Ubisoft's Skull and Bones Sees Early Discounts

Ubisoft's latest release, Skull and Bones, had a brief price drop of $25 just three weeks after it came out, but it quickly went back to its original price. Skull and Bones is the second $70 AAA title from Ubisoft, following December 2023's Avatar: Frontiers of Pandora. With video game prices increasing from the standard $60, gamers are now more careful about which games they choose to spend their money on, especially live service titles.

After many years of anticipation, delays, and even a reboot in development, Skull and Bones is finally here for everyone to play. The pirate-themed live service game focused on ship combat didn't make a big impact upon its release, with many Ubisoft fans choosing to go back to Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag instead. Since the beta weekends for Skull and Bones, Black Flag has seen a surge in player numbers, thanks to its exceptional naval combat that initially inspired Ubisoft to create Skull and Bones. There have even been rumors about a Black Flag remake generating a lot of excitement in the gaming community, much more than Skull and Bones' launch did.

Skull and Bones Price Temporarily Dropped To $45 At Best Buy

Just a few weeks after its initial release, the price of Skull and Bones, a game that sparked controversy with its $70 price tag, was suddenly reduced to $45 at Best Buy. Gamers who were eagerly waiting for a price drop to embark on their nautical adventures were in luck. However, the price was mysteriously raised back to $70 the very next day. The reason behind this unexpected $25 discount remains unknown. It is speculated that it could have been a mistake on Best Buy's part, as the price was quickly reverted. Meanwhile, Skull and Bones is currently priced at $65 at GameStop, indicating that the game's price may be gradually decreasing.

skull and bones - Skull and Bones Price Temporarily Dropped To $45 At Best Buy

Skull and Bones' Best Buy price has returned to $70, but there is a possibility of another permanent drop in the near future. The game is still facing challenges since its launch a few weeks ago. Typically, most live service games are free to play, so when a game like Skull and Bones asks players to pay $70, it often receives criticism and struggles to gain popularity. If the price drops by summer, the game may have a better chance at success as more players would be willing to explore its open seas.

Other than Skull and Bones, another highly anticipated game for 2024, Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League by Rocksteady, has also had its $70 price reduced by most major retailers. Despite having a seasonal plan that includes introducing new characters like the Joker, these price cuts seem to be permanent. It will be intriguing to observe how the prices of these AAA live service games evolve throughout 2024 following their initial $70 releases, and whether this trend will last in the long term.

Editor's P/S:

The recent price drop and subsequent increase for Ubisoft's Skull and Bones highlight the challenges developers face in pricing live service games. The $70 price tag initially drew criticism, and the brief sale failed to generate significant interest. While the reasons for the price fluctuation are unknown, it suggests that Ubisoft may be struggling to find the right pricing strategy for a live service game that lacks the free-to-play model typically associated with the genre.

The comparison to Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag further underscores Skull and Bones' difficulties. Black Flag's superior naval combat and lower price point have made it a more attractive option for gamers. This raises concerns about the long-term viability of Skull and Bones, especially considering the recent trend of AAA live service games facing price cuts. It remains to be seen if Ubisoft can address these issues and ensure the game's success in the competitive gaming market.