions users can take on.
Also, according to Barnard,Skull and Bonesdoes have an “underlying story” which helps to build the lore of the world. However, again this won’t be the main focus. It seems, then, thatSkull and Boneswill encourage players to build their ships and their reputation as a pirate in order to craft their own narrative within the game. For some, this may support the argument thatSkull and Bonesis lacking depth, something that even the developers of the game are concerned about.
This concern comes from the fact that many believe the majority of whatSkull and Bonescan offer gamers has already been covered in itsUbisoft Forward showcase. While there are a lot of systems to allow players customization in the ship they want and the resources they can attain, the fear is thatSkull and Bonesis rather shallow in its efforts, not giving people a reason to adventure the seas. With little in terms of narrative as well, this may leave some players feeling like a pirate’s life is not for them.
Skull and Bonesreleases November 8 for PC, PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X.
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