Summary
If there’s anything the gaming industry has made abundantly clear over the last decade, it’s that live-service games are hard to make, and even harder to maintain. After the rise of MMOs andgames likeFortniteandPUBG, many publishers decided to try their own hand at creating the next big live-service hit, and more often than not, they failed dramatically. A live-service game needs the perfect blend of satisfying gameplay mechanics, meta-progression systems, and an ongoing narrative that keeps players hooked for the long term, and unfortunately,Skull and Bonesjust doesn’t have that perfect mix.
A game nearly a decade in the making,Skull and Bonesbecame one of the most infamous cases of development hell in the gaming world, having been restarted multiple times during its production. But against all odds,Skull and Bonesfinally released in February of this year, where it was met with a resounding shoulder shrug across the board.Skull and Bonescurrently sits at a 59 on Metacritic, and doesn’t seem to be doing all that great. But there’s one trickSkull and Bonesstill has up its sleeve.
Skull and Bones Still Has The Nuclear Option
Skull and Bones Might Be in Some Troubled Waters
Just a week afterSkull and Bones' initial launch, Insider Gaming’s Tom Henderson posted a report that stated the game had just 850,000 players across all platforms. While that number seems pretty high, it’s actually quite low for a Ubisoft game, especially the company’s first self-titled “AAAA” game. This player count also included anyone who was usingSkull and Bones' free trial, meaning that a portion of the playerbase presumably hadn’t even paid for the game, and could potentially drop off as soon as the trial was finished.
There is currently no official way to know how many playersSkull and Boneshas at the time of writing.Skull and Bonesisn’t on Steam, so sites like SteamCharts and SteamDB don’t have any information on player counts. Plus, Ubisoft hasn’t made any official statements regarding the game’s playerbase or its success yet.
Things probably aren’t going too well asSkull and Boneshas been a prominent centerpiece of just about any major platform sale since soon after its initial release in February, which implies thatSkull and Bones' full $70 price tagwas indeed too high.
Just beforeSkull and Bones' release,Helldivers 2had its launch. A fellow live-service game,Helldivers 2came out of the gate swinging and became an overnight success. Within its first few months,Helldivers 2reported over 12 million sales, and Sony wasn’t afraid to tell the world about how much of a success it was. In comparison,Skull and Bones' silence seems to speak volumes.
Skull and Bones Could Still Go Free To Play
Since long beforeSkull and Boneslaunched, many had condemned its $70 price tag, citing it as much too high for a live-service game. ButSkull and Boneshas seemingly managed to bring in quite a few players when it’s offered the game for free. At this very moment, PC players can enjoy a free trial up until June 6, coinciding with the game’s new season.
If Ubisoft sees a spike in the game’s player count during that time, it might be a smart choice to just bite the bullet andmakeSkull and Bonesa free-to-play game. In the end, Ubisoft has probably made all the money it can from full-priceSkull and Bonessales, and if the publisher wants to keep the live-service game alive and profitable, then its best option could be to make it free.
Skull and Bones
WHERE TO PLAY
Set sail into the vibrant open world of Skull and Bones, a naval online action RPG where you rise to become the most fearsome pirate kingpin.ENGAGE IN SPECTACULAR NAVAL COMBATPrepare for devastating battles by crafting a dozen different ships and equip your fleet with powerful loadouts. Unlock stronger weapons as you progress and customize your ships to reflect your unique pirate playstyle.SAIL INTO A DANGEROUS HELL IN PARADISEVoyage into the Indian Ocean and explore a vast open world teeming with cutthroat pirates, deadly sea monsters, supernatural threats, devastating storms, and more.TEAM UP WITH FELLOW PIRATESSail the lawless seas solo or team up with two friends or other players to partake in shareable contracts and rewards.ENJOY EVER-EVOLVING CONTENTEach season, face a brand-new legendary sea lord and discover fresh content, limitless endgame opportunities, and new exciting features designed to enhance your pirate experience.
