Why Skull and Bones Failed

[@robokast]

Enjoying this video? Check out my newest one on the tragic downfall of Guitar Hero: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qWGrf4qnppygrpY Also... Break up with basic browsers. Get Opera GX here: operagx.gg/RoboKast2

[@LexusLFA554]

Opera is owned by a chinese company, I would watch that!

[@Jan12700]

Chinese Spyware!

[@janoycresva919]

No thanks to chinese software

[@WarFoxThunder]

Nahhh, china number 195 (there are 195 recognized nations)

[@Chuck_vs._The_Comment_Section]

The incognito mode make me feel so safe, like Homelander was standing next to me!!!

[@thijsdeboer389]

Imagine never being able to top the naval combat of your own game, which came out over a decade ago. And naval combat wasn't even the main focus in that one

[@elgoog-the-third]

The studio was able, but Ubisoft changed direction so often that it was impossible.

[@BLue3547-o7v]

I think they use 10 years developing a new monetization scheme and 1 year of creating the actual fucking game.

[@VaxxedNPC]

@@elgoog-the-third Female leadership lmao

[@2ndexplosivebullet]

Skull and bones naval combat is leagues above black flag mainly because black is not a multiplayer game. All this hate for skull and bones come from people who don’t play who just want to feel included in trending grievance.

[@حجيمحمد-ط2م]

i heard it's made by interns, what do you expect?

[@macmac436]

Literally all they had to do was make a black flag sequel without the assassin stuff.

[@Fatjuggalo0420]

That was the plan then the fan got upset said it looked like AC 😂😂 no one knows what they want

[@Chickensea10]

The old assassins creed games multiplayers are still fighting! Black flag is one of them with its wolfpack mode and other gamemodes! Theres still discords around!!!! Just spreading the word

[@PurooRoy]

Not even a sequel. A sequel would imply having a story. All they had to do was pick up an element and drop it on a game to call it a day.

[@druout1944]

Yes.

[@Halluci44]

Reminds me of battlefield 2042. We just wanted an updated battlefield 4. Such a simple order in reality

[@cttommy73]

All people wanted was just Black Flag but only about pirates. That's it. Ubisoft is just too stupid to give people what they want.

[@MrAjking808]

That’s what fanboys wanted..

[@cttommy73]

@@MrAjking808 Not fanboys. Normal gaming market. Like AC in Japan. Monkey paw moment but the point still stand.

[@sheepfly]

​@@MrAjking808keep thinking that 😂😂

[@Lanokota]

Ubisoft is worse than a joke. I wasn't laughing when they shut down The Crew. They didn't make things right with their customers, so now I just look forward to the day they close their doors for good. Also, I'm tired of online only games. If they expect us to pay AAAA prices, then I want AAAA ownership of my product.

[@Okok-kj7zi]

Then download the game files on pc or buy a disk its not that hard.

[@Lanokota]

@@Okok-kj7zi What are we supposed to do with the files? That's not going to bring back the servers. Actually, I own a physical copy of The Crew. So, I could just stare at the box art and disc. Maybe by the power of my mind, I can make it come to life 😄

[@euskryhtbnfvse4i7ehs4hnvf]

Stopped buying anything Ubisoft now - they're all the same game with slightly different skins.

[@midriffzero]

@@Okok-kj7zi If you bought it on steam or an online store even if you have it downloaded it wont get past the DRM and wont it launch.

[@lemming9984]

@@Lanokota To quote the sow from Forespoken "You can do that with your freakin mind?"

[@ponraul1221]

They spent 11 years to make a worse version of a single part of a game.

[@javensanchez1423]

Calling black flag a “mediocre” AC game makes me so mad that game had one of those memorable characters fun combat and plenty of assassin fundamentals on TOP of the chaos of plundering ships and forts

[@alleyesonme0]

agreed, it was actually a very good AC game, and didn't come out stupid because they dared to have a unique game. i think people forget what a unique game is like, that's why developers keep making crappy games. EA sells the same games every year, and that's what people want or else it's mocked and laughed at

[@dtube441]

I agree. No idea why he used mediocre there. I enjoyed the AC parts of the game.

[@Micah__]

I bought it for 10 dollars from Best Buy and played it for 30 minutes and went back to playing Alien Isolation. Haha

[@user-snappysnap]

Man I wish if there was Aline isolation game

[@Chickensea10]

The old assassins creed games multiplayers are still fighting! Black flag is one of them with its wolfpack mode and other gamemodes! Theres still discords around!!!! Just spreading the word!!

