Skull and Bones has been delayed for a staggering sixth time, Ubisoft has confirmed.
The open-world pirate game was most recently set to release on March 9th, 2023, but Ubisoft says it’s now simply slated to come sometime between now and early 2024.
The move comes amid a turbulent period for the French publishing giant. In a press release, Ubisoft acknowledged that it’s facing “major challenges,” including the cancellation of three unannounced games on top of the four it had axed last year.
The company also noted that its 2022 games — an unusually soft lineup that lacked new releases from such big franchises as Assassin’s Creed or Far Cry — “have not performed as well as expected.” Specifically, it points to the commercial underperformance of last fall’s otherwise well-received Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Just Dance 2023, the latter of which being the latest entry in a historically popular annualized franchise.
As a result, the company is projecting a $537 million USD (about $721 million CAD) loss for the fiscal year ending in March 2023. This has led it to cut around $215 million USD (about $289 million CAD) in costs. According to Kotaku, these cost-cutting efforts include layoffs and renewing fewer contracts at some of the company’s U.S. locations. It’s unclear how this might affect any of the publisher’s many Canadian studios, including Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto.
Ubisoft’s rough patch, in part, stems from its ever-evolving production pipeline. Over the past few years, the company has been pivoting towards live service titles that continue to bring in players over long periods. One of its older games, 2015’s Rainbow Six: Siege, has been one of the most popular multiplayer games on the market, with over 70 million registered players.
While the company has still released some big-budget single-player games in the form of 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, 2020’s Watch Dogs: Legion and Assassin’s Creed Valhalla and 2021’s Far Cry 6, it’s been putting more of an emphasis on live service titles. This includes Assassin’s Creed Infinity, a future live service platform for multiple Assassin’s Creed games. Ubisoft even says it will be “the single entry point for fans into the Assassin’s Creed franchise in the future.”
Other Ubisoft live service games in the works include the arena shooter XDefiant and The Division Heartland. Meanwhile, it’s cancelled other online titles like Hyperscape and Ghost Recon Frontline.
For now, though, the company said in an emergency investor call, via Kotaku, that its release plans for the fiscal year beginning in April 2023 include Skull and Bones, Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora, Assassin’s Creed Mirage and at least one more big unannounced title.
On September 15th, Activision held its inaugural Call of Duty Next presentation to reveal the future of its massively popular first-person shooter series.
During the showcase, we got looks at Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II and Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, among other titles. That’s certainly big news for many people, and I totally don’t fault anyone for getting excited. But one thing I’ve noticed that does disappoint me is the complete lack of acknowledgment of what’s the big elephant in the room: Activision Blizzard itself. As a result, I found myself with a rather icky reaction to everything that was revealed.
Bobby Kotick (Image credit: Flickr — Dan Farber)
As you likely know, Activision Blizzard faced a slew of scandals last year. First, the state of California filed a July 2021 lawsuit against the company, alleging that it fostered a “frat boy” work culture in which many employees, especially women, faced sexual harassment, gender discrimination, unequal pay and other forms of mistreatment. One woman was even reportedly driven to suicide by the trauma she faced. In a subsequent report, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick — already known for being gaming’s most overpaid CEO — was specifically accused of knowing about these incidents and even working to cover them up. (One report suggested he actually threatened to have an assistant killed.) Naturally, Activision Blizzard claims it found no evidence that Kotick did any of this, which we all totally believe.
This was a big deal last year. A lot of consumers spoke up against Activision Blizzard, many employees came forward with their own stories and staged walkouts, and the company’s image seemingly took a well-deserved hit. That was great to see! There was a concerted effort to hold the company accountable. But as time has passed, we’ve heard less about the controversy, and now, we see little, if anything, about it. All of the chatter is about these new Call of Duty games, not the poor conditions at the company behind them.
