Kotaku, a gaming news and opinion website, has covered Skull and Bones extensively throughout its development and release. Here are some key points from their coverage:
Development and Delays:
Long development cycle: Skull and Bones was announced in 2017 with a 2018 release target. However, it faced numerous delays and finally launched in February 2024, after nearly seven years.
Shifting vision: Initially conceived as a DLC for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, the game ultimately evolved into a standalone online pirate experience.
Unionization efforts: In February 2024, Kotaku reported on the organization of a labor campaign by the Creative Media and Publishing Union at Ubisoft Singapore, the game’s development studio.
Reviews and Impressions:
Focus on ship combat: Kotaku’s review highlights the game’s emphasis on ship-to-ship combat, praising its depth and customization options.
Lack of variety: While appreciating the core gameplay loop, the review criticizes the limited scope of activities beyond combat, noting a lack of exploration and narrative depth.
Overall impression: The review presents a mixed perspective, acknowledging the game’s strengths in ship combat but expressing concerns about its repetitive nature and lack of broader engagement.
Additional Coverage:
Kotaku has published other articles delving deeper into specific aspects of Skull and Bones, such as:
Analysis of the game’s marketing and numerous trailers over the years.
Exploration of the game’s monetization strategy and the use of in-game currencies.
Overall, Kotaku offers a critical and informative perspective on Skull and Bones, highlighting its development history, gameplay strengths and weaknesses, and broader context within the gaming industry.