[@ignskeletons]

Alien Isolation is a much better use of your time than Ubislop

[@ponraul1221]

Stop giving your hard earned money to these terrible companies for this trash, even if it’s $10.

[@Micah__]

@@ponraul1221 Sir, yes sir! Any other unsolicited advice you’d like to give me?

[@benjaminjane93]

Ubisoft: We are making a online Pirate game in the same style as Black Flag! Players: We would love a game where we can swashbuckle and explore the world with our ship! Ubisoft: Correction, you will not swashbuckle. Players: Why make a pirate game if we cannot swashbuckle? Ubisoft: Correction, this is not a pirate game. It’s a pirate ship game. Players: That’s not what anyone wants. Ubisoft: Please buy our ship simulator!

[@piyoweb]

First ever AAAA game, first ever AAAA failure.... 😂😂😅😂

[@Chickensea10]

The old assassins creed games multiplayers are still fighting! Black flag is one of them with its wolfpack mode and other gamemodes! Theres still discords around!!!! Just spreading the word!!!

[@OGdank]

@John-PaulHunt-q3zconcord is an okay game. There’s just no reason to play it over anything else. Mediocre is just not enough nowadays especially when games of the same genre are free.

[@Shooha_Babe]

They gonna crawl back in their cave with that delusional comment and hopefully never use it again...

[@Sonofsun.]

It doesn't even count as AA

[@Shooha_Babe]

@@Sonofsun. The 'A' in a game title is regarding budget, not quality.

[@andreasplosky8516]

"Why Skull and Bones Failed" Because I just wanted a cool single player, open world Black Flag 2 game.

[@Albanus35]

I didn't, I've wanted the online pirate crew experience, and Sea of Thieves ended up giving it first, and getting constant new content... That's something they haven't consider, they could release more content after launching it, like the PVP Arena they thought about earlier and more... By the time Skull and Bones came out, I was already into SoT for a long time...

[@BadM0j0]

Yup, they could have made a single player Black Flag spin-off with updated graphic and story, and it would have made Ubisoft tons of money.

[@atinofspam3433]

Ubisoft is so lazy that they couldn’t even manage a black flag reskin with multiplayer

[@planescaped]

What everyone wants: A modern Sid Meyers Pirates with more ships, more combat features, more expansive trading, and more governors daughters. What we got: Glorified shitty mobile game.

[@tafrog1]

Sid Meier's Pirates is hands down one of the best games of all time. The absolute best pirate game for sure. The sandbox nature of the game and the ability to change the world in ways that matter has never been topped in my opinion, and that game came out in 2004. Can you imagine something similar brought to the modern era with the sailing and combat of AC4? It would have been a slam dunk. I don't understand why Ubisoft blundered so hard. The incompetence is so astounding it'd be hilarious if it wasn't so fucking disappointing.

[@minakatahizuru]

you underestimate mobile games.

[@Lanokota]

Totally agree. Pirates was the pinnacle of the genre and few games have come close to that sense of adventure. A game similar to Sid Meier's Pirates! would be a gold mine, but developers/publishers are too short sighted and entranced by multiplayer PvP.

[@Chickensea10]

The old assassins creed games multiplayers are still fighting! Black flag is one of them with its wolfpack mode and other gamemodes! Theres still discords around!!!! Just spreading the word!!!

[@Zaela_Zhezzaia]

Sorry I want a pirate game. Not single player Mario Party. Sid Meyers Pirates was terrible.

[@voodooopaque6357]

I remember i got hate for saying this game is gonna fail before it released. I called it “Barebones” because of the lack of content the game had

[@jayfolk]

Good call. I was the same on Anthem.

[@Threebeams]

@@jayfolki forgot what the main problem with anthem was

[@donsimons9810]

@@Threebeams anthem was fun, just a terrible story that was really short and stupid and dumb diverse characters with no substance and repetitive missions for grinding

[@decayed_firecaster]

​@donsimons9810 not to mention finding rare loot was harder than should've been, borderlands 2 really nailed down how rarity should feel

[@takashinomura8052]

Taking into account the recent release of Outlaws and the criticism of Shadows, I`d think Ubisoft is no more. What is left is a corporation that sees the customer as a wallet and just release games in order to milk their customers out of money. And I say this as a former fan of Assassin`s Creed, title I played since the first one until Valhalla. Ubisoft lost it`s soul.

[@GomezSuper11]

Shadows can’t have criticisms if it hasn’t even released

[@takashinomura8052]

@@GomezSuper11 oh boy... Late to the party are we?

[@JaxiPaxified]

Man, sailing games have had it rough. There are very few games out there that capture the feeling of the trope.

