Inside Ubisoft: Unveiling the Craft Behind Skull and Bones

Skull and Bones was initially revealed at E3 2017. The game, spearheaded by Ubisoft Singapore, promised a thrilling dive into piracy and naval warfare, sparking interest and curiosity among gaming enthusiasts worldwide.

It is said that development on the game started as a sequel to Assassin’s Creed Blackflag. But we all know that in the bustling world of video game development, the journey from concept to console is a tale of creativity, collaboration, countless hours of hard work and recalibration.

Over the 7-8 years that Skull and Bones spent in development, there was quite a bit of ‘recalibration’. Nevertheless, the efforts that go into producing a AAA, nay, AAAA game is one for the record books. This was vividly brought to life during our visit to Ubisoft’s Pune studio, a pivotal contributor in creating their latest title – Skull and Bones.

Despite its surface-level resemblance to Sea of Thieves, Skull and Bones sets itself apart with unique gameplay elements and an ambitious vision, culminating in its 2024 release after a series of delays and developmental hurdles. Our journey to the Pune studio offered a glimpse into the hearts and minds of those who breathed life into this virtual world of high seas and pirate legends.

The Essence of Skull and Bones

At the core of Skull and Bones lies the player’s transformative journey from an obscure upstart to a formidable pirate overlord, navigating a vast, dynamic world where reputation is the keystone to power. Players command their own ship with a motley crew to run it. But unlike “Sea of Thieves”, the player doesn’t spend time micromanaging the different aspects of sailing in real-time. The ship becomes the player character.