The pirate genre on consoles could be set for a new boom when Skull and Bones is released. The upcoming offering from Ubisoft Singapore doesn’t have a release date yet but should hit shelves at some point in 2023 or 2024.
The developer was influenced by the brilliant swashbuckling aspects of another Ubisoft game, Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Taking inspiration from one of the best offerings in the studio’s flagship series means that Skull and Bones could end up being one of the greatest pirate games ever made.
What Will Skull & Bones be About?
Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag gave players a comprehensive experience of what it may have been like to be a pirate during the Golden Age of Piracy. It featured various elements, with players getting a chance to set sail and battle with other ships in the open sea. Many players thought that this was one of the best aspects of the game, which could be why Ubisoft Singapore was inspired to expand upon it in Skull and Bones.
In Skull and Bones, players will be required to use tactics in an open world environment to take on other factions of pirates on the Indian Ocean. At the start, players receive a ship that they can customize and upgrade as the game continues. There’s the choice between embarking on a single-player campaign or allying with friends online to battle other internet-based players in Disputed Waters.
There are already some excellent indications that Skull and Bones will be a success. It has already been nominated for various accolades, including Best Original Game and Best Online Multiplayer awards at the Game Critics Awards in 2017. There’s also set to be a television adaptation to accompany the game and improve its reach to wider audiences.
Pirate Genre is Booming Elsewhere But Needs More Content on Consoles
Pirate themes are prevalent in popular culture and are positively booming in other offshoots of the gaming industry. Consoles players would be right to feel disappointed with the relative lack of swashbuckling content on PlayStation and Xbox.
The mobile gaming market is arguably the best place to find pirate themes, with titles like Pirate Raid – Caribbean Battle and Last Pirate: Survival Island. There are plenty of slots too, with Buckaneers’ Frenzy being a popular offering at online casinos. It can even be found among the best slots promotions sometimes, with players able to use welcome offers to play it. Other slots promotions include free spins on Book of Dead, another popular adventure game.
Pirates are also commonly found in television and film. The Pirates of the Caribbean franchise is one of the most successful series ever on the big screen, and television offerings like Black Sails have also been met with critical acclaim. It’s high time – or high tide – the console market caught up with these other offshoots of the entertainment industry.
Skull and Bones will be released into a market that’s hungry for more pirate-themed choices. Thanks to Ubisoft’s pedigree, this new title has the potential to be one of the greatest games ever set on the seven seas.