[@demoncleaner80]

Best one I ever played was Pirates of the Burning Sea like 16 years ago lol. When you actually coordinated with people and fought in major battles it was very intense. Not a perfect game by any means but very cool.

[@JaxiPaxified]

@@demoncleaner80 I never played that one, but I did play the 2003(?) Pirates of the Caribbean. Aka Sea Dogs 2 It had a lot of good stuff, some eastern company got hold of the rights and made To Each His Own. Pretty cool too, but extremely jank.

[@nijntje1992ful]

@@JaxiPaxified they remade it.. sea dogs to each your own

[@Cluxiu]

sea of thieves.

[@JaxiPaxified]

@@Cluxiu First, not a fan of multiplayer. Second, it's a bit too cartoony for what I'm hoping for. A bit more realism, a bit more gritty? Hmm.. But it's cool. I did play Atlas (same people that made Ark, just with pirate theme(and much better example to use in the video, hehe)) back in the day, it's very cool, but again, it's dependent on multiplayer to be fun.

[@RikkiSan1]

Remember there was a point where Skull and Bones and Sea of Thieves was supposed to go head to head as pirate games and people thought Sea of Thieves would lose out...funny times those were

[@mremptytheeclip9420]

*Lose

[@mremptytheeclip9420]

The rope was (loose). Why did they (lose)?

[@RikkiSan1]

@@mremptytheeclip9420 thanks...stupid speech to text

[@donsimons9810]

@@mremptytheeclip9420 don't bother correcting. It is a red flag alerting us to third worlders and mouth breathers

[@schlobster3929]

Literally all they had to do was copy sea of thieves with more killing and a more mature tone, instead they made world of warships pirate edition

[@boredandconfused]

My Fiance seen me playing AC black flag four years ago. At the time she was in college. She was due to write a essay on pirates. Due to watching me on the seas in black flag (i always had my mwn singing shanties). She did her essay over real sea shanties from history and got an excellent grade! Funny how life works. :)

[@choppystone2558]

That sounds awesome

[@natwolf687]

That's awesome.

[@Egitheegg]

0:10 ehm quadruple A!!! Big words for a big failure, fitting

[@TheHK_47]

Forget everything you know about pirate games

[@oldclips_edits]

a mistake i always see is big game studios announcing and giving trailers for games too early and then drastically changing vision just to try and release "a game"

[@TheMcgillacuddy]

This game never had a chance in hell. Every time they announced how basic and barebones the features were, nobody was ever interested. Hell, I don't think even Ubisoft was interested in this. This game would've easily been canceled if Singapore wasn't invested in it.

[@okage6219]

I think it was leaked somewhere that they didnt wanna persue the thing but were reminded by Singaporean authorities that they have to

[@Chickensea10]

The old assassins creed games multiplayers are still fighting! Black flag is one of them with its wolfpack mode and other gamemodes! Theres still discords around!!!! Just spreading the word!!

[@intercontinentalballisticp6597]

One of the devs who was anamously interviewed by kotaku literally said that if this game was made by any other studio, it would have been canceled 10 times over.

[@ponraul1221]

Why tf are governments and tax payer money being involved in trash games now?

[@okage6219]

@ponraul1221 ubisoft Singapore was mainly developing the game, and ubisoft made a deal with the Singaporean government to get funds for the studio

[@strikeforce1500]

It just impressive how bad SnB development went. And the worst part of all, I am 99% sure Ubisoft did NOT learn the lesson

[@Aries19974]

2014: Makes the best pirate game 2024: Makes the worst pirate game Perfectly balanced, as all things should be

[@cameronemery2158]

I avoid Ubisoft titles. When I see a game that is half interesting but then realize it’s Ubisoft I lose all interest. I haven’t bought an AC title since unity. They’re toast as a studio. EA is right behind them.

[@TheKnives777]

As a species I don’t know how we get anything done, How do people always manage to be the worst that they can possibly be whenever they’re given any position of power?

[@wasteitonme544]

Fans: We want assassins creed pirate spinoff Devs: We dont want to make an assassins creed pirate spinoff =) Fans: We dont want to play your game =)

[@duckticklervii854]

I love how he always says something along the lines of "but I wanna hear your opinions in the comments" when he doesn't read, like, nor reply to 9/10 comments made that give more interesting incite and information than the video itself. If you just want free comments to boost your channel in the algorithm, then just say so and stop pretending like you care about anything your audience has to say.

[@N7Nilus]

People were not ready for AAAA.

[@DemoNinja79]

They keep spending millions making games that nobody want's to play.

