Fact check: Ubisoft's fiscal mismanagement of the development cycle for Skull and Bones likely hints at foundational issues within the company.

1. Summary of the results

1. Summary of the results:

The analyses confirm significant issues with Skull and Bones' development, including a 10-year development cycle costing $650-850 million, multiple complete restarts, and poor reception upon release (peaking at only 2,615 Steam players). The game's troubled development was marked by staff turnover, technological obsolescence, and repeated delays.

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints:

• The original statement omits that Ubisoft was contractually obligated to complete the game due to Singapore government subsidies, which affected decision-making
• While the development appears mismanaged, Ubisoft has historically succeeded with risk-taking and innovation, as demonstrated by successful franchises like Assassin's Creed
• The gaming industry as a whole has faced similar challenges with "development hell" projects, suggesting this might be an industry-wide issue rather than just a Ubisoft problem
• The statement doesn't acknowledge that some of the delays and changes were attempts to improve the game's quality, showing some level of quality control

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement:

• The statement implies causation between one project's issues and company-wide problems, when correlation doesn't necessarily equal causation
• It oversimplifies complex development challenges that are common in the gaming industry
• The term "fiscal mismanagement" might be too strong given that some expenditure was tied to contractual obligations with the Singapore government
• Different stakeholders have varying interpretations of these events:

Shareholders and investors benefit from narratives suggesting management changes are needed

Competing game companies benefit from highlighting Ubisoft's struggles

• Current Ubisoft management benefits from narratives emphasizing external factors and industry-wide challenges rather than internal issues