Skull and Bones: test the game for free in an ephemeral beta

Initially scheduled for 2018, the action-adventure game Skull and Bones has been a long time coming. Ubisoft has repeatedly announced postponements of the game's release, but the wait should soon be over. Pirates and sailors will meet on February 16, 2024.

WillSkull and Bones become Ubisoft's cursed game, the one we're eternally promised will never be released? We hope not, because this adventure game set in the heart of the pirate world looks very promising. Skull and Bones, developed by Ubisoft's Singapore studio, was announced in 2017, with a first release date set for 2018. As you'd expect, that release was pushed back, to 2019. Then to 2020. Then to a vague slot between 2021 and 2022. Release dates continued to be announced, only to be pushed back several months later.

The postponements multiplied, creating great frustration for gamers. They were nevertheless necessary for Ubisoft, which wanted to give its teams time to finish developing the game, available on PC, PS5 and XBox Series X/S.

Skull and Bones, Ubisoft's long-awaited release

This wait is coming to an end. As predicted by gaming journalist Tom Henderson, Skull and Bones will finally see the light of day on February 16, 2024. Ubisoft confirmed this release date at the recent Games Awards. Those who have pre-ordered the game will be able to access it three days before the official release.

If you'd like to get an idea of the game before you buy, a free beta will be available from February 8 to 11. This preview should enable you to try out several of the game's pirate mechanics. If you decide to buy the game afterwards, your progress will be saved, and you'll get a few bonus items.

This long wait can only have been beneficial for the game's production! Frédérick Duguet,Ubisoft's Chief Financial Officer, assures us that this new postponement will enable the game to be even more beautiful and entertaining: " We believe very strongly in the team's creative vision, and the task they have been given for the game is incredibly ambitious. Production led by Ubisoft Singapore has been progressing well over the past 12 months, and the promise has never looked better. This extra time will allow them to turn that vision into reality ," he promises journalists from Video Games Chronicle.

It's true that the Ubisoft Singapore studio worked wonders on Assassin's Creed III and Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag: they were in charge of the naval battles. So it made sense to choose them to develop this game, which takes place during the golden age of piracy.

In Skull and Bones, you're the captain of your own ship. You and your crew sail the seas in search of treasure... and brawls. Your goal is to become the Ultimate Pirate, ruler of the seven seas, commander of trade routes and destroyer of enemies. The game features a cross-play function .

In between battles, that long sea walk is a real pleasure: on the waves, between two rays of sunshine, the game can offer a real moment of calm and beauty. But don't worry, this game is far from soothing. Enemies abound on and in the sea...

The official teaser: