Skull & Bones: Gameplay Leak Revealed Combat, Exploration, and More

Ubisoft’s pirate game Skull & Bones gameplay has leaked online, giving us a look at the amazing mechanics of the game, including naval combat and on-foot exploration.

It’s not sure which version of the game this “technical test build” is from, as Skull & Bones received a major reboot before getting into an alpha stage in July 2021. Ubisoft asked some players to test an early version last month, however, meaning this leaked gameplay, shared by Wesam_L on Reddit, could well be from this Insider Programme.

In this version of the game, Skull & Bones gameplay comes with a hub area – that players will frequent in order to craft items, visit shops, take on missions, and so on. The hub, called Sainte-Anne, is “the center of pirate activity” and thus where players are encouraged to socialize and organize their teams of up to 3 players.

Players will then head out into the world to complete quests through gameplay similar to what’s been shown before: naval battles that appear slightly more complex than those from Assassin’s Creed.

Most of Skull & Bones appears to revolve around this gameplay loop, though it’s mixed up by different types of battles, including attacks on forts and settlements, NPC ships and player ships, and bigger “world events” such as taking on a merchant and its fleet of escorts.

Players will need to prepare beforehand so they have enough resources to keep their ship in good health, and food and drink to keep their crew’s morale up. Not doing so will result in the boat being sunk or a mutiny.

Island exploration appears a little less freeform than what players might expect. Instead of being able to stop the ship anywhere, the gameplay showed only specific outposts that the player can dock at and then explore on foot.

While a narrator in the video states everything in Skull & Bones can be played solo, co-op is also available and missions come with a “recommended number of players”.

The Infamy system is at the center of progression, with the player starting as an Outcast before rising to Swashbuckler, Cutthroat, and so on. While the gameplay didn’t show all levels of Infamy, there appeared to be around 15 different levels.

Each one unlocks more ship upgrades, recipes to craft, tools, and so on, including “vanity” cosmetics for both the player character and ship. There appear to be dozens, if not hundreds, of different cosmetics available as “it’s also important for you to look the part”.

Players will also gain access to larger and better ships as they level up their Infamy, which will also slowly rise through exploration, battling, treasuring hunting, and more.

Skull & Bones was first unveiled 5 years ago in 2017 but got delayed after delay and as of July last year had reportedly been in development for 8 years.

It does appear to be closer to release, though, as Ubisoft is now revealing it to at least some members of the public.