Summary
After a seven-year wait, Ubisoft’sSkull and Boneshas finally arrived, and with it, players are able to live out their pirate fantasies. They must take the helm of their very own ship, sail through the seas, and conquer everything they come across. Much likeSea of Thievesbefore it,Skull and Bonesoffers a fairly thorough pirate experience. However, its immersion is hampered by one glaring issue.
InSkull and Bones, players can do little without running into a loading screen. Almost everywhere they turn, they will have to sit and wait for the game to load the next area. It issomething that plaguedStarfield, and it now seems to be having the same effect onSkull and Bones. While it is likely too late to fix that, this amount of fragmentation feels rather annoying in 2024.
Skull and Bones World is Plagued By Loading Screens
Almost Everything Players Do in Skull and Bones Results in a Loading Screen
When players first startSkull and Bones, they enter a wide ocean that they can explore at their leisure. At first glance, it seems like everything is seamlessly connected, but the second players attempt to dock, that illusion is shattered. Instead of just letting players jump off their boat, the game forces them to sit through a loading screen. Once they enter the island they were docking on, they will also encounter loading screens when attempting to enter certain buildings. When it is finally time for them to leave, they will go through even more loading screens.
Docking and exploring are not the only places thatSkull and Bonesfeatures loading screens, they are just the most prominent. Players will also encounter loading cutscenes when boarding ships, which takes the place of actual boarding seen ingames likeAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag. While the ocean may be mostly free of them, everything else seems to be filled with them. Just like withStarfieldbefore it, that can really hurt the player’s investment in the game.
Constant Interruptions Ruin Skull and Bones' Immersion
Skull and Bonesis plagued with loading screens, but similargames likeSea of Thievesdo not have the same problem. In that game, players can seamlessly travel between islands, explore the land, and engage in all sorts of pirate shenanigans without ever hitting a loading screen. The only time they will really encounter one is when they are jumping in for the first time, or occasionally when engaging in certain tasks. This seamless experience in such a similar game makesSkull and Bones’constant loading screens feel even worse.
While Ubisoft did fillSkull and Bones' townswith some incredible detail, it is still rather annoying that the gameplay is constantly interrupted by pauses. It made sense thatAssassin’s Creed 4: Black Flagwould have to go through this given when it was made, butSkull and Bonesreally should not have so many breaks. Not only do other recent games not have this issue, but in 2024, the days of loading screens are supposedly on their way out thanks to SSDs and other optimization tech that define this generation of consoles.
Ubisoft cannot really go back and get rid of the loading screens now; that’s something that a simple post-launch update likely cannot fix.Skull and Bonesplayers will just have to get used to dealing with these as they sail the high seas. But hopefully, this is not a sign of things to come from the studio. These loading screens can really ruin the overall experience for some, and upcoming titles likeAssassin’s Creed Codename Redcannot replicate that. These kinds of games benefit greatly from their immersion, which is why loading screens need to be hidden or removed as best as possible.
Skull and Bones
WHERE TO PLAY
Set sail into the vibrant open world of Skull and Bones, a naval online action RPG where you rise to become the most fearsome pirate kingpin.ENGAGE IN SPECTACULAR NAVAL COMBATPrepare for devastating battles by crafting a dozen different ships and equip your fleet with powerful loadouts. Unlock stronger weapons as you progress and customize your ships to reflect your unique pirate playstyle.SAIL INTO A DANGEROUS HELL IN PARADISEVoyage into the Indian Ocean and explore a vast open world teeming with cutthroat pirates, deadly sea monsters, supernatural threats, devastating storms, and more.TEAM UP WITH FELLOW PIRATESSail the lawless seas solo or team up with two friends or other players to partake in shareable contracts and rewards.ENJOY EVER-EVOLVING CONTENTEach season, face a brand-new legendary sea lord and discover fresh content, limitless endgame opportunities, and new exciting features designed to enhance your pirate experience.
