The long-awaited release of Ubisoft’s latest foray into the world of pirates is nearly here, but Skull and Bones is a very different proposition to the game that was first announced. Land raids were a big part of the Golden Age of Piracy, but will this latest big money release let players disembark their ships?
When it was first announced way back in 2017, it was billed by many as the spiritual successor to Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. Widely regarded as one of the best games in the series to date, it featured everything players might want to do as a pirate.
A big part of that was to counterintuitive leave the ship. Players were able to attack colonies and siege forts, with those interactions providing some of the most exciting combat scenarios in the entire game.
As a result, players may have a reasonable expectation that they will be able to do the same here. Read on to find out just how Skull & Bones is approaching piratical combat.
Is there land combat in Skull and Bones?
In short, no the game will not feature land combat in any form. Skull and Bones is pitched as a naval combat simulator and it is very much staying true to that principle. Almost everything in the game will be completed by the player from the helm of their ship.
That said, there will be some time to take a trip on to land and take a break from the immense dangers of the oceans. There are several hubs that serve as locations for players to barter with NPCs. These are a necessary part of the game but don’t offer much in the way of excitement.
It seems that land combat was far from the thoughts of the developer since the beginning. Ubisoft leaned into the premise of providing the most exciting and visceral naval combat possible. As a result, land combat felt like an impractical afterthought.
Skull and Bones is currently available to play for free as part of the Beta until February 11. Beyond that, the full release is coming on February 16.