Skull & Bones, the online multiplayer piracy game, had a massive new gameplay trailer unveiled during the Ubisoft E3 2018 press conference. The trailer introduces a previously unannounced game mode named Hunting Grounds. Ubisoft describes Hunting Grounds as a PvPvE mode where players group together to take down powerful enemies, and maybe turn on each other in proper Skull & Bones fashion, too.

Within the Hunting Grounds trailer the player, burdened with pirate loot, encounters a Portuguese frigate -- an AI-controlled ship. It'd be impossible to battle the huge warship alone,  so the player is joined by three other players. Together they can combine their abilities to slowly take down the frigate, sharing the burden of enemy's insane damage.

After conquering the Portuguese frigate, however, the players have the option of being greedy. All four ships can begin attacking each other, earning a higher share of the loot available. It would behoove a greedy pirate to put themselves in less danger while fighting the AI, so as to increase their odds of fighting against players later. That's the unique dynamic that Hunting Grounds will be bringing to Skull & Bones.

Hunting Grounds is the second game mode announced for Skull & Bones, joining the pure PvP mode Disputed Waters. A third, as-yet-undetailed game mode named Deadly Encounters is planned to be revealed at a later date. All three modes will offer prospective pirate kings different methods of increasing their wealth, improving their ships, and becoming a top Skull & Bones player.

It's clear from Ubisoft's showing of Skull & Bones at E3 2018 that despite the multiplayer game's delay, moving it out of 2018 and into 2019, development is going outstandingly. Most delayed games wouldn't have such a large presence at a convention shortly after, yet here's Skull & Bones looking awesome. The delay implies, if anything, that Ubisoft's ambitions for the pirate game have merely grown past what they were before.

Expect more information on Skull & Bones throughout the upcoming week of E3 and in the months to come.

Skull & Bones releases in 2019 for the PC, PS4, and Xbox One.