Ubisoft cuts Skull and Bones price 90% as it launches $500K Black Flag treasure hunt

Ubisoft’s open‑world pirate game Skull and Bones, a project that once cost roughly $850 million and was billed as the company’s AAAA‑level title, launched in 2024 to a tepid response. Critics cited repetitive gameplay and a lack of content, and the game’s highest concurrent player count on Steam barely reached 400. To revive interest, Ubisoft reduced the standard edition to about 49,000 VND (roughly $2) and applied a 90 % discount to deluxe and premium editions on Steam, with the sale running until 27 May.

In parallel, Ubisoft announced a real‑world treasure hunt inspired by Assassin’s Creed Black Flag. Partnering with Unsolved Hunts, the “Gold & Crystal – The Lost Treasure of Edward Kenway” contest offers participants a chance to win a Caribbean trip and a prize pool worth $500,000, including a replica crystal skull and a chest of gold coins. Contestants must solve an encrypted bottle message and fifteen puzzles spread across letters and archives; a free preview puzzle can be submitted by 23 May. The initiative aims to generate fresh buzz for Black Flag and attract attention amid a competitive gaming market.