“Even the publications that have blasted Activision before produced coverage of Call of Duty Next without a mention of the company’s work culture“
Of course, scenarios like these aren’t black-and-white. I understand that you can simultaneously be against the wrongdoings of those in power while being excited for the work that the frontline developers have been pouring blood, sweat and tears into. I understand that gaming sites both provide coverage to help inform consumers’ purchasing decisions and to help stay afloat, especially as we continue to see layoffs at prominent sites. I understand that many players (the ones who aren’t cold and uncaring, anyway) legitimately don’t even know much, if anything, about what shady sides of gaming publishers as they’re casual gamers at best. I understand that the world sucks in a lot of ways and people justifiably turn to games for escapism. That’s all reasonable!
But when I look at Twitter and see people who know full well what Activision Blizzard and Ubisoft have done but are still just blindly and uncritically hyping up everything the companies are doing? Well, that’s disappointing. Even the publications that have blasted Activision before produced coverage of Call of Duty Next without a mention of the company’s work culture (To be fair, some did still mention it, like Rock Paper Shotgun, so shoutout to those outlets). It’s not at all difficult to address in some form, especially when people have the time to tweet about the promotional swag they receive from these companies. In fact, I’ve heard more from people about Sony and Microsoft’s public battle over the latter’s pending acquisition of Activision Blizzard than I have about the Call of Duty maker’s own transgressions (Because we all know it’s the billion-dollar corporations who are the victims here).
Now, to be clear, I’m not condemning individual fans or media. So many people in this day and age are judgmental about others, especially in situations where you have to walk a tricky line. There’s no “easy” answer here. Personally, I’ve gone back and forth about what I should and shouldn’t cover from these companies. Ultimately, I did decide to give coverage to last year’s Call of Duty: Vanguard and Far Cry 6 and this year’s Modern Warfare II, but I did so by framing it all from the perspective of celebrating the Canadians who worked on these titles and — as best as I know — had nothing to do with the larger scandals. More importantly, I still at least addressed said controversies in my pieces. I felt this was the least I could do (And even then, I know I haven’t been as consistent in that regard as I could have been).
There are still so many question marks surrounding Microsoft’s pending acquisition of Activision Blizzard. (Image credit: Xbox)
I even genuinely wonder if there’s some unspoken assumption that Microsoft buying Activision Blizzard will magically “fix” everything, but even if that’s what people are thinking, it’s certainly misguided. For one, the deal is still subject to significant regulatory probes, so it may not even be approved. And even if it does successfully close, major systemic change doesn’t just happen overnight. We can’t be sure of what Microsoft may do. Hell, we still don’t even have a clear answer about what will happen with Kotick post-acquisition, so it’s way too early to view Microsoft as some big saviour.
No, we have to hold companies accountable ourselves — consumers, media and the like. Because really, is it a lot to ask that we don’t just forget about these issues? Sure, no one is expecting that we individuals on the public side of things can singlehandedly “fix” these publishers. But even still, can’t we at least do something? That we take even a few sentences of a single article or tweet to point out these problems? Not every story or tweet about these games has to be a larger commentary on the companies that make them — that would be ridiculous to expect — but even a few?
“There will always be selfish and entitled gamers, but it’s definitely been reassuring to see larger public recognition of the issue”
People get the most random and trivial things trending on Twitter every day — how about doing the same once in a while for company misconduct? Alternatively, why not at least follow along or even promote the great work of advocacy groups like ABetterABK and A Better Ubisoft to stay informed? Regardless of what action you take, developers give so much of themselves to make the games we love, and the least we can do is continue to call for their employers to give them the treatment they deserve.
It’s especially a shame because we’ve seen how improvements can happen in the industry when people collectively put pressure on companies. Take crunch, a major issue in the gaming industry that relates to prolonged overtime during development. After extensive coverage of Rockstar’s crunch culture surrounding games like Red Dead Redemption 2, the company has reportedly made meaningful strides toward fostering a healthier development environment. That seemingly came about, in no small part, due to many people coming together to point out “wow, crunch is bad.” Of course, there will always be selfish and entitled gamers, but it’s definitely been reassuring to see larger public recognition of the issue, like when The Callisto Protocol director Glen Schofield was widely criticized for recent comments that glorified crunch. It sends the message that it isn’t okay, and, hopefully, helps companies follow Rockstar’s suit.
