In new footage of Ubisoft’s hacking sim Skull & Bones, players who have been eagerly awaiting information about the game have been treated to combat, exploration and more. Additionally, Kotaku reports that the game could be available as early as fall 2022, according to some sources.
Since its reveal at E3 2017, Skull & Bones has been in what many would call “development hell.” Since then, there have been several delays, among other things, along with reports of a “lack of direction.”
However, the game has seen some signs of life lately, with a new alpha phase last year and the creation of an insider program, with some players trying it out early to provide developer feedback.
It appears some of this footage was leaked via Reddit, although it was quickly removed. Before that, however, eager viewers were able to catch a glimpse of what Skull & Bones looks like so many years after we last saw footage.
It appears these images are centered on a social gaming hub called Sainte-Anne, where players can sell and craft items, receive quests, and form pirate groups to take to the high seas. From there, players can Board their ship and fight against others, attacking fortresses, NPC and player ships and even world events like merchant fleets.
The video points out that Skull & Bones is still multiplayer-focused, but players can also tackle these quests solo if they wish.
Keep an eye on the horizon…pic.twitter.com/BWaH9QfYUb
— Skulls & Bones (@skullnbonesgame) April 29, 2022
The footage itself was quickly removed, but Ubisoft addressed the issue head on, confirming that it was from a recent Skull & Bones but not representative of the final game.
Via a statement to Kotaku:
“We confirm that this is a preview of our next game, Skull and Bones. Recently we did a technical test for the game and some of its details were released. This video is from an early version of the game and does not reflect the quality and features of the final game. We will be releasing more details about the game soon.”
Kotaku also reports that according to their sources, Skull & Bones will finally be released this year, already in the fall of 2022. According to the sources, Kotaku reports that it was originally planned for this spring, but was postponed twice: once in the summer and then in September .