Summary
Ubisoft said thatSkull and Bonesis one of its most engaging titles to date. The company substantiated that claim by sharing the game’s “record” daily playtime metric as part of theSkull and BonesSeason 1 launch announcement.
Originally meant to build on the success ofAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag, Ubisoft’s pirate game ostensibly had a difficult task of maintaining player interest over the course of its development. That’s largely because it spent 11 years in the making, having been delayed seven times.Skull and Boneswas finally releasedfor PC and current-generation PlayStation and Xbox consoles on February 16.
Skull and Bones Players Averaging 4 Hours of Daily Playtime
Skull and BonesSeason 1, called Raging Tides, kicked off 11 days later. Ubisoft’s announcement of the inaugural season saw the publisher reveal that the game’s player base has been averaging four hours of daily playtime since launch. Going by that “record player engagement” metric,Skull and Bonesis the company’s second most successful game to date. As always, what the publisher isn’t saying about its early performance is just as telling as the rest, if not more so; since the company didn’t share any specific sales data, it is plausible that it doesn’t viewSkull and Bonessales figures as anything worth boasting about.
A late Februaryreportfrom Insider Gaming claimed thatSkull and Boneshad amassed approximately 850,000 lifetime players a week following its release. While that estimate is far from abysmal for a title that many gamers have long viewed as vaporware due to its numerous delays, it is also unlikely to be an accurate reflection of its sales. Namely, the reported figure has presumably been inflated by the fact that Ubisoft has been offering an 8-hour free trial ofSkull and Bonesfrom day one.
Since Ubisoft hasn’t said otherwise, it’s to be assumed that the 4-hour daily playtime average includes both trial players and paying customers. The figure itself does suggest that those who have been playing the game have also been enjoying it, prompting Ubisoft to disclose it in the first place. Whether the company continues sharing updates on this metric in the weeks ahead will likely be an indicator ofwhetherSkull and Bonesmanaged to maintain player interestthroughout Season 1.
WhileSkull and Boneshas so far failed to establish itself as a huge hit, its launch month still turned out better than that ofSuicide Squad: Kill the Justice League, which is currently averaging fewer than 1,000 daily players and has already been labeled a disappointment by Warner Bros. That notwithstanding, the relatively lackluster receptions of both titles have recently renewedcalls for $70 live-service games to meet their maker.
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.
