Skull And Bones’ Closed Beta Is On This Weekend So Here’s How To Sign Up

Aussie fans eager to have a go at Ubisoft’s oft-delayed piracy simulator, Skull and Bones, will be happy to know that Ubisoft is holding a closed beta for the game this week, and this time around it’s open to players in most parts of the world.

Better yet, there’s no NDA for the closed beta, so all participants are free to stream, record, share and talk about their time with the game. If you’re keen to know more about what’s in the Skull and Bones Closed Beta and how you can (potentially) take part, take a look below:

Skull And Bones Closed Beta August 2023

When Does The Skull And Bones Closed Beta Start?

The Skull and Bones Closed Beta sets sail on Friday, August 25th at 12PM AEST and finishes up on Monday, August 28th at 5PM AEST, so there’s ample time to explore the Red Isle and the Coast of Africa and forge your own pirate adventure while the opportunity allows. To ensure you can maximise your time in the closed beta it’ll also be available to pre-load as early as Tuesday, August 22nd at 8PM AEST.

How Do I Sign Up For The Skull And Bones Closed Beta?

Those keen on trying out Skull and Bones during the closed beta period can register for the Insider Program right here, provided they’ve already got or can create a Ubisoft Connect account. The closed beta is invitation-only and limited, but those successful will receive an email with further instructions before it starts, and those lucky entrants will also be able to invite up to two friends to play alongside them during the closed beta (as long as they also have/can create a Ubisoft Connect account).

What Platforms Will The Skull And Bones Closed Beta Be Available On?

Unfortunately for those of us in console world, the Skull and Bones Closed Beta will on only be available on PC. Ubisoft has shared the PC hardware specs you’ll need to be rocking to play the Skull and Bones Closed Beta at varying levels though, and they’re not too intense at the low end for those happy to play at 1080p and 30FPS.

What Are The System Requirements For The Skull And Bones Closed Beta?

To be able to run the Closed Beta you will need to run it on a computer falling within these requirements:

Recommended requirements (1080p at 60 frames per second)

• Operating system: Windows 10 / Windows 11
• Processor: Intel Core i7-8700K, AMD Ryzen 5 3600, or better
• RAM: 8 GB (running dual-channel mode)
• Video card: NVIDIA RTX 2070 (8 GB), AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8 GB), or better
• Hard drive: 65 GB available storage (SSD recommended)

Minimum requirements (1080p at 30 frames per second)

• Operating system: Windows 10
• Processor: Intel Core i7-4790, AMD Ryzen 5 1600, or better
• RAM: 8 GB (running dual-channel mode)
• Video card: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB), AMD Radeon RX 570 (8 GB), or better
• Hard drive: 65 GB available storage (SSD recommended)

To play the Closed Beta at higher resolutions, we recommend the following specifications:

Recommended 2K configuration (1440p, 60 frames per second)

• Operating system: Windows 10 / Windows 11
• Processor: Intel i7-9700K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, or better
• RAM: 16 GB (running dual-channel mode)
• Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 (16 GB), or better
• Hard drive: 65 GB available storage (SSD required)

Recommended 4K configuration (2160p, 60 frames per second)

• Operating system: Windows 10 / Windows 11
• Processor: Intel Core i5-11600K or AMD Ryzen 5 5600X, or better
• RAM: 16 GB (running dual-channel mode)
• Video card: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10 GB) or AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB)
• Hard drive: 65 GB available storage (SSD required)

What Content Is In The Skull And Bones Closed Beta?

For the Closed Beta, you’ll be able to explore the Red Isle and the Coast of Africa, playing and experiencing the main campaign contracts up until the Exterminate the Rat contract.

In addition, you’ll be able to rise all the way until the Buccaneer Infamy Tier by engaging with a variety of activities available in the game world, including the main campaign contracts, with in-game rewards including a new ship and powerful equipment becoming available as you rise the ranks.

Will My Progress In The Skull And Bones Closed Beta Carry Across To The Full Game?

Sadly no, your progression during the Closed Beta will not be saved and there will be no carry-over of your progression to the full game at launch.

Are There Any Rewards For Playing The Skull And Bones Closed Beta?

Yes! Those who jump into the Skull and Bones Closed Beta will receive a handful of bonus content for the full game, including special Skull and Bones fireworks, a Pioneer ship vanity set and the Spoken For emote: