Skull and Bones Has Less Than One Million Total Players

Himel Mahmud
By Himel Mahmud
4 Min Read
Credit: Ubisoft

New reports suggest that Ubisoft’s latest release has less than one million players across all platforms.

According to Insider Gaming’s latest report, Skull and Bones has less than one million total players. Dubbed Ubisoft’s first “AAAA game” by CEO Yves Guillemot, the game was released on February 16, 2024, with a price tag of $70. Skull and Bones was released for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Amazon Luna.

Skull and Bones is the first video game created by Ubisoft Singapore, and it was inspired by Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag. The game began development as an add-on for Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, and later, it was intended to be an MMO spinoff called Black Flag Infinite. Skull and Bones underwent multiple changes in direction and scope during development, resulting in the game getting delayed multiple times.

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Skulls and Bones – The First AAAA Disaster For Ubisoft?

Sources close to Insider Gaming have revealed that Skull and Bones currently had around 850,000 players at the time. The total number also includes players who decided to play the eight-hour free trial provided by Ubisoft. Players playing the game are said to play an average of three to four hours a day. However, it’s unclear if the trial players have opted to buy the game, which will not be revealed until Ubisoft’s next earning call in May 2024.

According to sources, the decision to fully price the game at $70 has significantly contributed to the low player count. Ubisoft’s decision to set a high price tag was met with negative criticism from the gaming community and even within Ubisoft’s development team. One employee from Ubisoft who worked on the project spoke to Insider Gaming, criticizing the game’s high price tag.

I think we all know this is a $30-$40 game at best, but it’s not in our control to determine those things.

Anonymous Employee at Ubisoft
Skull and Bones | Credit: Ubisoft
Skull and Bones | Credit: Ubisoft

It was previously reported that there were internal tensions at Ubisoft regarding the development of Skull and Bones, and the game would cost around $200 million to make. However, even after a massive budget and spending a decade developing the project, the company projected that Skull and Bones would not generate revenue near its cost.

In addition, Skull and Bones received mixed reviews within the gaming community. The game currently sits at a 57 Metacritic score and a user score of 3.1 based on 684 user ratings. Players reported that there is too much grinding for very little reward in the game, and the missions feel monotonous.

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By Himel Mahmud Guide Writer
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Himel Mahmud is a Staff Writer and Social Media Manager at GameRiv. A former FIFA Professional, Himel has been playing video games forever. He plays video games passionately, loves football and an avid music listener.