Ubisoft’s pirate live-service game, Skull and Bones, has set an April launch date for its fourth season. This move aligns it with the legacy of Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, especially as the entire AC franchise experiences record engagement.
The timing isn’t accidental. Assassin’s Creed Shadows, released on March 20, 2025, has already amassed 334 million hours of gameplay and 4 billion defeated enemies within its first six weeks, based on Ubisoft’s telemetry data. This high player activity indicates a vibrant Ubisoft audience that the Skull and Bones development team aims to attract with their fast-paced seasonal updates.
Skull and Bones made its debut in February 2024 after a long development cycle that stretched nearly a decade, with costs exceeding $200 million. Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot labeled it a “quadruple-A” game at launch, a claim that met skepticism from both critics and players. Currently, it holds a 63 Metacritic score, and its seasonal updates have become crucial for keeping players engaged.
On another front, a different Ubisoft-connected studio is gaining attention for unique reasons. According to GAMINGbible, an Assassin’s Creed developer has announced a new project featuring mechanics reminiscent of Bloodborne. This suggests that Ubisoft’s group of studios is branching out beyond the familiar action-adventure style of the franchise. This announcement adds context to what looks to be a busy April for Ubisoft-related releases.
As for AC Shadows, Comic Book Resources confirms that Assassin’s Creed DLC will be free starting in April 2026. This decision addresses one of the main criticisms regarding the game’s monetization strategy. Ubisoft has faced ongoing backlash over post-launch pricing, especially from completionist players who feel the costs for achieving 100% completion are too high.
| AC Shadows Release Date | March 20, 2025 |
| Total Hours Played (6 weeks) | 334 million |
| Enemies Defeated | 4 billion |
| Cats Petted | 26 million |
| AC Shadows Current Steam Price | $0.99 |
Community sentiment around AC Shadows has leaned negative on Steam, with monetization at the forefront of complaints. One reviewer noted, “Avoid. If you hunt to get 100% completions, prepare to shell out $90 USD in DLC to get the last achievement for that hundo.” While the free DLC announcement in April might ease some of that criticism, it doesn’t address the purchases made by early adopters.
What To Watch
- Whether Skull and Bones Season 4 offers enough content to retain players beyond its launch window. Previous seasons have seen quick drop-offs within weeks.
- How Ubisoft manages the rollout of the free DLC for AC Shadows, particularly if it provides the content completionists need for full achievement unlocks or if it focuses on a narrower selection of the post-launch catalog.
- The Bloodborne-inspired project from the AC-related studio will be worth watching at its reveal. If it follows a soulslike structure, it would represent a major mechanical shift from what Ubisoft has previously released.
Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen is the Reviews and Guides Editor at Explosion.com. With a background in game design studies and 6 years of gaming journalism, Sarah brings technical insight to her reviews and creates comprehensive guides that help players get the most out of their games. She has reviewed over 200 titles across PC, PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo platforms. Her current obsessions include FromSoftware titles and indie roguelikes.