Ultimately, I just hope that people don’t completely stop talking about these sorts of issues, which sadly seems to be the case much of the time with Activision and Ubisoft. Because in the end, we’re fortunate to be able to enjoy something like Call of Duty or Assassin’s Creed without worrying about the publishers behind them abusing us. Why not try to make sure those who made these games get to do this as well?
During its Ubisoft Forward event, the publisher celebrated the 15th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed. Marking this milestone for the franchise, Ubisoft revealed what comes next for the Brotherhood of Assassins.
Assassin’s Creed, of course, first began in 2007 and introduced us to beloved characters Ezio, the Frye siblings, Kassandra, and more. The stealth-oriented series has evolved over the years, escalating into wider, more open games such as the recent Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The franchise has become one of Ubisoft’s flagship titles, many of which were developed in Canada. Now, in 2022, Ubisoft is unveiling Assassin’s Creed Mirage, the latest game, in full.
Developed by Ubisoft Bourdeaux, Mirage is based around a young Basim Ibn Ishaq. The character was first introduced in Valhalla as a veteran member of the Hidden Ones. Mirage takes place on the dense streets of Baghdad during the Golden Age (861 A.D.,) 20 years prior to Valhalla. The game shares a similar global location to the first Assassin’s Creed. Players will be able to explore four distinct districts across Baghdad. Additionally, players will have the chance to visit Alamut, a key fortress of the Hidden Ones, as it’s under construction.
Ubisoft Bourdeaux confirmed that Mirage acts as a “tribute to early Assassin’s Creed games” and is going “back to the roots” of the franchise. Players can expect to leverage stealth and fluid parkour to take down targets. Throughout the game, Basim will climb the ranks of the Hidden Ones, becoming the master assassin we see in Valhalla. Mirage introduces a new stealth-based mechanic where Basim can slow down time, mark multiple targets and launch a shift assassination. The game is also said to have improved level design, catered to providing assassination opportunities for faster, seamless parkour and modernized assassinations.
In Mirage, we see Basim train and take the first steps in the Brotherhood. He is mentored by a fellow assassin and former Persian slave, Roshan. The studio announced that Shohreh Aghdashloo, known for her work on The Expanse, provides the voice for Roshan.
Assassin’s Creed Mirage will be available in 2023. Players can now preorder the title on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Amazon Luna, and Google Stadia.
The future of the series
While there was a lot of focus on Assassin’s Creed Mirage, Ubisoft is developing additional titles within the franchise.
One of which is bound to pique the interest of a lot of fans. At long last, Ubisoft is moving forward on a mainline Assassin’s Creed title based in Feudal Japan, developed under the guise of Assassin’s Creed Project Red. Not much has been revealed as of yet, though early concept art shows a female protagonist. This character is shown to be donning era-specific Assassin attire and a katana-like sword. Assassin’s Creed Project Red is tentatively scheduled to launch after Mirage.
Additionally, Ubisoft Montreal is well on its way to developing Assassin’s Creed Codename Hexe. Ubisoft kept much of the game’s concepts under wraps. However, the publisher notes the game is set in 16th-century Europe. The brief conceptual trailer shows a much darker tone, alluding to witch hunts and the like.
Ubisoft also disclosed its work on the long-rumoured and tentatively titled “Assassin’s Creed Infinity.” Ubisoft says it “is not a game per se.” Instead, it sounds more like a social platform and a “hub” between Codename Red and Codename Hexe. Ubisoft states that it is “the single entry point for fans into the Assassin’s Creed franchise in the future.” Codename Infinity unites all games and players while integrating standalone multiplayer experiences, though the extent of all of this is incredibly vague.
