Announced all the way back in 2017,Skull and Boneshas become one of the most infamous cases of troubled development in recent years. Originally intended for a 2018 release,Skull and Boneswas pushed to a 2019 date, and then received a further delay, pushing it back to 2020. In 2020, Ubisoft announced thatSkull and Boneswas being drastically reworked, and a subsequent Kotaku report confirmed that the game’s development had stumbled at almost every hurdle.
Well,Skull and Boneshas just been re-revealed, and it’s looking surprisingly solid, albeit a little similar to Rare’sSea of Thieves. Along witha November 2022 release date, Ubisoft revealed some of the game’s core mechanics, ranging from ship combat to character customization. During the gameplay breakdown, fans got to see the world ofSkull and Bones, and its Indian Ocean setting, but this wasn’t alwaysSkull and Bones' backdrop. In fact,Skull and Boneshas had three very different settings in its development lifetime.
RELATED:Why Skull and Bones Probably Doesn’t Feature Boarding Combat
Skull and Bones' Three Different Settings
Skull and Bonesfirst began development almost a decade again, in 2013. Running hot off the heels ofAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Ubisoft Singapore was tasked with developing a spin-off game that would focus and expand on that game’s naval combat system. As the scope of the game grew larger, Ubisoft Singapore was given the green light to go ahead and shift gears, and convert the game into its own independent project.
With all ofBlack Flag’s assetsat the developer’s disposal, Ubisoft Singapore planned on keeping that game’s Caribbean setting. Though the key real-world locations would likely remain the same, the architecture would probably receive an overhaul, especially as players weren’t going to be able to venture onto land. Instead, the bulk of environmental development would be spent on naval fort structures and smaller land masses.
At some stage in development, the realistic Caribbean setting would be scrapped in its entirety. Instead, the developer decided to go in a completely different direction, now planning to set the game in the fantasticalHyperborea sea from Greek mythology. Though it’s not really known what this setting would look like in practice, it would presumably change the game’s tone and content quite a bit. Presumably, instead of other pirates, players would be battling against some mythical foes, and maybe a sea monster or two. Similarly, the more Mediterranean-inspired look would likely give the game a brighter color palette.
At the time of development, this setting would have probably been a fairly unique concept, with most naval titles focusing on real-world settings. However, for some unknown reason, this setting was also scrapped completely. Though it’s pure speculation, this could be due tothe release ofAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, which takes place in Ancient Greece and occasionally crosses over into the realm of mythology. WithOdysseyalso offering some naval gameplay, it’s possible that Ubisoft wanted to avoid any potential market share between the games, and asked that the setting ofSkull and Bonesbe changed.
With the re-reveal ofSkull and Bonesa week ago, Ubisoft finally confirmed that the game will be set in the Indian Ocean, the game’s third and final setting. Based on the trailers released so far, it seems as thoughSkull and Bonesis opting to go for a more naturalistic tone and look, with the player once again facing off against fellow pirates and privateers all while navigating some pretty realistic-looking islands and waves.
Skull and Bonesis set to release on July 05, 2025 for PC, PS5, Stadia, and Xbox Series X/S.
