Update: Ubisoft have replied to our request for comment on the Skull & Bones tutorial video that was leaked this morning, saying that it is the game and comes from a real technical test, but that the final version will different significantly.
Here’s the full quote:
“We confirm this is a glimpse of our upcoming game Skull and Bones. Recently, we ran a technical test for the game and some of its details became public. This video footage was taken from an early version of the game and doesn’t reflect the quality and features of the final game. We’ll share more details about the game soon.”
Technical tests are fairly common in games, and it’s amazing that more doesn’t leak out of them. This tutorial shows something far later in development than I’m used to seeing from technical tests, but far earlier than most games show gameplay at.
That said, what exactly “doesn’t reflect the quality and features of the final game” is anyone’s guess – could be all the systems are ready to be stripped out and replaced, or just that the costumes will look nicer. We’re likely to find out this summer.
Original story: It’s been a long (long, LONG) time since Skull & Bones was first announced with a look of For Honor on the high seas. PvP focus, skill-based gameplay, some oddities – it was Ubisoft’s heyday of making stuff just off the beaten path enough to be interesting. Then it was delayed, and delayed, and delayed, and changed game director and devs and essentially what’s carrying the name now is a distant relative at best. However, in a tutorial leaked from a technical test build today, we get our first look at what it is now – and it’s more pseudo-MMO with crafting, gathering, and PvE than straight PvP game.
There’s a lot of Ubisms in there, from a big open world with a thousand tasks to do, to endless progression and character customization. However, there is also a little bit of MMO and RPG in there – you go out looking for materials to mine with your crew. You have to feed and water your crew or they’ll rebel against you. There are NPC pirate-hunters and merchants to flee or fight, as well as the wiles of other players. Honestly, it looks rather cool, though the basic voiceover and the fact it’s an all video, no gameplay tutorial suggest we’re a ways off.
Interestingly there’s no sign anywhere in the video of measures to prevent this – no covered up QR codes or unique identifiers for whoever leaked this. Given the quality of the video as well as the reasonable content it covers, there’s certainly been more damaging leaks, but as always it’s a shame to see things before they’re ready. There are a couple of obvious bugs and oddities in the footage, like weirdly moving ships. However, considering the hell the game has been through to get to this point, it’s looking remarkably stable.
There’s little indication in the video of how close to finished the game is, though it’s clearly in a pretty reasonable state – lots of complex animations, proper models for everything, nice VFX. At a guess, I’d say we’re likely to see more from the game, officially, this year, likely at whatever not-E3 showcase Ubi put on or attend.
We reached out to Ubisoft for comment, and the reply was a predictable “we don’t comment on rumours or speculation” – guess we’ll have to wait a little longer for something more meaty on Skull & Bones.