Jan 26, 2024 - 15:43
By eurogamer.net

Skull and Bones open beta announced to tide you over until release

Ubisoft has announced an open beta for Skull and Bones.

The studio's long-in-the-works pirate game has had quite a troubled development, which has resulted in several delays over the last few years. However, it now seems like Skull and Bones is really, actually, finally going to happen.

Following a closed beta last month, the studio has now announced an open beta, which will run between 8th and 12th February for those of us in the UK, across PC (Ubisoft Connect and Epic Games Store), PS5 and Xbox Series X/S. Preloads kick off on 6th February.

Skull and Bones: Endgame & Year 1 Roadmap Trailer Skull and Bones: Endgame & Year 1 Roadmap Trailer

«Be ready to raise the anchor and test your mettle,» Ubisoft proclaimed. «Explore the Red Isle, Coast of Africa, Open Seas as well as the East Indies during this open beta to meet the different factions present in-game and face them peacefully or turn against them in combat.»

Those who opt into the beta will be able to complete campaign contracts up to a mission known as 'Exterminate the Rat'. As mentioned above, there will be the opportunity to explore parts of Skull and Bones' world outside of this contract progression lock, although progression will be capped at the rank of Brigand (Tiers 6 rank 1).

«But do go off the beaten path and forge your own pirate adventure! Once you have reached the Brigand rank, your Infamy rank will remain at that level, but you are free to keep on playing to your heart's content for the rest of the duration of the Open Beta,» Ubisoft said. «You'll have plenty of loot to hunt down, silver to gain, and activities to complete. Make full use of your Logbook and the Journal in the Map tab to pin and track activities!»

Other activities include side contracts, repeatable contracts, bounty contracts and world events. If you are keen to give the beta a go, here is how to go about setting it all up: