The gaming community awaited the premiere of Skull and Bones with bated breath, expecting a groundbreaking "quadruple-A" live-service experience. However, the reception since its launch on February 16th has been less than favorable, with harsh criticism from users reflected in a staggering low score on Metacritic. With 222 user ratings counted, Skull and Bones stands at a mere 2.8 out of 10, marking it as the lowest-rated release of 2024 based on user feedback alone.
The predominant gripes highlight gameplay that failed to impress, describing it as "underwhelming" and "lackluster." Furthermore, players noted a "poorly designed" end game and dubbed the experience "boring", unfavorably comparing it to Sea of Thieves and Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, which has been in the market for over a decade.
Voices from the gaming community expressed deep dissatisfaction, with one player lamenting about missing elements expected after a decade of development, sarcastically noting it feels like a degraded version of an Assassin's Creed game.
However, not all feedback was negative. A fraction of the players, representing 18 percent of the feedback, did extend some praise towards the game. One supporter voiced, expressing gratitude towards Ubisoft for the title, expressing love for the game, and anticipating future releases from the company.
Critiques from professional reviewers offered a slightly more optimistic outlook, whereas Skull and Bones garnered an average score of 64 out of 100 across various platforms.
During discussions with investors, Ubisoft’s CEO, Yves Guillemot, had championed Skull and Bones as a superior live-service offering, justifying its significant launch price alongside plans for a battle pass, premium currency, and an in-game store by highlighting the game's expansive and comprehensive nature.
Guillemot confidently stated that the game stands as a complete and extensive offering, underscoring its status as a genuine "triple-A, quadruple-A" title expected to perform well in the long term. Despite the initial uproar from the community, the future of Skull and Bones in the gaming market remains to be seen.
