Reports Suggest Skull & Bones Cost Ubisoft $850 Million

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Reports Suggest Skull & Bones Cost Ubisoft $850 Million

Key Takeaways

  • Skull & Bones allegedly cost $650-850M, not $200M.
  • The game is reportedly the main culprit behind Ubisoft‘s financial downfall.
  • Ubisoft’s reputation and market power is declining due to financial losses, stock plunges, and disconnected management.

As a seasoned gamer with decades of experience under my belt, I’ve seen the ebb and flow of the gaming industry like the tides of the sea. But the current state of Ubisoft leaves me more than a little concerned, especially after hearing about their latest venture, Skull & Bones.

As a dedicated gamer, I can’t help but feel a pang of concern when hearing whispers from within Ubisoft about their latest pirate adventure, Skull & Bones. It seems this game, which was initially estimated to cost around $200 million, might have actually set them back nearly three times that amount. Now, I’m no accountant, but even I can see that’s a pretty hefty difference!

According to unnamed sources inside Ubisoft, YouTuber Endymion claims that the total cost of developing Skull & Bones ranged from approximately 650 million to 850 million dollars throughout its ten-year development process.

They added that this investment and its non-profitability are causing the company’s financial ruin.

Earlier this year, the game titled “Skull & Bones” drew criticism for its $70 price tag and underwhelming world, graphics, and mechanics. Intriguingly, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot termed it a “quadruple-A game,” but it failed to meet the standards set over a decade ago.

Many gamers have observed a significant gap in enjoyment and overall quality between this game and the popular pirate title from Ubisoft, Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag, in terms of entertainment value.

A common analogy lies in contrasting the properties of water and graphics, with Black Flag being launched in the year 2013.

The decline in quality might be because the game went through excessive development over an extended period of 10 years. Rejected concepts and delays left a negative impact on the final product. With increasing investment and time, it seemed inevitable that the game would eventually have to be released, regardless of its state.

It’s generally agreed that Ubisoft Singapore was instrumental in the game’s release, given their role as the leading development team. Notably, this company benefited from subsidies provided by the Singaporean government, which additionally required Ubisoft Singapore to launch new original intellectual properties within a few years.

It’s too big to fail, just like the banks in the U.S.

– Ubisoft Developer

At this moment, the game has been faithful to its live service commitments, and in numerous ways, it’s even surpassed expectations in areas that were initially problematic at launch. Yet, despite an impressive peak of 2,615 players on Steam, it seems the opportunity for further growth may have passed by.

The Live Service Funerals Continue Reports Suggest Skull & Bones Cost Ubisoft $850 Million

If the rumors are accurate, they could shed light on why Ubisoft has recently experienced financial setbacks and damage to their reputation. As 2024 draws to a close, their status as a major player within the gaming industry is at an all-time low.

The stock price, it appears, has dramatically dropped to an all-time low of $10.95 per share and has slightly rebounded to $11.71 at this moment. Employees are anticipated to stage a strike following the company’s announcement mandating a return to the office for five days a week.

The day prior to the policy change, it was disclosed that an internal probe would be conducted to ensure the team’s work better reflects their commitment to “producing games that cater to both fans and players, promoting enjoyment for all.

The significant financial losses, such as adjusted net bookings ranging from $371 to $392.2 million, have further deteriorated their tarnished image. Once a towering figure in the industry, they seem to have drifted away from the gaming world and its players.

A statement telling people to start “feeling comfortable with not owning your game” would perhaps feel at home in a dystopian novel.

In simpler terms, Philippe Tremblay, the head of subscriptions at Ubisoft, made a statement that upset many gamers. These players have also encountered issues with Ubisoft Connect while trying to play games they believed they had purchased but didn’t actually own.

Poor management decisions, incorrect investments, and continuously unpopular product launches have resulted in each dollar spent having a significant negative impact on Ubisoft’s bottom line.

It’s important to note that the reported budget for Skull & Bones remains unsubstantiated gossip. Should these figures prove accurate, however, both Ubisoft’s standing and stock prices might suffer more significantly than they already have.

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2024-10-02 18:10