Originally announced as Black Flag Infinite in 2013, Ubisoft Singapore’s Skull and Bones has undergone multiple iterations over its long development cycle. The project became infamous for its numerous changes in setting and scope, high rate of developer turnover, and exceeding its budget several times over. With so many problems, some might have wondered if Ubisoft’s multiplayer-focused pirate game would ever see the light of day.
However, the end finally seems to be in sight, with Skull and Bones set for release on November 8. And while the game is also coming to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Stadia, and Amazon Luna, the game comes with several features exclusive to the PC release.
Ubisoft revealed Skull and Bones’ PC-exclusive features in a trailer recently. These include native support for both 4K HDR and ultra-widescreen monitors. The game also comes with ray-tracing, an uncapped FPS, and support for Nvidia DLSS and AMD FSR graphics upscaling. The trailer also shows off the extensive graphics and performance options the upcoming Skull and Bones will have on PC.
While the trailer focused mainly on the game’s features on PC, it also showcased some of what players will get up to in Skull and Bones’ version of the Indian Ocean. These include the epic naval battles that players expect and exploring exotic locals such as ancient temples, active volcanoes, and other impressive vistas. In addition, the trailer also shows off some of Skull and Bones' in-game customization options, including various weapons and cosmetic upgrades for the player’s ship and captain.
Unfortunately for Ubisoft, the trailer did not see a particularly positive reception. As of this writing, the trailer’s most liked comment on YouTube compares features like graphics options and DSS in a AAA PC game to a survival game having crafting mechanics. While they are certainly nice things to have, they are also very much expected features and not something to brag about. Many of the other popular comments expressed similarly negative opinions about Skull and Bones, a game whose own developers have reportedly criticized it for lacking depth. Of course, there were also several positive comments, but one could describe the overall reception as mixed at best.
Understandably, some people are unenthusiastic about Ubisoft’s upcoming pirate game. Last year, Kotaku published a deep dive on Skull and Bones’ troubled development and the dire situation at Ubisoft Singapore. The report described a project weighed down by low morale, poor direction, and repeatedly shifting goals, with developers comparing the project to BioWare’s Anthem. Hopefully, Skull and Bones will overcome the challenges, but not everyone is optimistic about that possibility.
Skull and Bones releases on November 8 for Luna, PC, PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X/S.
