Why the Skull and Bones Release Date Delay Makes a Lot of Sense

gamerant.com:

If November 2022 was a harbor, it is undoubtedly full of docked boats ready to set sail. Prized vessels like God of War Ragnarok lead November releases, but that game is far from the only heavy hitter. Others such as Sonic Frontiers, Pokemon Scarlet and Violet, and Pentiment are set to coast the waters, and so was another highly anticipated game: Ubisoft's Skull and Bones. However, Ubisoft's long-awaited naval combat pirate adventure has been pushed back for the fifth and final time, which may be more of a blessing than a curse.

Publisher and developer Ubisoft recently announced Skull and Bones would be delayed to March 2023, less than two months before the game's intended November 8th release date. The good news is that Ubisoft says the delay has more to do with implementing polish and priming than with core problems with the game and its tumultuous development cycle. Originally conceived as a multiplayer spin-off to Assassin's Creed: Black Flag, Skull and Bones aims to provide a less cartoony pirate alternative to Microsoft and Rare's endearing Sea of Thieves and chart its course by focusing on naval combat and letting players create a unique gameplay experience.

Skull and Bones Has Had Three Different Settings During Its Development

Launching a new IP is always tricky, and Skull and Bones no longer has to compete with big-name games like God of War and Pokemon to earn a seat at the table. Currently, the only other AAA release coming in March 2023 is Capcom's Resident Evil 4 Remake, which hits shelves approximately two weeks after Skull and Bones. The decision to delay and apply additional polish sets the stage for Skull and Bones to become one of the big game events of the month, instead of another ship in a crowded