Pirate-themed multiplayer game Skull and Bones was revealed at Ubisoft’s E3 2017 press conference earlier today.
Built by the same dev team behind Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag – an undisputed fan-favorite among the AC series – Ubi made the announcement official by rolling out a swashbuckling cinematic trailer for Ubisoft Singapore’s new IP, which is expected to set sail for PS4, Xbox One, and PC in the fall of 2018. Details of an open beta test will be shared at a later date, while there’s also word of extended gameplay once Ubi’s showcase wraps up.
Game modes range from 5v5 multiplayer matches to open exploration, with players given the freedom to journey across the Indian Ocean – not to mention plundering all of the many treasures that await. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot was the one to introduce Skull and Bones to those in attendance, and it was here that the company’s head honcho hinted at the ways in which the game “builds on the legacy” of Black Flag and its beloved naval combat.
Here’s the description:
It is the Golden Age of Piracy. A time when renegade captains command the most powerful weapons on Earth, warships. You are an insatiable, upstart pirate captain who refused the King’s pardon. Having nothing to lose, you sailed from the Caribbean to the Indian Ocean, an exotic and untamed frontier full of lavish riches. However, these rich and idyllic waters are also a battleground where far-reaching colonial empires, powerful trading corporations, and ruthless pirate gangs are fiercely competing for their share of these valuable treasures.
During your journey to become the ultimate pirate kingpin, you will build a fleet of ships you can customize, prey upon lucrative trade routes, and take down rival pirate captains, memorable characters or players. Season after season, as your infamy and wealth grow, so will the threats you face. In order to survive in this ruthless ocean, you will have to ally with other pirate captains to form the most influential pirate gang, becoming too big to fail and joining the endless struggle for supremacy of the Indian Ocean.
Skull and Bones will pull into port and onto PS4, Xbox One and PC fall 2018. Beta tests are on the horizon, so stay tuned for more. Meanwhile, if you’re curious to know the origin story of Ubisoft’s new IP, look no further than the extended featurette, below.