Summary
There have been some truly great pirate-themed video games over the last few decades, withSid Meier’s Pirates!,LEGO Pirates of the Caribbean, andSea Dogsall being great examples. But while those games were great for their time, they don’t offer the expansive life on the high seas that fans are looking for from a modern pirate game, withAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagsetting such a high barback in 2013. And now, over a decade later,Skull and Boneshoped to raise that bar even higher.
Unfortunately,Skull and Boneshasn’t quite made the splash that Ubisoft wanted. Currently sitting at a disappointingly low 57 on Metacritic,Skull and Bonesfeels like a game stuck in the past, though with a bit of love and care it could be able to drag itself to the present day with its seasonal approach. But it doesn’t seem likeSea of Thievesis going to let that happen by releasing on a new platform and becoming the talk of the moment.
Sea of Thieves Has Knocked The Wind Out of Skull and Bones' Sails
Skull and Bones Has Been In Development For Over a Decade
Though it was announced back in 2017,Skull and Bones' developmentactually began all the way back in 2013, just over a decade ago. After the immense critical and commercial success ofAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Ubisoft made the quick decision to double down on the pirate genre, putting into development an MMO spin-off initially titledBlack Flag Infinite. Of course, this MMO would never see the light of day, at least not in its originally-pitched form.
AfterBlack Flag’s engine and techbecame outdated, Ubisoft pivotedBlack Flag Infinite’s development, turning it into a standalone title calledSkull and Bones. Initially revealed to the world in 2017 and set for a 2018 release,Skull and Boneswas originally described as an online multiplayer game that featured a shared world and team-based game modes. Of course,Skull and Boneswould receive more than its fair share of major delays, with each one molding the game into something slightly different.
Sea of Thieves May Have Ended Skull and Bones' Reign Before It Even Started
After over a decade of development, and seven years since its first official reveal,Skull and Boneshas finally hit store shelves, and it hasn’t been the most successful launch for Ubisoft. With some disappointing early sales numbers and some very low review scores, it’s hard to believe thatSkull and Boneswas worth the wait, or worth the effort on the part of its many different developers over the years. And that feeling is made even more apparent with the news thatSea of Thievesis coming to PlayStation soon.
Announced on February 21, just five days afterSkull and Bones' full release,Sea of Thieveswill be coming to PlayStation 5 on July 12, 2025. One of Xbox’s four horsemen of its new multi-platform experiment, there’s a lot of buzz aroundSea of Thieves' upcoming PlayStation release, and that buzz has already drowned out most of the talk surroundingSkull and Bones' disappointing launch.
Originally released all the way back in 2018,Sea of Thievesended up delivering onSkull and Bones' initial premise, giving players a shared PvPvE pirate world to explore. BeatingSkull and Bonesto the punch by six years,Sea of Thieveshas naturally become a major point of comparison for Ubisoft’s long-awaited game, and now,Sea of Thieveshas the chance to prove itself to a wider audience than ever before, and if it all goes to plan, then it seems unlikely thatSkull and Boneswill manage to retain the spotlight for long.
Skull and Bones
WHERE TO PLAY
Set sail into the vibrant open world of Skull and Bones, a naval online action RPG where you rise to become the most fearsome pirate kingpin.ENGAGE IN SPECTACULAR NAVAL COMBATPrepare for devastating battles by crafting a dozen different ships and equip your fleet with powerful loadouts. Unlock stronger weapons as you progress and customize your ships to reflect your unique pirate playstyle.SAIL INTO A DANGEROUS HELL IN PARADISEVoyage into the Indian Ocean and explore a vast open world teeming with cutthroat pirates, deadly sea monsters, supernatural threats, devastating storms, and more.TEAM UP WITH FELLOW PIRATESSail the lawless seas solo or team up with two friends or other players to partake in shareable contracts and rewards.ENJOY EVER-EVOLVING CONTENTEach season, face a brand-new legendary sea lord and discover fresh content, limitless endgame opportunities, and new exciting features designed to enhance your pirate experience.
