Skull & Bones Development Rebooted for Fortnite-Style Live Game Model

Skull & Bones

Ubisoft Singapore’s Skull & Bones has reportedly been rebooted, now focusing on a Fortnite-style live game model.

The open-world pirate game was initially announced back in 2017, but details on the game since have been few and far between aside from multiple delays. The game also skipped E3 2019, and was not seen during the Ubisoft Forward press conference this year.


Now, Video Games Chronicle (VGC) reports that “according to development sources speaking under the condition of anonymity,” the game is struggling to stand out among Ubisoft’s portfolio of open-world games (including series such as Watch Dogs, Assassin’s Creed, and The Division).

During the Ubisoft Forward presentation, we saw open world games including Far Cry 6, Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, and Watch Dogs: Legion.

The game was reportedly aiming to have (in VGC’s words) a “premium box model” like Ubisoft’s other open world games. However, the game was rebooted last year, and is moving away from that model.

Now the game is moving towards a live game model (also known as “Games as a Service”). This means a game world that will change over time with updates, including being shaped actions made by players.

One anonymous source told VGC that the social aspect and “live storytelling” of Fortnite was a strong inspiration behind the game’s change of focus. This new Skull & Bones is also going to focus more on players working together, with Ubisoft wanting to appeal to audiences beyond competitive action games.

The game’s development staff had some changes as well, with creative director Justin Farren leaving (joining Wargaming), nd replaced by former editorial VP Elisabeth Pellen (writer and director of XIII, lead level design for Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow, and more).

Ubisoft reportedly declined to comment on VGC’s story. We will keep you informed as we learn more.

Skull & Bones is in development for Windows PC, Xbox One, and PlayStation 4.

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Ryan was a former Niche Gamer contributor.


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