Skull and Bones' lengthy and challenging development process has been far from smooth sailing. It was originally set to release back in 2018, but it has since had more than five delays, with fundamental changes made to the game and the studio in the background. The most recent delay pushed the release back from November 2022 to March 2023, but given its track record, there is still a significant chance that date could be altered once again.

The long-awaited pirate game is based on the naval combat mechanics from Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag and adapts them into a large open-world multiplayer setting. The limited footage and screenshots that Ubisoft has released up to now suggest it will focus on exploration and customization, with the closest parallels being drawn to Sea Of Thieves. However, how Skull and Bones will play remains somewhat vague. That is one of a few red flags which suggest the game may still be far from complete.

RELATED: Skull and Bones: The Importance of the Jolly Roger Explained

Ubisoft is Still Reluctant to Show Off Skull and Bones Gameplay

skull and bones jolly roger

The last delay to Skull and Bones was announced in September, less than two months before the game was previously set to come out. This proves that the release date is still far out enough for the developers to make that difficult call. The official reason given by Ubisoft last time out was that “the game development is finished at this stage, the extra time will be used to further polish and balance the experience.” Their line that the development is complete offers fans hope that the release is now close, but it all depends on how much polish the game still requires.

In the absence of being able to get hands-on with the game, players got a look at the latest Skull and Bones gameplay trailer in September. Many who watched were critical due to the lack of true gameplay and the heavy reliance on edited footage. The trailer did not include examples of somebody playing the game or even what that experience may look like. This is a worrying sign as it appears Ubisoft doesn’t yet have the confidence in the state of the game to show it. If it’s true that it merely needs polishing, it’s not unreasonable to expect more footage and details this close to the March release.

There was also the promise of an upcoming open beta for potential players to sample what is on offer and test out the game’s multiplayer experience. Almost three months on from that announcement, the beta still doesn’t have a date, and there have been no suggestions as to when it can be expected. The reluctance and secrecy around how the game plays could be due to the game still not being ready. As a new IP, Ubisoft will want to ensure it makes a positive first impression and doesn’t push away those interested at launch. It will be heavily reliant on maintaining a dedicated player base for the long-term success of the title and, as proven so far, Ubisoft is willing to push it back as many times as necessary to make that happen.

The mysteries surrounding the current playability of the game, as well as the many delays till now, suggest a further delay could be on the cards. For those excited about its release, this will be a disappointing prospect and may make some lose hope that it will ever come out, but the game releasing before it's ready would be a worse fate. For a brand-new multiplayer experience, a failed launch could be a make or break. As such, piracy fans may potentially have to wait a bit longer yet for their chance to set sail in Skull and Bones.

Skull and Bones launches on March 9, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.

MORE: Every Ubisoft Game Coming Out in 2022