If November 2022 was a harbor, it is undoubtedly full of docked boats ready to set sail. Prized vessels like God of War Ragnarok lead November releases, but that game is far from the only heavy hitter. Others such as Sonic Frontiers, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and Pentiment are set to coast the waters, and so was another highly anticipated game: Ubisoft's Skull and Bones. However, Ubisoft's long-awaited naval combat pirate adventure has been pushed back for the fifth and final time, which may be more of a blessing than a curse.
Publisher and developer Ubisoft recently announced Skull and Bones would be delayed to March 2023, less than two months before the game's intended November 8th release date. The good news is that Ubisoft says the delay has more to do with implementing polish and priming than with core problems with the game and its tumultuous development cycle. Originally conceived as a multiplayer spin-off to Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, Skull and Bones aims to provide a less cartoony pirate alternative to Microsoft and Rare's endearing Sea of Thieves and chart its course by focusing on naval combat and letting players create a unique gameplay experience.
How the Delay Could Pay Off Big for Skull and Bones
Launching a new IP is always tricky, and Skull and Bones no longer has to compete with big-name games like God of War and Pokemon to earn a seat at the table. Currently, the only other AAA release coming in March 2023 is Capcom's Resident Evil 4 Remake, which hits shelves approximately two weeks after Skull and Bones. The decision to delay and apply additional polish sets the stage for Skull and Bones to become one of the big game events of the month, instead of another ship in a crowded harbor as it was looking when the game was initially scheduled to release this November.
The additional delay to Skull and Bones has other benefits as well. Skull and Bones' helm feature has potential, and the extra time in the oven will hopefully allow developers to execute a fully realized vision of it that exceeds expectations established in preview events. With a game as sought after and delayed as Skull and Bones, it is paramount that Ubisoft releases the very best version of the game it can make. Players with long-held pre-orders deserve nothing less, and it's not every day that a game focused on pirates and naval combat hits shelves. This under-tapped genre is ripe for new experiences, and Ubisoft can position itself as the definitive studio for it.
It's no secret that Skull and Bones has sailed troubled waters since it was initially announced in 2017. Even before the pandemic rattled the world, the game had experienced delays. It seemed like Ubisoft couldn't get the game where it needed to be, and at one point, a developer for Skull and Bones said it lacked depth. Fortunately, players can draw more personal conclusions soon as Ubisoft has announced that an open beta will be held before launch.
Game delays are never fun, but there is often a bright side. For players that can exercise additional faith and patience, the hope is to be rewarded with a top-notch experience that proves it was worth the wait. Ubisoft has a lot invested in Skull and Bones, but the gameplay looks fun, and the four-month delay to March will allow the game to be the star of the show instead getting overshadowed by the likes of God of War Ragnarok or Sonic Frontiers. Hopefully this fifth delay is the final delay, and in just a few short months, Ubisoft's open-world pirate adventure will be ready for prime time.
Skull and Bones launches on March 9th, 2023, for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.