The development of Ubisoft's pirate game Skull and Bones has been a fiasco of high order. First announced in 2017, Skull and Bones has since been retooled and rebooted, which is why in 2022 the project still doesn't have a firm release window. That could be changing soon, however. Ubisoft appears to be preparing for the new Skull and Bones to have its first closed playtest, teasing that the pirate game could finally be reaching the end of its development cycle.The news comes from the official Skull and Bones website, as well as Ubisoft's social media. The development team is recruiting for what it calls the Skull and Bones Insider Program, what it describes as an ongoing testing initiative. Applicants will have the opportunity to try out Skull and Bones before anyone else, but only if they're approved first. As is standard with these types of programs, only a select few will initially be accepted for Skull and Bones testing with more invited over time.Details about testing are being kept close to the chest, so far. Ubisoft describes initial testing as a "sneak peek" of what's being made. No schedule for tests has been provided, which could mean that tests won't be known publicly until Ubisoft is ready to take down an NDA.
All that Ubisoft does say is that the test will be entirely based on gathering feedback regarding real experiences with Skull and Bones. Those who apply should do so with the intention of sharing their experiences and discussing their impressions with other players and the development team. Since testing will be limited to just a few players, feedback from those players will be all the more important for the future of Skull and Bones. Feedback will be private, however, as players won't be allowed to discuss their thoughts publicly.
Skull and Bones was confirmed to be rebooted with a "new vision" in 2020, a year and a half ago. Since then, little has been said about what Skull and Bones truly is now. The unique pirate game first advertised in 2017 is likely very different, if not unrecognizably different, than what Skull and Bones is now. That alone makes the prospect of testing the new game intriguing.
Perhaps the most exciting implication of Ubisoft's decision to start its Skull and Bones Insider Program is that the game is currently in a playable state, to one degree or another. That could mean that Skull and Bones is approaching a release date, one currently unannounced. At the very least, Skull and Bones news seems closer than it has in a very long time.
Skull and Bones is in development for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