[@Jay-ws7tv]

They don’t know what their players want

[@grumpynomad3551]

Studios have hired too many woke employees. You can’t get anything accomplished because they are more worried about their feelings instead of a great game.

[@MrPhantom95]

Imagine spending 10 years making a game and then it just flops

[@wiper7000]

Nice video, enjoyed watching it :) Well written and structured. Mind if I give some constructive critique? The editing, specifically the popups is overwhelming in the sheer amount. I don't mind them from time to time to visualize what is the subject, but I don't need the logo of ubisoft EVERY time you mention them, nor the name of the game popping up the cover-art. Less is more my friend :) Saying this to help, not to hurt. Hope it comes across like that.

[@waifuman6000]

Nobody asked why because everyone knows the answer. The game is simply terrible

[@pocketnaut]

That's not a reason, the whole point of a discussion like this is to break down why it's terrible

[@waifuman6000]

@@pocketnaut indeed, I'm just echoing the public sentiment. I don't have anything against the video

[@maccagrabme]

I just watched 30 seconds of this and it looks like DEEEEEI sh1t.

[@Blupl1776]

It's hard to guess how many people actively play skull and bones every day, but it's in the thousands, so it can't be too bad

[@TheCholoGeek]

I might get my whole lineage cursed like i did in another video i commented on a while back, but i bought the $100 steelbook edition and i actually love playing the game, and I personally feel like i got my money’s worth, it also helps that the smallest thing entertains me.

[@HannoImmelman]

Ubisoft should just go bankrupt. I feel sorry for all the developers because im a developer myself but their management as a company has gone from excellent to a total joke and extortionate. They milk every franchise for what its worth and spoil everything that was great about their games.

[@hans953]

The military term 'mission creep' comes to mind when reviewing the story of skull 'n' bones: ever changing and constantly more ambitious plans that far outgrew the original focus of the game. Combine it with horrible and constantly changing management and yeah, I can see how that would be setting up for failure.

[@StayStrapped1]

Black flags abstergo narrative was just a normal day at Ubisoft. Corruption, greed, nepotism and alternative motives to everything.. only thing missing is SA/SH

[@herald6221]

It was so hilarious when the game came out to see almost a hundred players Sailing around; The next day I get on to finish upgrading and there was probably 5 players max

[@xavierbarreto5743]

This happens when developers new employees never played the previous titles , these new employees where 2years old when assassins creed pirates came out and never bother to play it or find out why it was so great Same happened to battlefield

[@ShamanMcLamie]

I just find it insane when studios are worried about their game being just like something really successful.

[@LeafyTheAlien]

If they just added more land exploration, especially for the treasure hunting, ect, I feel like this would go a long way. They could add wild animals, skeletons, snakes, all sorts of stuff to just give us something to do. Even cooler would be base building so we could really make our own empires on said land. The game is far too small for the vision they want so I really hope they do massive work on it because I honestly love it but there does need more. Its also too grindy, either, more resources or less resources needed to craft would be nice too, not by much but ya. I feel like the PVE aspect really needs more care shown to it as I really love the PVE aspect of this game. It still gives a good amount of action with the ship fighting and im not into someone else having an unfair advantage just picking on me anyway, thats why I left Sea of Thieves. I believe this game has great potential, if they would actually put the work in, instead of paying people a crap tone of money for half baked concepts and ideas of which are not in the long run worth it.

[@sheratzy]

As an software engineer from Singapore, the final game is exactly what I expect from local staff. Managers are hired without requiring any track record of successful development. Competent engineers face problems because management doesn't understand development. Managers then get worried about getting exposed so they deem the competent engineers as troublemakers and the source of problems. Competent engineers leave and get replaced by yes men. Managers and leads continue to lie to their bosses who are likely incompetent themselves and don't question enough. It's likely that the original Assassin's Creed developers left a long time ago after raising up frustrations and issues with the development process and being ignored.

[@mifigor1935]

Does it really need explanation? They released a downgrade of a decade old game filled it with all of the worst things you can find in modern games and called it a AAAA game thinking we wouldn't notice

[@xiami11]

0:30 huh? imo it was the best assassin's creed then ac3

[@Guntank]

What we wanted: Atlas, the Good Edition What we got: World of Warships 1700s

[@Noicul]

AC II and Brotherhood were peak originals (Revelations was falling off, but it was still a good play). Everything about Ezio and Desmond was unique, compelling, and well thought out. Black Flag couldn't be ignored as it brought something masterful to the experience (introducing ships in AC III, which was under rated IMO) making it feel like its own character (I can hear the shanties in my head).There was more to it than just attempting to copy another's success (AC after Origins, but starting there). It lost the passion, creativity, and its foundation. After repeated mistakes chasing $$$, I consider them a joke. Even my dumb@ss would've learned by now. Ps, if you haven't enjoyed AC Unity...you fu

[@mukables]

They should have made a Black Flag trilogy. Three games featuring Kenways development as an assassin, just as they did with Ezio. ... but then you remember we're talking about Poundland EA ... sorry, Ubisoft.

