Recent internet rumors suggest that Ubisoft is currently hard at work on an Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag remake. While that is exciting news for fans of the Assassin's Creed franchise, it may not be good news for players who were anticipating Skull and Bones. It may no longer have an official release date, but putting resources into another Ubisoft pirate game may be the final death blow for this troubled title.
It feels like Ubisoft has been talking about Skull and Bones forever, and players were hoping that it would capture the feeling of Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. Sadly, the gameplay trailers left much to be desired, and there is no need for this pirate game if the studio is actually remaking Edward Kenway's adventures. There just does not seem to be room for two Ubisoft pirate games; especially when they share a very similar formula.
Skull and Bones May Have Died Before It Began
Ubisoft has been developing Skull and Bones since the release of 2013's Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag. It was inspired by the naval combat and piracy gameplay of the acclaimed action-adventure title and was allegedly going to be a full-on expansion or spin-off in its original form. It then went through numerous iterations - including an MMO - before it finally became the Skull and Bones that players know today.
Skull and Bones would be officially revealed at E3 2017 with a 2018 release date, but it has gone through countless delays since. The game has still not hit store shelves as of July 2023, and a firm release date has not been set. Skull and Bones' gameplay trailers have also done little to excite any potential player base, as it looks like a far cry from what Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag achieved. It feels like this game is destined to die before it even releases, and the rumored remake may have sealed its fate.
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag fans have been clamoring for a return to the pirate life, and Skull and Bones was originally going to give them that. The title had a lot of promise, but the trailers revealed that popular features including ship boarding would not be included. The gameplay looked bland, the world looked colorless, and everything about the game seemed like a lackluster version of the iconic Assassin's Creed title. There is still a small hope it can deliver a decent pirate adventure, but that remains to be seen. However, the possible remake gives potential players little reason to even give it that chance.
Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag fans have no reason to play Skull and Bones if Ubisoft is developing a remake. Nothing about the gameplay was particularly engaging, and some players will likely be able to wait until the remake releases. If done right, this Assassin's Creed 4 remake will be exactly what pirate fans have been hoping for. It will let players live out their pirate fantasies in a beautiful open world with a fantastic story backing everything up. Since both games will have a very similar Ubisoft style, there may be no place for these two games to coexist.
It is still too early to call Skull and Bones a failure, and the Assassin's Creed 4 Remake may be just a rumor and never hit store shelves. Either way, the current buzz around Skull and Bones is not particularly strong. There does not seem to be much interest in the long-delayed game, and it may have already fallen flat with gamers. Couple that with the possible remake, and Skull and Bones may already be dead in the water.
Skull and Bones is in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
