Ubisoft executive Yves Guillemot recently defended the £70 price tag for the upcoming pirate-themed live-service game, Skull and Bones. Guillemot referred to the game as a "quadruple-A" title, highlighting its vast and complete nature as justification for the high cost. With a lengthy 11-year development cycle, Skull and Bones has been delayed multiple times and has sparked questions due to the financial aid it received from the Singaporean government. Despite skepticism surrounding its value, Ubisoft remains optimistic, promising a robust year one roadmap with four seasons of content. The game is slated for release next week on February 16 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S, barring any further setbacks.

Is Skull and Bones worth the high price point?

That's a subjective question and ultimately depends on the final quality of the game and the depth of content offered. Given the industry's competitive environment, including less expensive and free-to-play options, Skull and Bones will need to deliver a unique and rich experience to justify its cost.

As an additional note, Skull and Bones is often seen as a spiritual successor to the naval aspects of Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag, one of the most acclaimed entries in the Assassin's Creed series. This comparison ratchets up expectations for avid fans of pirate-themed gaming experiences. Moreover, with the live-service model, Skull and Bones will likely depend on continuous updates and an active player community to maintain relevance and justify ongoing investments from players.