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- Despite a large development budget, Skull and Bones has struggled to maintain a player base.
- However, Ubisoft reportedly intends to provide two years of post-launch content for the game.
- Upcoming content is rumored to include new player-versus-player modes and possibly a crossover with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag.
In recent years, the live-service model has faced a plethora of challenges. Games like Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, Concord, and Ubisoft’s XDefiant have had trouble staying relevant or even lasting.
Skull and Bones is no exception, as the game struggles to maintain a consistent player base. The game cost Ubisoft a whopping $850 million and only managed to peak at 400 concurrent players on Steam.
However, Ubisoft has reportedly pledged to deliver two years of post-launch content for Skull and Bones, despite its struggles.
Why it matters: The planned updates sound promising, but Ubisoft must tackle core issues and set the game apart from competitors.
Skull and Bones was released in February 2024 after a long development process. The game received mixed reviews, with a Metacritic score of 59/100 and a user score of 3.4 out of 5. The game has already seen a major 90% discount.
However, according to Insider Gaming, Ubisoft plans to continue supporting Skull and Bones into its second year. Year 2 Season 1 is expected to start early next year, possibly right after the game’s first anniversary on February 16.
The planned updates are said to include new PvP game modes, additional locations to explore, new world tiers to improve progression, and crossover events. There are also rumors of a possible collaboration with Assassin’s Creed Black Flag.
Despite its low Steam numbers, sources suggest that Skull and Bones may be doing better on other platforms, which could explain Ubisoft’s ongoing investment in the game.
This persistence is unexpected, especially after Ubisoft decided to shut down XDefiant despite plans for extended content.
It’s important to take these claims with caution, as Ubisoft’s plans for extended support can change quickly. For example, XDefiant’s executive producer, Mark Rubin, was optimistic about future updates, but Ubisoft announced the game’s cancellation just a few months later.
The live-service market is tough, but Ubisoft’s decision to stick with Skull and Bones shows they’re willing to take risks. Whether this gamble will succeed remains to be seen.
Are you going to jump back into Skull and Bones if it receives new content updates? Let us know in the comments, or join the discussion on the Tech4Gamers forum.
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