[@jamesverner9132]

The made a store front with a premium price tag. The did not make a Pirate story with characters, adventure, structure and most importantly AN ENDING. Even Minecraft has an ending. A goal the work for. Everything else is a self imposed art project Skull and bones is dress up Dolly's with a graphics that melt you PC. I can think of better ways to have fun.

[@Varangian_af_Scaniae]

It would have been so great if they didn't duck it up. Building your own ship, upgrading it, decorating it inside and out. PvE\PvP zones. Just imagine you could take trophies from fallen enemies to decorate your ship with. The possibilities are endless. Imagine having perma death races. People start with the same type of ship and during xx amout of days fighting it out for no1 spot. But if your boat is sunk you have to restart. That is just one type of event they could have run.

[@akmane5422]

I wish people like you were in positions to make these ideas come to life

[@blackevan88]

I really hope that somewhere in the world there is a studio that in February 2024, after seeing S&B's failure, started developing the ultimate pirate game that the general public has been looking forward to. There must be one, at least, who has seen this failer as a massive opportunity, right?

[@travmakesbeats3372]

Watch, in February pirate Yakuza comes out and it will be better than this game

[@raddox7]

Wondering why February specifically?

[@blackevan88]

@@raddox7 Because S&B came out in February and the whole world saw its failure.

[@lelo1280]

I hope the higher ups of Ubisoft Singapore were replaced w decent passionate people, the original idea would have been so dope to have

[@tjjordan4207]

How does a game from 11 years ago end up better than a 2024 video game that is trying to do the same thing?!

[@bootcampassistant3301]

I played this game during the beta and it was awful. I don’t care I get a closed beta sticker or anything purchasing this game.

[@gamingimpact366]

And concord took its place.

[@JadedDark]

This might be saying too much... but imagine if they had just remastered Black Flag?....

[@LadyGreyC]

I was gifted SnB by a friend and ive absolutely enjoyed it ive encountered minimal issues that happen when any game launches and i thoroughly enjoy playing it. It is not black flag and i dont care. Never played Ac. I do play red dead redemption2 which i also enjoy.

[@donsimons9810]

you like the diverse cast of characters?

[@nickythepro5743]

It's just terrible. Miles behind ASC4

[@kada0420]

I’d be ashamed if I made something based on another game and still be miles behind it

[@Chickensea10]

The old assassins creed games multiplayers are still fighting! Black flag is one of them with its wolfpack mode and other gamemodes! Theres still discords around!!!! Just spreading the word!!!

[@Chavsbusiness]

I think that the mistake they made with this game, is that they wanted more assassins creed but less assassins creed. When they realized it looked too much like Black Flag, they entirely changed its gameplay.

[@reddemon6668]

No not at all, it was more like they looked at the numbers. Players liked the ships component of black flag, so they made a game on the ship combat only. It was never supposed to be AC nor was the general consensus amongst players to have another AC copy. Sadly, Ubisoft doesn’t listen to the players, they listen to the stats and data. The proof is everywhere, u play black flag and after each mission a pop up comes up for u to rate each mission. Furthermore, it’s common knowledge that the game was a success thanks and in large to the ship gameplay. Ubi never got around to incorporating that multiplayer ship arena mode into black flag, so they made a game revolving around it. The whole story is a mess that includes devs who didn’t have the creative talent to produce a good pirate game, limited by their scope and focus, wanting a world of warships knock off and executives who in their greed, kept on rejecting iterations of the game leading to the decade long stalemate and release date push back

[@beatingyou8137]

Cause they cared more about risk and reward rather then making a user friendly game

[@rodrrico]

It hits home when you mentioned how the management didn't listen to concerns and issues raised by the workers and surrounded themselves with agreeable people. Name a business where this autocratic management led to a successful company, I'll wait.

[@co_li7300]

Women as head manager of a game development... How many hours you sink into games before applying for such a job should be a big green flag, if not, move along, you are no part of it. Obviously.

[@zetaopress2389]

It's insane, cause i found this game almost 2 years before it came out and was hoping it will be a huge successor to that of sea of thieves. Turns out Sea of thieves still remains as the best known MMO pirate game.

