The development hell of Skull and Bones is well-documented at this point, but Assassin's Creed could give it an "out." The driving idea behind Skull and Bones was conceived around the development of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, with the title beginning as an expansion for it. This is not uncommon, notably, for Ubisoft. Immortals Fenyx Rising was conceived from a bug in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Assassin's Creed Mirage was an expansion for AC Valhalla originally, at least on paper. However, while AC Mirage and Immortals Fenyx Rising have soared, it seems Skull and Bones has struggled to set sail.
The scope and focus of the game has changed multiple times, the setting of Skull and Bones has changed multiple times, and it recently lost its third creative director. That is the definition of development hell, but multiple games have faced these stormy waters and lived to tell their tale. Skull and Bones can too, and perhaps its best wager lies in the recently rumored development of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag.
Skull and Bones Began as an AC4: Black Flag Expansion, and It Could End Up That Way Too
Earlier this year, Kotaku reported that a remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag has been greenlit, though the project is still in the earliest of early stages. In other words, fans can't expect a remake of the game for a few years, and it would seem Ubisoft Singapore is involved in the project. This is noteworthy because Ubisoft Singapore is currently the lead studio on Skull and Bones, but that's not really uncommon. Ubisoft Singapore has been involved with a number of Assassin's Creed games, including the naval combat for Black Flag. Assuming this report is accurate, then perhaps the best bet was the original idea: to ship Skull and Bones as a multiplayer component of Assassin's Creed 4 Black Flag.
Pairing Skull and Bones with Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag would be good for its image, it would be a way of going back to what inspired the idea in the first place, and it would ensure that Skull and Bones is less likely to be in a sink or swim situation right out of the gate. After all, it's clear that Skull and Bones is going to launch at some point, and while there have been multiple delays and changes to the game, one more push really wouldn't be surprising. The Black Flag remake is at least a couple of years out, and that would let Skull and Bones iron out its issues in that period. Now, whether or not that time is justified is a completely different beast, but it may be the best option at this point no matter what.
This would bring the relationship between Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag and Skull and Bones full circle, and it would ensure the latter gets into players' hands. Together, many who may be wary of its development hell would have reason to check it out. This is pure speculation though, so fans will just have to wait and see if the Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake rumors are legit and what Ubisoft has in store for Skull and Bones.
A remake of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag is rumored to be in development.