The future of Assassin’s Creed isn’t only destined for console, PC, and the cloud. Ubisoft is developing Codename Jade, a new mobile game. Codename Jade is set in Ancient China and aims to offer a traditional Assassin’s Creed experience optimized for mobile devices.
Ubisoft is also releasing a documentary to highlight the impact Assassin’s Creed has had. Beyond the Creed features interviews from developers, community members, and fans. Additionally, the documentary offers a look at conceptual pieces of early games and in-development assets.
Even more content is launching for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Off the heels of the Dawn of Ragnarok DLC, the team is launching The Last Chapter, a new piece of content for the game. “It’s time to say goodbye,” Eivor says in the opening of a small cinematic, setting the tone. The Last Chapter is a free DLC launching later this year.
The future of Assassin’s Creed seems bright and Ubisoft does not appear to be slowing down. Projects both big and small are being developed by a number of core teams. These projects will likely fill out Ubisoft’s release calendar for the next couple of years.
This year is the 15th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed. Ubisoft will have more information on Assassin’s Creed Mirage at its Ubisoft Forward presentation on September 10th. A live streamed event kicks off at 3pm ET/12pm PT.
Ubisoft is hosting another installment of its Ubisoft Forward games showcase on September 10th. The publisher has revealed that the live streamed event is set to provide “updates on upcoming games.” Additionally, the publisher will offer a look at some new titles.
Throughout Ubisoft Forward, fans will be shown updates for Mario + Rabbids Sparks of Hope and Skull and Bones. The former is being developed in partnership with Nintendo and launches exclusively on Nintendo Switch on October 20th. Skull and Bones, the open-world pirate game, has seen a number of delays. However, the game is due to launch on November 8th on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, PC, Amazon Luna and Google Stadia.
Seeing as though both titles are to launch this fall, it makes sense that some time would be dedicated to highlighting gameplay, cinematics, and drum up excitement.
Last week, Ubisoft officially announced its working on Assassin’s Creed Mirage. The game is said to focus on a younger Basim, who was first introduced in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. The game also depicts a setting reminiscent of Baghdad. Previous reports claim Mirage will be a more contained game focusing on stealth and harkening back to the series’ roots.
The publisher has already confirmed that more on Mirage will be showcased during the Ubisoft Forward. However, the company notes that the event will incorporate “a special Assassin’s Creed showcase” where “the future of the franchise.”
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed. Alongside the announcement of a new title, it will be interesting to see how Ubisoft chooses to celebrate the occasion. Recently, Ubisoft had an Assassin’s Creed booth at FanExpo Canada in Toronto in dedication to the anniversary. However, with Mirage being a standalone title, one must wonder if a new mainline entry will be shown.
Ubisoft Forward will be available to stream onYouTube,Twitch, and Ubisoft’s website. The event kicks off with a preshow at 2:35 pm ET/11:35 am PT.
Following numerous rumours and leaks, Ubisoft has confirmed Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the next title in the long-running franchise.
“Assassin’s Creed Mirage is the next Assassin’s Creed game,” Ubisoft writes in a tweet. Alongside the confirmation of the Mirage title, the developer shared a key art image for the game that depicts a younger Basim, who was first introduced in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. Basim is shown to be wielding a hidden blade and is joined by an eagle in the background. The setting appears to confirm the reports that the game is set in Baghdad.
Assassin's Creed Mirage is the next Assassin's Creed game.
Earlier this year, rumours began surfacing that an Assassin’s Creed title, codenamed “Rift,” was in development. It was said to first be an expansion for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla prior to spinning off into its own standalone game. Based on what’s been revealed, this likely indicates Mirage to be the game in question.
According to reports, Mirage is said to be “smaller in scope” and won’t offer an open-world experience as large as Valhalla or its predecessor, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey. Instead, the game is to go “back to AC basics,” as Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier claims.
A person familiar tells me parts of this new Assassin's Creed leak are true (such as the name and the other stuff Bloomberg has already reported: spring 23, Baghdad, back to AC basics) and other parts are not (“multiple cities to explore”) https://t.co/qmM6UZtKnG
The next mainline title, codenamed “Assassin’s Creed Infinity,” is in development and is expected to feature live service features.
