Update: The sails have been raised and the Skull and Bones open beta is officially underway today! Eager pirates can experience a selection of early game content and start increasing their Infamy (up to a point) for free, ahead of the game’s full launch on February 16th, and progress made will carry over to the full game for anyone who decides to pick it up.
You can see more details and find out where to download the open beta client right here.
Ubisoft’s embattled piracy sim, Skull and Bones, is nearing its actual final release date very soon on February 16th, and in the run-up to launch the game is getting one last beta for folks to get a taste of the pirate’s life – and this time it’s open to everybody.
The Skull and Bones Open Beta is going to run from Thursday, February 8th at 1PM AEDT to Monday, February 12th at 10AM EDT. Keen captains will be able to pre-load the beta client ahead of time on Tuesday, February 6th at 8PM AEDT. On PC, you’ll be able to download the beta from the Epic Games Store or Ubisoft Connect, while on PS5 and Xbox Series X|S it’ll be available from the relevant store pages.
Open beta players will be able to explore The Red Isle and the East Indies, including a number of campaign missions. Cross-play and cross-progression will be enabled, and progress will carry over to the full game along with some exclusive rewards to be unlocked for those who participate and achieve certain milestones in the beta. You can see more details right here.
Skull and Bones is ready to take over the seas… And more! ?????
Skull and Bones Open Beta will be live from February 8-11! pic.twitter.com/Pb83HKLwoC
— Skull and Bones (@skullnbonesgame) January 28, 2024
We recently published a lengthy preview of Skull and Bones after going hands-on at Ubisoft’s Singapore office.
James said, “Despite how focused an experience Skull and Bones has turned out to be, it’s almost impossible to cover it all in a single preview. The crew’s sea shanties, the great inventory management, the overwhelming initial combat encounters, the weirdly non-committal politics of the world, the sheer scope of customisation – there’s a lot in here and almost all of it points toward a game I will enjoy, but for how long exactly I’m still unsure. Live service is a fickle, crowded market, and Skull and Bones’, well, bones, have a great deal of weight to bear if they’re to chart those waters. But if I ignore the market, forget the stats and systems, and just take to the sea with a nicely decorated boat and a vague sense of direction, that’s when it becomes a pirate’s life for me.”
Skull and Bones launches on February 16th for PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC. Amazon has pre-orders available for $89 with free shipping.
