Massive Skull & Bones Leak Promises Ubisoft's Pirate Game Is Still Coming

Yarr me hearties, 'tis Davy Jones back from the briny deep with some good news. If you want some seafaring adventures and Rare's Sea of Thieves isn't for you, rest assured that Ubisoft is still working on its forgotten pirate entry, Skull & Bones.

While Ubisoft is best-known for the open-world adventures of the Assassin's Creed games and its latest era with the likes of Origins, Odyssey, and Valhalla, let's remember it's previously dabbled in maritime madness with the fan-favourite Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag. Considering the 2013 game's cult status, it makes sense that the idea could be expanded further.

What's in the Skull & Bones leak?

As a refresher, Skull & Bones is a wholly new IP that is supposed to be the first game from the Ubisoft Singapore studio. Announced at E3 2017, the title quickly gathered momentum ahead of its proposed late-2018 release, however, we all know that didn't exactly pan out.

Even though things have gone quiet on the Skull & Bones front, notable leaker Tom Henderson gave us a smorgasbord of information about the pirate adventure in a lengthy 10-part tweet thread. Weighing anchor to this sea of leaks, Henderson claims there will be five tiers of ship to unlock. These are then categorised into Cargo, Combat, and Exploration, with new ships being acquired via blueprints that can be bought at settlements. 

Elsewhere, Henderson claims you'll be able to customise your ships with a deadly arsenal of cannons boasting mortars, ballistas, and other deadly weapons. This system means ships will have their own strengths and weaknesses. Small boats can nip past their bigger rivals, however, bulkier ships will pack a punch in terms of firepower and easily sink smaller vessels.

When will Skull & Bones be released?

In Skull & Bones, you take control of a singular ship as a pirate captain. You can either set out on your own single-player campaign or join with up to five others in the PvP Disputed Waters mode. Set in the Indian Ocean, the crux of Skull & Bones will take place in an exaggerated pirate haven in Madagascar.

Moving away from the classic Assassin's Creed style of parkour and swordplay, segments that take place on land are largely to flesh out the story by talking to NPCs, meaning there won't be that classic AC combat. At least Skull & Bones is borrowing something from its sister series - with Black Flag's sea shanty feature making a welcome return.  

Things won't be easy though, Henderson says you'll start out with just a simple raft and be a nautical nobody. Completing quests will help you climb the ranks to captain, and after that, the seven seas are your oyster. If you're already sold on the idea of being the next Jack Sparrow, you might have a bit of a wait on your hands.

So far, Ubisoft has only given a loose release date that Skull & Bones will release some time after April 2022 - presumably falling into that fiscal year. Henderson has suggested the game isn't "near completion" but should be considered "at a decent spot". With a proposed release date looming closer, let's hope it's all hands on deck for Skull & Bones eventually hoisting the mainsail.