Ahoy! Ubisoft’s Skull and Bones finally has a release date!

Let’s hope that the anchor holds, as Skull and Bones is set to come ashore on consoles and PC this coming February.

Maybe for real this time?

It kind of feels like we’re saying this a lot today (’cause we are), but we’ve got a new release date to report for one of the biggest upcoming games. That title would be Ubisoft’s piratical open-world actioner Skull and Bones, and the release date would be February 16th, 2024.

Prospective players already know that this game has seen a bevy of delays, but this looks to be a solid one to hang your saber on. That’s because Ubisoft not only released the launch at yesterday’s The Game Awards, but also info about a Closed Beta.

That test will begin this very month, kicking off on December 15th and running through the 18th, before the game vanishes over the horizon till launch. To celebrate the set of reveals too, Ubi unleashed a pair of videos. One is a new trailer, while the other is a 10+ minute “deep dive” in the title’s gameplay.

If you’ve been anxiously awaiting this pirate adventure, they’re both worth checking out.

Developed by Ubisoft Singapore in collaboration with other Ubisoft studios**, Skull and Bones is a co-op open world pirate action RPG where you play by your own rules to become the most infamous pirate kingpin and build your smuggling empire in a perilous world. Craft a variety of unique ships, forge unlikely alliances, and take part in thrilling naval battles as you overcome the odds and bring mayhem to the seas. Be part of an immersive world that introduces new challenges and features every season. 

Under the pretense of learning from ruthless top dogs, shipwrecked ordinary men and women build their name across the lawless seas in the Indian Ocean. They had one aim in mind – to one day topple those in power and eventually compete with one another to rule as the most infamous pirate kingpin. 

Building on an ambitious, multi-year post-launch plan, the game will be regularly updated with new content, activities, stories, and challenges that will be free for all players. 

Ubisoft press release

Notes from the press release

Just to wrap up here, there are a few interesting notes from the press release that you might want to know. For one thing, the standard edition will arrive on February 16th, 2024 for the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, and Windows PC. That latter PC version will be exclusive (for the time-being at least) to the Epic Store and Ubisoft’s own digital shop.

As you can see too, Amazon’s Luna is listed as a launch platform, which isn’t something that we’re used to. Luna has become a rotating, steaming platform at this point, but it looks like Skull and Bones will be not just purchasable there, but pre-orderable too. If you do go that route, you’ll even get to play Skull and Bones three days early, on February 13th. That’s a plan that also goes for those who have Ubisoft+ (on Xbox), and those who pre-order via the PC in general.

Pre-orders will include the “Highness of the High Sea Pack”, which is packed with the “Notoriety Garb Captain Outfit” and the “Coronation Firework”.   All of that is outside of the game’s Premium Edition too, which comes with 3-days of early access (bringing the launch in line with the aforementioned) and “The Ballad of Bloody Bones Collection”.

Expect to see cosmetic items for Captain and Ships included in that, along with “two extra missions, a digital Art Book and Soundtrack as well as a smuggler pass Token. ”