On Monday, Ubisoft announced via Twitter that its action-adventure pirate-themed game, Skull and Bones, will arrive on Steam on August 22. In their post, Ubisoft wrote: “Setting sail with Skull and Bones on Steam this August 22! Get ready to navigate the ruthless high seas, engage in brutal naval battles, and build your own empire.”
Originally, Skull and Bones arrived on PC via Epic Store, Ubisoft Connect, and Amazon Luna, but not on Steam. The added route came only six months after the game’s initial release, which is a testament to Ubisoft’s strategy to expand their long-awaited promise of an Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag-inspired game.
As for the price of Skull and Bones on Steam, if Ubisoft maintains its consistency from other platforms, the game would cost players $70, a hefty amount which still draws criticism to this date.
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Expected Things in Skull and Bones Steam Release
Firstly, since the open-world pirate MMO can only be playable via Ubisoft Connect, players must have a Ubisoft account to play the game on Steam. As for Skull and Bones features, it will likely have all the same features you’d get from the other PC versions.
For instance, players can expect ultrawide display support, gameplay up to 4K HDR, uncapped frames per second, and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS)/ FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) support.
As to why Skull and Bones initially did not release on Steam, it comes down to Ubisoft’s exclusivity deal with the Epic Games Store and criticisms against Steam’s 30% revenue business model. For context, Ubisoft stopped bringing games to Steam between 2019 and 2022 before returning at the end of 2022 with Assassin’s Creed Valhalla released. Since then, only selected Ubisoft games have made their way to the popular PC platform.
The Developmental Struggles of Skull and Bones
Skull and Bones’ journey has been less than smooth sailing as the game was officially announced at E3 2017, with a projected release date of late 2018. Initially, the developers envisioned it as an expansion or spin-off of Black Flag, expanding on the popular mechanics introduced in Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. However, it evolved into a standalone IP after internal deliberations.
In 2018, Ubisoft announced Skull and Bones’s first delay, pushing the release to 2019. According to reports, the delay was attributed to the need for additional development time to refine the game and deliver a high-quality experience, as the team was struggling with the game’s scope and the complexity of its systems.
Then, throughout 2019, internal reports and external rumours indicated ongoing development challenges with leadership changes, causing Ubisoft to announce another delay, shifting the release to 2020-2021. Based on reports, the development team faced difficulties balancing realism with engaging gameplay, such as a fully realised open world, diverse ship customisation, and intricate multiplayer mechanics.
Unfortunately, things did not improve in 2020-2021 as Covid struck, leading to disruptions and delays across the industry. Ubisoft later confirmed that Skull and Bones will not be released until after March 2021. However, the developers soon stated the game would undergo a massive reboot, shifting its focus and design, causing its delayed release in February 2024.
Skull and Bones Receives Lukewarm Appraisal
If Ubisoft expected fans to appreciate the long struggle of building the thrilling and strategic pirate adventure, they were in for a rude awakening. For context, when Skull and Bones officially released in February, many long-awaited gamers gave the game lukewarm reactions at best, with the users rating on Google at 2.3/5, with over 1500 reviews.
Critics were also not kind to the game, as Metacritic rated the game at only 59/100, a stark contrast to Elden Ring’s DLC. According to many, the game’s sea battles are intriguing at first glance, but they die off too quickly as they become redundant and monotone.
In addition, many stated that the gameplay is just an online mode from Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, but worse. For example, the game doesn’t provide anything new or the basics of what people want from an ambitious pirate adventure, leading people to return to Black Flag as the game’s player base actually increased after Skull and Bones was released.
Therefore, are you still picking up the game for its pricey $70 price tag? Let us know on our Facebook page, and stay tuned for timely updates on more of your favourite games.
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