Ubisoft’s pirate adventure Skull and Bones is finally out for the world to see, and despite having spent over a decade in development, players are not happy with the long-awaited result. Since it shipped on February 16, players have highlighted its many, sometimes mind-boggling issues.
The publisher’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, made lofty claims ahead of its release, stating it was “a quadruple-A game.” While this was an attempt to reassure gamers and justify the steep $70 price tag, his statement backfired and has now become the subject of mockery.
No Swimming Allowed in Skull and Bones
In a recently published video on YouTube, user NikTek compares the game’s water mechanics to those found in Ubisoft’s 11-year-old Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. The difference in quality is shockingly slim. Users in the comments even went as far as to say they mistook the footage from the brand-new Skull and Bones as being from the 2013 title.
At first i thought that the first clip was from Assassins Creed IV [2013] but then i realised…”
– user infinite7633
In Black Flag, the way Edward wades as he enters the ocean illustrates water resistance, something that is almost absent in Skull and Bones. Some users in the comments compared these water physics to those from the PS2 and PS3 eras.
Adding to the frustration, Ubisoft didn’t include the wet clothes animations in their new pirate adventure, even though they were present in Black Flag.
To top things off, the protagonist in the 2024 title can’t swim. After entering the water, they hit an invisible wall that they can’t go beyond. One user in the comment section summed it up: “Skull and Bones protag: water is scary.”
Ubisoft’s Quadruple-A Claim Backfired
Players are disappointed, and Guillemot’s ridiculous quadruple-A claim has only given social media users ammunition to dunk on the game, stating Ubisoft had “shot themselves in the foot” with that statement. One user on X commented:
It’s just like batteries – with each A you get less
— Iridian Dot (@yoctomachine) February 17, 2024
Many other users agree, stating “AAAAH! What is his mess?” and similar, more vulgar expressions.
7 Years of Development and You’d Expect More from Skull and Bones Lackluster Ship-Boarding Mechanics
According to various comments, seeing the video comparing Skull and Bones to Black Flag has led many to jump back into the latter rather than playing the newly released title.
As Skull and Bones is a live-service game, Ubisoft will be expanding the title with regular content updates. This means there is a chance some of the highlighted issues could be addressed in the future. However, it remains to be seen if players will stick around long enough for such upgrades to turn the tide for the game.
Are you playing Skull and Bones? What are your thoughts on the game? Tell us about your opinion in the comments.
