- Ubisoft didn’t launch Skull and Bones on Steam during its release.
- The game has finally been released on the fan-favorite platform, but it hasn’t performed so well.
- On launch, it peaked at a mere 394 players, even after a 60% discount.
Skull and Bones took a lot of time to develop, and Ubisoft went through a lot of development hurdles. Following constant delays, excitement levels were already much lower than expected, but Ubisoft was hopeful about the release.
The publisher marketed this live service release as another AAAA game, which raised expectations further. However, Skull and Bones ended up launching to disappointing feedback, creating a wave of negativity for this title. Several months later, the game has appeared on Steam, but the results aren’t much better.
Why it matters: Steam is undoubtedly the best launcher on PC, and fans are always upset when publisher’s decide to skip this platform for their games.
Skull and Bones launched to a mere 394 concurrent players on Steam. The game currently has 300 players, but the all-time high isn’t that great either. While this would be disappointing for any new release, the situation is made worse by the fact that Ubisoft marketed this release as one of its AAAA titles.
After 6 months, the game was already being sold for $10. Even on Steam, Skull and Bones has launched at a 60% discount, bringing the price down to a whopping $24. Over on the Ubisoft store, the base price was initially set at $70.
Still, it seems players have long since moved on, and this discount has done little to bring them back. The game also has a mixed rating, so there are many negative reviews on Steam already.
Skull and Bones doesn’t even have a proper shipboarding system, let alone sword combat. The AAAA title has been a disappointment so far, so Ubisoft’s decision to bring it to Steam hasn’t done much to help.
Despite the publisher’s insistence on locking its games to a single launcher, most PC users still prefer Steam. Many publishers have even begun to move away from the practice of avoiding Steam at launch, so Ubisoft should consider this approach.
The studio is set to launch Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Star Wars Outlaws soon. Unfortunately, neither of these will be coming to Steam at release.
Thank you! Please share your positive feedback. 🔋
How could we improve this post? Please Help us. 😔
[News Editor]
Obaid is pursuing a Law degree while working as a content writer. He has worked as a gaming writer for over three years because of his passion for the medium and reporting the latest updates in the industry. Having played hundreds of games, Obaid finds himself coming back to Elden Ring, Cyberpunk 2077, and Red Dead Redemption 2, with these games being among his favorites. He has also been mentioned on highly regarded websites, such as Wccftech, Metro UK, PS Lifestyle, GamePressure, VGC, and Gamespot.