With the decline of successful live-service games, launching one in a tumultuous market is inherently risky. With the consistent success of single-player RPGs, there’s an argument to be made that Skull and Bones should have included a single-player mode to increase the overall appeal of the game.
First announced in 2013, Skull and Bones was originally planned as an expansion for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. Focusing on ship combat, the title morphed into its own IP in 2017. Opting to focus on multiplayer nautical battles, it finally released in February 2024 after multiple delays.
Skull and Bones requires you to always have an internet connection. For those who intend to sail the seas solo, it can be frustrating to get alerts about PvP events or be unable to complete late-game quests due to enemy levels that are based on players banding together to complete them. In short, the late-game content is simply not an experience designed for the solo seafarer, and that’s disappointing after having spent hours sailing the seas to get there.
Along with not having a separate offline mode for those who don’t want to participate in multiplayer, PC players are required to download BattleEye — software used to prevent cheating. Not only is this another program taking up space on your device, but it also has access to files on your system that may contain sensitive information while Skull and Bones is running. Anti-cheat software is a reason some players won’t pick up a game, be it valid or not.
Before launch, one of the top search terms for the game was “single player”. Single-player games, especially RPGs, historically sell well. Hogwart’s Legacy, a title surrounded by controversy, was the highest-selling game of 2023, reaching 22 million units sold, while Baldur’s Gate 3 was Game of the Year at the Game Awards and various other outlets including many of our sister sites in the GAMURS network like Dotesports, Twinfinite, PC Invasion and more.
Looking at games that have released so far in 2024, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth sold over 1 million units within the first week of it being on sale. Other multiplayer games, such as Helldivers 2, sold the same number in even less time.
While Ubisoft hasn’t released the sales figures, an inside source reported to Insider Gaming that Skull and Bones only has 850,000 players as of February 22. That’s just nine days after its early access launch, and six days from its general release. This number also includes those who tried out the pirate adventure during the open beta, meaning the sales figures are even lower.
Including a solo mode would at least entice players interested in a ship-based battler on the open seas but tend to avoid multiplayer experiences. It also makes the game a viable option for those who lack stable internet access and don’t want their ship-battling experiences to be plagued with server disconnect disruptions. I know as someone who enjoys single-player titles immensely that a solo mode with adjusted enemy levels is something that would keep me playing.
Oddly enough, many of the early to mid-game quests in Skull and Bones can already be completed solo, are story-focused, and don’t involve any PvP. Most of the multiplayer content comes in the endgame with Helm activities, teaming up for world events, or taking out high-level targets together.
While the title was already delayed a few times, a single-player mode for Skull and Bones should have been included. It would increase sales, and expand the interested demographic for the game. If you’re struggling with quests, investigations, or where to find resources, check out our guide hub.
