{"id":29266,"date":"2022-07-29T15:14:43","date_gmt":"2022-07-29T14:14:43","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/wordpress.prod.gmgfarm.net\/?p=29266"},"modified":"2022-07-29T15:14:43","modified_gmt":"2022-07-29T14:14:43","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-skull-and-bones","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/vpce-0921aaf1c67156043-4t1vg0wq.vpce-svc-0cf8d5d00172470c2.us-east-1.vpce.amazonaws.com\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-skull-and-bones\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need To Know About Skull and Bones"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It\u2019s been five years since Skull and Bones was first revealed and the wait is almost over. Inspired by the naval warfare of Assassin\u2019s Creed IV: Black Flag<\/a>, Ubisoft\u2019s latest sees players take to the seas in a new open-world adventure, refreshing these mechanics inside an original setting. However, it\u2019s not been the smoothest ride for the French publisher, who\u2019ve reportedly suffered major development issues along the way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Thankfully, things appear to be back on track and a recent Ubisoft Forward presentation gave us a confirmed release date. Crucially, that also provided a fresh look at Skull and Bones’ gameplay, breaking down the progression system, ship and character customisation, crafting, the open-world systems it\u2019ll use, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ll get more into that shortly but for now, here\u2019s everything we know about Skull and Bones.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skull and Bones Release date<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Ubisoft confirmed during the Ubisoft Forward presentation that Skull and Bones will launch on November 8, 2022. It\u2019ll arrive on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X\/S, and PC (via the Epic Games Store and Ubisoft Connect). If you\u2019re a fan of cloud streaming, we\u2019ve got excellent news, it\u2019s coming to Google Stadia and Amazon Luna too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sadly, if you\u2019re hoping for a PS4 or Xbox One release, you\u2019re out of luck this time. Despite Ubisoft mostly sticking to cross-generation launches these last two years, Skull and Bones is skipping last-gen consoles. Back at E3 2017, Ubisoft had announced it was due to arrive on both consoles with a confirmed 2018 release window. Likely due to the protracted development cycle and delays, these last-gen plans have since been scrapped. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skull and Bones Gameplay<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Skull and Bones sees us playing as a pirate across the Indian Ocean. Having been shipwrecked, we\u2019re now out to scout for resources, building up a low-tier ship to become the most feared swashbuckler across the seven seas. This starts by visiting Sainte-Anne, our pirate den and in-game hub, where we can meet other players, buy ship upgrades, and plenty more. Across this open world, we\u2019ll be scouting for materials to craft equipment, alongside fighting AI pirates and fearsome animals, like sharks, for resources<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can play solo or team up with friends, but it\u2019s worth noting that there\u2019s no campaign in the traditional sense. This isn\u2019t your standard story-driven adventure and as a live-service game, Ubisoft has a post-launch roadmap in mind for future updates, so you won\u2019t hit credits after a \u201clast\u201d mission. You\u2019ll find some story elements within, just don\u2019t go into this expecting a full narrative experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fittingly, Skull and Bones tracks progression through the Infamy system, presenting players with new opportunities as your reputation grows. This can be improved through hunts, raids, exploration, completing NPC contracts, and more. Those contracts often involve bounty hunting or finding treasures, which raises our infamy. Completing these also rewards us with blueprints, and that brings us onto our next point.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Crafting plays a key role in Skull and Bones. Here, players can create new weapons, fresh armour, upgrade your ship, or build entirely new vessels, providing you\u2019ve got the right blueprint and materials. Obtaining the best ships doesn\u2019t come easily, so be prepared to sink considerable time in here. So far, we\u2019re aware of three ship types with different hull types for better customisation, and we could see more revealed later on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, there\u2019s Cargo Ships. These let you carry considerably more loot but contain several drawbacks, like slower speeds and reduced firepower. Second is Navigation Ships, which prioritise manoeuvrability to become the fastest vessels going, making them great for scouting and retreating. Just be prepared for reduced loot space if this is your choice. Finally, Firepower Ships are for those looking more towards combat, loading up more guns than the other two. Basically, it\u2019ll all come down to personal preference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skull and Bones Multiplayer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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As mentioned before, Skull and Bones can be played alone but Ubisoft\u2019s gearing up for a multiplayer experience too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using a shared open world, you can play alongside 20 additional players on your server. They can\u2019t hurt you around Sainte-Anne since this is considered \u201csafe waters\u201d, but you can be targeted further out. Making matters worse, anyone carrying significant loot will be classed as a high value target, which is visible to other players. Furthermore, contracts can be carried out with friends, letting you team up in exchange for splitting the earnings. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or\u2026 if you\u2019re after a more competitive touch, you can compete against five players in Disputed Waters. This is a PvP mode where you\u2019ll fight each other\u2019s ships to the death, stealing the loser\u2019s treasure. It\u2019s reminiscent of what Skull and Bones originally promised when Ubisoft first revealed the game. While this aspect has been changed over development, there\u2019s still plenty here that you can do with others.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skull and Bones Trailer<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Ubisoft\u2019s released several for Skull and Bones trailers and videos previously back in 2018. However, thanks to significant changes made during the game\u2019s development, those are largely irrelevant at this stage. Sure, the game still retains that basic premise but if you\u2019re looking to get a good look at this, all you need to worry about is the Ubisoft Forward presentation. This took place on July 7, 2022, giving us a fresh look at Skull and Bones\u2019 gameplay systems. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re curious to learn more, you can watch this in action below:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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