Every pirate game worth its salt is always eager to include allusions or cameos from famous, real-world pirates, and it looks like Skull and Bones will likely be following suit. However, with the way that developer Ubisoft has worked with historical figures in Assassin's Creed before, there's a chance that some lesser known pirates might get some much deserved screen time.
While Skull and Bones isn't explicitly confirmed to be within the Assassin's Creed universe, players can still expect the development philosophies of Ubisoft to continue into the spin-off title. So, while there are bound to be a few historical inaccuracies for the sake of telling a new story, even games that are entirely fictional like Watch Dogs sometimes reference real figures in history.
The obvious choice for a famous pirate who might work as either an antagonist or mentor in Skull and Bones would be Blackbeard, or the other colorful variants of the name other pirates took on. That being said, most of Ubisoft's best games often focus on historical figures that aren't generally talked about extensively in school, and instead looks at "untold stories" of smaller actors. In addition to these smaller names, there are some infamous pirates that could use better representation in media like Skull and Bones than they currently receive in modern media.
Golden Age of Piracy
From the few looks Ubisoft has given of the story of Skull and Bones through trailers and other announcements, players do know so far that the game will take place at the end of the Golden Age of Piracy. This opens the door for a number of notable pirates like John Phillips, captain of the Revenge, or Edward Low, a vicious pirate that could make for a stellar antagonist. Low in particular is infamous for a grueling story about paying a captain for his wine and brandy with twin pistol shots that could make for a tense scene in Ubisoft's cinematic style of presenting characters.
With Blackbeard already used in Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, it would be best for Skull and Bones to avoid this big name and look at the people who carved out smaller cases of infamy. Then, stepping away from the pirates themselves, delving into the superstitions of sailors with infamous ghost ships like the Lady Lovibond, could offer some intriguing scenarios as well. However, while there are plenty of lesser known pirates that could use for a new interpretation from Ubisoft, there is one infamous captain who's lack of representation would make them a perfect fit for the new game.
The Pirate Queen
Ching Shih, better known as Cheng I Sao or the Wife of Cheng, is the most successful pirate in the history of the ill-gotten profession. Though she technically comes from slightly after the Golden Age of Piracy that Skull and Bones takes place in, Ubisoft's uses of historical inaccuracies at times have still been successful for telling a gripping story. So, there is room to fudge the dates a bit and fit Ching Shih naturally into the story that the upcoming pirate adventure already has planned.
In fact, considering that Skull and Bones takes place in the Indian Ocean, Ching Shih would be one infamous pirate that would fit into the narrative better than most. Most of the names that are remembered from this time would pillage around the Caribbean more often than they would in the more eastern seas. However, if Ubisoft is looking to really capture the pirate fantasy in Skull and Bones, then a charismatic character like Ching Shih might be the best chance the developer has to show how "epic" the lifestyle can be.
Skull and Bones is set to release in March 2021, for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.