Ever since the ship combat proved to be so successful in Assassin's Creed 3, Ubisoft fans have been asking for the publisher to create a pirate-themed title. While Assassin's Creed: Black Flag gave players an adventure on the high seas, Ubisoft's upcoming release Skull and Bones appears to be building on the precedent set by Assassin's Creed's naval combat while also departing from the popular franchise. With Skull and Bones being one of only two major releases Ubisoft has lined up for the rest of 2022, there's a fair amount of pressure on the game to do well.
As Skull and Bones' November release date approaches, Ubisoft has been unveiling more about the game and what fans can expect from it. In a recent interview, Ubisoft Director Ryan Barnard spoke about the core mechanics of the pirate title, specifically referring to how the story will be constructed in Skull and Bones. It seems largely that Skull and Bones will rely on players influencing the story they'll experience within the game.
Barnard noted that he wants players to "create their own stories" in the game and choose which type of a pirate's life is right for them. This isn't to say that Skull and Bones won't have a story. As Barnard stated in a previous interview, Skull and Bones will not follow a long storyline that will end with credits rolling, but there will be key characters that players can interact with by taking on contracts. These "kingpins" will have their own stories that can be discovered through the various missions users can take on.
Also, according to Barnard, Skull and Bones does have an "underlying story" which helps to build the lore of the world. However, again this won't be the main focus. It seems, then, that Skull and Bones will encourage players to build their ships and their reputation as a pirate in order to craft their own narrative within the game. For some, this may support the argument that Skull and Bones is lacking depth, something that even the developers of the game are concerned about.
This concern comes from the fact that many believe the majority of what Skull and Bones can offer gamers has already been covered in its Ubisoft Forward showcase. While there are a lot of systems to allow players customization in the ship they want and the resources they can attain, the fear is that Skull and Bones is rather shallow in its efforts, not giving people a reason to adventure the seas. With little in terms of narrative as well, this may leave some players feeling like a pirate's life is not for them.
Skull and Bones releases November 8 for PC, PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X.
Source: True Achievements