A Redditor revealed gameplay footage of Ubisoft's long-anticipated pirate game, Skull & Bones, giving gamers a better idea of what to expect for the upcoming release.
As revealed by VGC, the now-taken-down video showed the first six minutes of tutorial gameplay intended for Alpha testers. The game appears to take place in the Indian Ocean and is set during the Golden Age of Piracy (roughly between 1650 and 1730). Players start the game as a low-level rogue who wants to become the most infamous pirate on the seas. Beginning with a small trading vessel, players must progress through the game by gaining infamy and crafting larger, stronger ships. Different ships will reportedly have unique playstyles.
Infamy can be gained in a variety of ways. Players can take on contracts, making deals with NPCs throughout the world to accomplish different tasks. A multiplayer function allows up to three players to share and complete specific contracts together. Players can also gain infamy through exploration, plundering, treasure hunts and by participating in periodic game events. Other details about the gameplay remain unconfirmed, including rumors which suggest little sword fighting or land exploration will be included, making the title almost exclusively sailing-based. However, it appears the game will be multiplayer first after an initial plan to focus on single-player gameplay.
Skull & Bones has been in development hell for years, with several changes in direction, reboots and development problems. The game received massive fan excitement at its announcement at 2017's E3, even earning it a nomination for Game Critics' Awards' "Best Original Game." Initially inspired by Ubisoft's massively successful Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, Skull & Bones is supposed to take that game's pirate themes and make them front and center to the story and gameplay. Rumors sprouted in 2019 of a possible TV series based on the game once it eventually releases, suggesting those inside the project felt confident in the title.
Part of the anticipation for Skull & Bones comes from a desire to see more pirate-based games, a genre that the industry is lacking in. Fans have hoped to see some footage from the game or other sign that it is on track to release soon since it is one of the few pirating games currently in the works. Before the leak, the closest hint players had of potential news or even a video of Skull & Bones came from a recent rumor that Ubisoft plans to unveil at least 20 games in a massive showcase soon. When or if that even takes place remains to be seen.
If the game's development remains on track this time, it will launch sometime during Ubisoft's fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023.
Source: Reddit via VGC