[@viggenras1]

making Skull and Bones a survival game killed it for me...i love open world games but i hate survival games.

[@MickSG.]

If Sea Of Thieves outdoes you, you know you screwed up big time.

[@Tabulatelk15]

Sea of Thieves is great tho. Rare has done so much good for the game since it came out.

[@MT-qu4tk]

@@Tabulatelk15 good game but toxic playerbase

[@catrionasloanei6847]

Sea of Thieves is still garbage as an actual pirate game though.

[@rayanamy411]

@@Tabulatelk15 💀you don't play the game

[@rayanamy411]

@@MT-qu4tk 💀like the studio

[@parkout95]

They could of literally grab the engine from Black Flag, make a different story and upgraded graphics, and we would of loved it!

[@LordCarmesimXXVII]

Skull and Bones failed? Hm.. I've been playing since release and never noticed.

[@thycrookedking2744]

This is both an agree and disagree from me lmao. It very clearly has issues and yet despite that i fully believe that they can still make something of the game. Just because it didnt come out playing like black flag the way most wanted doesnt make it a bad game. Its honestly not bad atm and I emplore people to try it without holding black flag over its head.

[@Derelflint]

Nah it didn’t fail, there’s just a next-door neighbor pirate game to Skull and Bones that has been constantly improving and evolving… oh and had a huge Pirates of the Caribbean crossover.

[@LordCarmesimXXVII]

@@Derelflint You mean that game that looks like a childish BabyTV show?

[@Derelflint]

@@LordCarmesimXXVII Yes! that one! The baby game that is better than this “high quality” game! You’re learning I see!

[@LordCarmesimXXVII]

@@Derelflint Well, you're not.

[@bramv7174]

they literally just had to reskin black flag and most would probably be happy

[@eurothejii7328]

No.i do not like black flag but i love skull and bones.but hey, i do not like single player games anyway.

[@reddemon6668]

People don’t want another AC game, it wouldn’t have produce as well as people wanted … better than skull and bones though

[@ajuiceboxxx]

@@eurothejii7328you’re a weirdo

[@TiggaTrey]

@@eurothejii7328 games trash bro

[@thycrookedking2744]

​@@TiggaTrey no u

[@Flyingtoaster.]

I think what really frustrates me is it will be quite a long time before we see another pirate game if at all. Sea of thieves was probably the last quality pirate game to be made, but the game is not entirely an rpg but more about building your own story thru survival mechanics and socializing. The game is on sale right now for 30 bucks last day I believe. Bought it because I know it is all we got. It’s not what we wanted but it’s what we got. Hopefully I can alternate between SoT and this game along with the pirates strat game long enough until a real fleshed out game comes out. If it ever does…

[@Zukasaproductions]

I really do not get how incompetent people are. Take Blackflag, slap a progression system on getting different ships aswell as upgrading them, add coop for bossfights, a little pvp mode with the existing stuff and call it a day. Solid gameplay, many new features, get it going. "Building a new IP is hard". How about you branch off from what you had and DEVELOP a new IP. You didn't start from scratch. You had your first game in the IP already, accidently. Just take the feedback of players and incorporate it into a new one. Rinse and repeat. It's really not that hard to get to this conclusion ...

[@syb7605]

They probably could have released 3 different games with all the work they've done and each would have been more fun than the final product.

[@GerriGerri-xt2dd]

It is sad as so many fans wanted this however there is now a large hole in the market for a smaller studio to tackle this and give fans of black flag what they want. We should never correct greedy companies let them fail and learn why opening up more opportunities for small studios to grow it's the only way we will see GREAT GAMES again.

[@LordCommissarLex]

All they had to do was out of character creator and completely remove the assassin's Creed aspect how they managed to botch all that up is beyond me

[@IAmStillNotMatthew]

I played in 2 rounds of the betas in I think it was early 2023 and the only thing I could say as a positive thing is that.. "well, it doesn't look bad, runs decent", because I was expecting a shitshow, a game struggling to run on my new 6700XT while looking good, but, hey, atleast that wasn't the case. The playtime was limited, 6 hours if I recall correctly and despite playing with friends I spent 5 hours of that just sailing around, gathering stuff, fighting a ship here and there. In AC4/Rogue sailing around, fighting and boarding ships wasn't boring, because.. you know, both are AC games and you can ACTUALLY board ships instead of getting a cutscene.

[@imcardbored8394]

I accidentally clicked on the notification pop up for this when I was doing something for work. Looks like work can wait.

