Ubisoft
Skull and Bones now has a release date: all the details of Ubisoft's pirate game
The pirate game that has been in developed for years by Ubisoft Singapore reappears to show its main features, first details and its release date.
Skull and Bones has endured without sinking into the ocean of oblivion. The title developed by Ubisoft Singapore was announced years ago, but the project has sailed lurching until it finally found its course. Now, the French company is ready to show off its ships, which will weigh anchor starting November 8 on consoles and PC. In a presentation prior to Ubisoft Forward, MeriStation had the opportunity to discover all of the details.
Much has been said about the business model. The French have clarified that this is not a free-to-play game, but that it will be available for purchase as a full title. They promise "a large amount of content", which will be distributed through "an ambitious plan of completely free post-launch content": ships, customization elements, challenges and much more.
Pirate of the seas
The presentation started with a cinematic that reviews the plot premise of the title. The protagonist, whom you can create and customize, is a nobody who survives in a hostile world. Society may have rules, but it's your decision to take to the sea. "Will you live as a pawn or as a pirate?"
The action takes place in an open world. At the start, the character begins his journey with practically nothing, but as they fulfill contracts and increase their level of Infamy (the Skull & Bones progression system) it is possible to build and improve different aspects. Of course, the base gameplay is based on naval combat, with mechanics that aim to be fast and satisfying. Aspects such as the improvement of skills, the introduction of different weapons or defense frames come into play.
Ubisoft places special emphasis on the social element of Skull & Bones, which features cooperative play and a PvP mode. However, all the content can be enjoyed solo. In any case, the social gameplay is embodied in the various hubs, which are the ports where we trade and prepare for the expedition. Without good planning, we will most likely end up at the bottom of the sea.
Sailing is more than manning a ship
In addition to the different types of ships (cargo, navigation, firepower, etc.), which we will have to choose depending on the missions, it is important to manage the morale of our crew. If there is no food, discontent will spread among them and the situation may end in a violent mutiny. And what happens if the ship sinks? We will reappear soon after and we will have the opportunity to recover at least part of the loot. Of course, other players can steal it if you are careless for a second.
Infamy is obtained by completing tasks, contracts and treasure hunts. During our journey, we'll encounter animals, which, as in many other Ubisoft titles, will attack us in no time. When we finish with them we will manage to get material to build tools and improvements, as crafting will be one of the central points of the game. The add-ons that we attach to the ship are equally essential, since it is in these compartments where we place the cargo (food, ammunition...).
Some elements to take in consideration
Sailing is an adventure, but also a dangerous challenge. When you spot an enemy ship, sinking it is an option, although not always the smartest solution. Bear in mind that part of the cargo will sink along with the ship. Therefore, another solution is to board the enemy, just like in Assassin's Creed. The difference is that in Skull and Bones the boarding is automatic, meaning that we will not fight melee against the rival crew.
What do we have to take in consideration while sailing? Enemy ships, of course, but never neglect nature and weather phenomena such as storms. In one of the gameplay shown, they explained that the bar at the top shows the progress of the battle. In the mission, they assault a base and try to loot and destroy the enemy base, so they quickly request reinforcements.
The enemies have weaknesses, which are shown in red to achieve critical damage. The yellow circle indicates the place of the mission, if you get out of it the raid is over. Once you get the loot you have to be very careful: all the players will come after you to get the loot.
Skull and Bones will be released for PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S and PC.