Ubisoft verifies the authenticity of a leaked Skull & Bones gameplay footage

Skull & Bones by Ubisoft appears to be rising from the depths of development hell. According to sources, test footage has leaked online, providing the first look at the live-service pirate adventure since its introduction at E3 2017.

A voiceover describes some of Skull & Bones’ key details in the video. The “infamy” stat is used to determine how good gamers are at being pirates. Players can gain notoriety by invading ships, performing contracts, and discovering secret wealth. Higher ranks of infamy allow players to take on more challenging bounties and contracts, but failure will result in the loss of some infamy.

Players will begin with a simple pirate ship that can be upgraded using scavenged materials. It is the captain’s responsibility to ensure that their ship is well-stocked with food, water, and ammunition, lest their crew mutiny due to a lack of provisions.

Ubisoft acknowledged the authenticity of the leaked film and stated that additional information on Skull & Bones would be released soon. Skull & Bones’ official Twitter account even indicated that more information regarding the game would be released soon after the leak was made public.

Skull & Bones is being produced by Ubisoft’s Singapore studio, which has been the target of workplace harassment, discriminatory pay, and inefficient HR department investigations. Singaporean authorities completed the probe earlier this year without taking any action, noting that the studio compensates its employees properly and handles harassment allegations appropriately. Other stated troubles at the studio have been cited as probable reasons why Skull & Bones has taken so long to ship, but the game could finally set sail by the end of this year, according to sources who talked to Kotaku.