This year marks the 15th anniversary of Assassin’s Creed. More information on Assassin’s Creed Mirage is around the corner. Ubisoft confirms its plans to talk about the game during its Ubisoft Forward presentation on September 10th. A live streamed event kicks off at 3pm ET/12pm PT.
Ubisoft has announced a partnership with Canada’s McGill University to develop a curriculum for teachers based on its Assassin’s Creed Discovery Tour platform.
Discovery Tour, for the uninitiated, is an educational experience that leverages the meticulously researched and crafted worlds of the Assassin’s Creed games. With it, players can explore the historical settings — Origins‘ Egypt, Odyssey‘s Greece and Valhalla‘s British Isles — in a combat-free environment.
To build on these efforts, Ubisoft is working with McGill’s Faculty of Education to produce curriculum guides for teachers and students, which will be available online for free. The idea is to help them integrate the Discovery Tours into the classroom.
The heroes of two Ubisoft Montreal-developed Assassin’s Creed games are diving into the world of Fortnite.
Starting April 7th at 8pm ET, fans can snag the Ezio Auditore Outfit (inspired by the eponymous Assassin’s Creed II lead) and Eivor Varinsdottir Outfit (featuring the female version of Assassin’s Creed Valhalla‘s protagonist of the same name).
The former includes Ezio’s Hidden Blade Pickaxe and Assassin’s Strike Emote, while the latter includes a Viking War Cry Emote, Eivor’s Shield Back Bling and the Handaxes of the Raven Clan Pickaxe.
Both bundles can be purchased individually or together as part of the “Tales From the Animus Bundle,” with the latter option offering the following additional items:
Wolf-Kissed Spray
Eivor’s Fury Loading Screen
Raven Clan Emoticon
A Tales from the Animus Banner
Finally, the Wolf-Kissed Longboat Glider can also be purchased as a standalone item.
Ubisoft is developing an Assassin’s Creed game that’s “smaller in scope” than the series’ recent entries, according to Bloomberg‘s Jason Schreier.
The game, codenamed “Rift,” is said to be a repurposed expansion to Ubisoft Montreal’s Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, which was originally released in 2020. The game will star standout Valhalla character Basim and won’t feature a massive open-world like Valhalla or 2018’s Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, according to Bloomberg. Instead, the game will reportedly focus on stealth gameplay and is set for release in late 2022 or early 2023. Specific platforms weren’t mentioned, but given that Valhalla is a cross-gen title, it seems likely that Rift will release on PS4, PS5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S alongside PC.
Rift is a separate project from codenamed “Assassin’s Creed Infinity,” a live service title that Ubisoft confirmed last year with scant details.
Eurogamer, which corroborated Bloomberg‘s report, provided a few additional details, noting that the game is set in Baghdad and will feature a setting similar in size to one of Valhalla‘s “smaller individual map regions.” Eurogamer adds that Rift is expected to explore Basim’s story prior to the events of Valhalla.
All told, these are notable changes for the series, which originally started as more stealth-driven before becoming more of an action-RPG in the vein of The Witcher 3. While reception to Valhalla was generally quite positive, a recurring criticism was that the game — which can take 60 hours for the main story alone — was quite bloated. Otherwise, the smaller Assassin’s Creed games came in the form of ‘2.5D’ titles in the Assassin’s Creed Chronicles subseries, which were released between 2015 and 2016.
The reason for this pivot, per Bloomberg, is for Ubisoft to fill out a “thin” release schedule. The publisher games lineup has taken a hit due to employee departures and major game delays. With respect to the former, various Ubisoft developers have been exiting the company over the company’s alleged toxic work culture at several studios, including Ubisoft Montreal and Ubisoft Toronto. While Ubisoft let go a number of accused individuals while promising to make cultural changes, employees have reported that little has actually improved since.