[@JerreMuesli]

Imagine being a developer on this project and see its focus shift every year or so.

[@chadreese9501]

There was a time when nearly every game me and my buddies played was a Ubisoft game. I was burned on so many pre orders.. I can’t imagine them ever releasing a game worth checking out again.

[@AgentGeo]

Great video. I remember playing the open beta as it kind of came out of nowhere. I actually enjoyed the open beta enough to buy the game. Once I got to end game it literally turned into a supply chain, small business simulator with nothing resembling a pirate adventure. The grind was discouraging and the gameplay was soooo boring at that point. I played Season 1 and unlocked everything then Season 2 came out and it was just dumb and uninspired (except for the Megalodon i guess). I mean nothing screams fearsome pirate like a purple colored ship covered in flowers while wearing a clown outfit petting your pink cat. OOOO scary. Haven't played in couple months and likely never will again. I felt so ripped off...11 years of wanting this game and that's what we got. Sad

[@krasavchik8714]

PS 5 store has it now for $28, and I still don’t want to buy it. Maybe when it will be $5 I will buy it.

[@blazeblaze420]

"FORGET EVERYTHING YOU KNOW ABOUT PIRATES"

[@kiiroMADE]

.. never played AC. Played the S&B beta though, played for like 30 - 45 minutes before uninstalling it when I realized it was total crap not worth my time even if it was free.

[@mikoto7693]

It still amazes me how badly Ubisoft fumbled this. They just had to take the pirate part of Black Flag, expand it a bit to make it a full game and release it within a decent time limit. It seems that trend chasing might be the main reason they ended up doing so badly. Don’t chase what other games are doing-just focus on the pirate game. The obsession with live service seems to be a trap that sinks so many games.

[@wolfqueen6]

Once Sea of Thieves came out, Ubisoft was done in the pirate market. SoT is so GOOD. It looks incredible and it's extremely fun to play. It has passion, something Ubisoft lacks.

[@Clkr3]

Honestly, a Black Flag reskin with Rogue's newer features would've been waaaay more successful

[@Dondingdingding]

They could still save this by not making the players force into pvp, they literally had division, and breakpoint which you can progess the world on your own with the option to go co op or pvp. If they implement that. I would surely buy this game

[@Blupl1776]

But... they don't force you into PvP. Players can't damage each other unless you opt in to have PvP. There are a couple exceptions to it but they are late game events that players usually aren't contested in anyway. And for co-op, basically the entire game after the tutorial can be done in co-op.

[@GiaBao-gr2zd]

I have never finished AC4 because I just tried to build my base in the mid game. I dont even know if the main story was good or not 😂.

[@Machiavelli959]

That's what we need to make the game great Skull and Bones New Game Plus, players could transform their island into a thriving hub of power and intrigue by combining island management, right-hand characters, secret societies, and mystical spiritual elements. Here’s how all these features could work together: Island Ownership and Management Players would acquire their own island, which they can develop into a personalized stronghold. The island would include buildings for crafting, trade, shipbuilding, and defensive structures. Players would be responsible for managing the island’s economy, ensuring resources are gathered, businesses are thriving, and the island’s defenses are solid. Upgrades to the island would be necessary to unlock more advanced functions, such as expanding production capabilities or increasing trade efficiency. Right-Hand Character Once the island is established, players could choose a trusted right-hand character, much like Li Tian Li, to help manage the island. This character would have specific abilities to boost the island’s growth and offer strategic advice. Players could select their right-hand from a variety of unique characters, each with their own skill set, personality, and background. Some might specialize in logistics, others in combat or diplomacy, and their abilities would help enhance trade routes, shipyard productivity, or the island’s defenses. Secret Societies Players could align their island with a secret society of their choice, such as the "Order of the Black Tide," "Children of the Abyss," or "Ancient Mariners." Each secret society would offer unique benefits, quests, and spiritual powers tied to the society's ancient lore. For example: Order of the Black Tide could grant shadowy weaponry and the ability to manipulate the economy or sabotage rivals. Children of the Abyss might unlock storm-based powers and enhance the island’s sea defenses, allowing the player to summon tidal waves or rainstorms to protect their territory. Ancient Mariners would provide spiritual guidance, the power to summon sea spirits, and abilities tied to lost artifacts, such as the "Eyes of the Deep" for revealing hidden treasures and routes. By aligning with a secret society, players would gain not only mystical powers but also influence over the game’s world, able to manipulate trade, sabotage competitors, or gain intel on rival factions and companies. Divine Weapons and Spiritual Protection Through the secret society, players could also gain access to divine weapons and spiritual protection. After completing sacred rituals tied to their chosen society, players could unlock powerful weapons like enchanted cutlasses or tridents that carry unique effects, such as summoning ghostly cannons or harnessing elemental powers. Additionally, spiritual protections from guardian spirits could shield the island from attacks, provide buffs to the crew, or even summon visions that guide the player to hidden resources. Stock, Shares, and Business Ownership Players would not only control their island but could also engage in a deeper economic system by investing in businesses and purchasing shares in companies. This stock market would be impacted by players' actions-such as raiding or protecting trade routes, influencing prices, or protecting rival companies. Investments could provide passive income or unlock new opportunities to expand businesses on their island, making them a powerful economic player in the world. Players could choose to manage a company, manipulate the market, or sabotage rivals through their secret society’s influence. The Ultimate Power - Spirit-Touched Captain By mastering the island, forming strong relationships with the right-hand character, and forging a bond with a secret society, players would unlock the ultimate title of "Spirit-Touched Captain." This would grant the player unparalleled powers-divine weapons, mystical insights, enhanced protection, and the ability to manipulate the economy. They would rule not only the seas but also the world of commerce and secret knowledge, becoming a legendary figure of both spiritual and economic might. This combination of features would offer players a deep, immersive experience where they can build, manage, and protect their island, wield divine powers, navigate a complex economic system, and interact with a rich web of secret societies and mystical forces.

[@Chuck_vs._The_Comment_Section]

And the launch on steam confirms once again just how much S&B has failed. According to steam db, Black Flag, which is over a decade old, has more active players than the new AAAA pirate game S&B.

[@Chickensea10]

The old assassins creed games multiplayers are still fighting! Black flag is one of them with its wolfpack mode and other gamemodes! Theres still discords around!!!! Just spreading the word!!

[@sellinggoods4527]

I miss old Ubisoft

[@dylan8058]

I would have bought and played it had it been single player, and while I'm not going to make or break a game like this on my own, I'm betting there are many others who felt/feel the same way.

[@Blupl1776]

The game doesn't force you into PvP so it could be played like a single player game

[@jasonhuibers2315]

I may be one of the few people who actually enjoyed playing Skull and Bones. I ended up stopping after I had 3 achievements left for online play because there's never anyone to join up with

[@ageoflove1980]

An online pvp based pirate game should have been an MMO. Because for it to succeed it is essential that you actually can roleplay as a pirate in a massive open world filled with other pirate players on land and sea. Maybe allow player housing so you could have your own little shack in some harbor. Maybe guilds could build fortresses or something... Like a true living pirate world. Surely 11 years development time and a budget that a compamy like Ubisoft can provide, should make this doable. And its not that complicated, its basically just WoW classic with ships added in. It would have been a wet (!) dream for gamers around the world.

[@kinman3051]

"A few weeks of attention." My friend, I only lasted 3 days. Or was it two? Even then it wasnt for hours on end.

[@TipsySamurai97]

A little off topic but I’m surprised Ubisoft didn’t get sued by the actual Skull & Bones. That being the secret society of rich boys who attend Yale.

[@jameswitt605]

An upmarket version of Pirates Gold with Black Flag mechanics and upgraded video resolution may have worked ok.

[@frankpurvis9189]

Expand the pirate parts of black flag, add new ships preferably sloop to first rate, crew management(i would like a permadeath feature for crewmen), a economy with supply and demand, etc.

[@WorkingJB]

i played the pre beta i think thats what its called idk but the game is really bad i could have been a better black flag but it was not and the made suck a bad game that i have played a mobile pirate game that was better the skull and bones

[@vahdettinsefali]

Released on steam 2 days ago and it has %60 discount today.

[@cenationofjnu]

Failure of the Game may be just one of the example why many developers don't listen fans and mostly do what they want to do rather than bringing out what fans want. After all, it's them who have to spend millions and develop the game without any guarantee of success.

[@judyfps5059]

It did everything wrong that AC: Black flag and Sea of Thieves does right. An abysmal failure. After Siege, ubislop can’t fool me again.

[@501stGamingrocks]

You know lots of people live and enjoy the gameplay loop of the game the way it is. The game was never promised to be Black Flag. Just the same naval combat and sailing as Black Flag. I'm tired of everyone bashing the game so much like it's the worst thing ever. I've definitely played way worst games, and I can say this is one of the better acradey style pirates games I've played. I've played sea of thieves (didn't like), Pirates Online, pirates the burning sea, etc.

[@juiceman7649]

Triple AAA game and sailing simulator don't go in the same sentence I expected far more than a sailing simulator for this pirate game