Skull and Bones may have an open beta, Ubisoft has introduced. It kicks off throughout all platforms (PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X and S, and Home windows PC by way of the Epic Video games Retailer and the Ubisoft Retailer) on February 8 and runs till February 11.
Within the open beta, gamers can attain the Infamy Cap of Tier 6 and earn as much as 5 unique rewards together with distinctive ship cosmetics, an emote, a weapon, and a Pandal Lemur pet. Development carries over from the beta to the complete recreation, which comes out February 16. Ubisoft+ subscribers get the sport three days early on February 13.
Asserting a yr’s value of post-launch content material, Ubisoft stated its open-world seafaring recreation will profit from the addition of pirate lords and new world occasions. Try IGN’s Skull and Bones endgame preview for extra.
Right here’s the official blurb, per Ubisoft:
Gamers will embark on a dangerous journey going through Legendary Pirate Lords like Philippe La Peste and the Hubac Twins. Stirred right into a feeding frenzy, gamers must strategize and defeat these new threats, every escalating in problem. Strategic ship loadouts and seasonal ships and gear shall be key to taking them down within the remaining showdown on the finish of every season. Put together to increase and defend your empire by looting stronger tools and priceless assets
via new world occasions launched every season. Face Service provider Convoys, Elite Warships, and different predators on the excessive seas. Larger challenges convey higher rewards as you navigate these dynamic and unpredictable waters.
Uncover the extraordinary endgame of Skull and Bones, the place you will face extra harmful challenges, greater stakes, and alliances that may rework into rivalries. Transition from working with Kingpins to turning into their rivals, going through the perilous penalties of the treacherous pirate life. Seize management of The Helm, an unmatched smuggling colossus, and construct your smuggling empire. Management manufactories throughout the Indian Ocean, improve income via strategic management of commerce routes, and put money into upgrades to your operations. On high of these, Legendary Heists and Hostile Takeovers actions additionally add thrilling twists to empire-building, with new finish recreation options launched every season.
Have interaction in precarious PvP actions with high-risk, high-reward Helm Wagers and Cutthroat Cargo. Settle for challenges and legendary treasure maps, which can put a literal goal in your head till you attain the goal outpost. Rise to the highest, and solidify your fame amongst Kingpins, incomes rewards primarily based in your leaderboard placement. Take part in free time-limited occasions every season, collaborate with fellow pirates, full unique group occasions, and declare treasure troves of loot. The leaderboard resets every season with new rewards, encouraging gamers to repeatedly try for the highest.
Skull and Bones lastly comes out subsequent month after years of growth hell that’s seen a quantity of delays. What started in 2013 as an enlargement for Murderer’s Creed 4: Black Flag developed into an MMO spinoff which finally turned the standalone recreation Skull and Bones.
It was revealed at E3 2017 with an autumn 2018 launch window, although it could miss that window — and many others — as a result of six delays, finally touchdown on February 16, 2024. Along with adjustments in course, Ubisoft attributes the delays to making too many video games without delay. The mission has churned via three inventive administrators, most lately shedding Elisabeth Pellen in September.
Wesley is the UK Information Editor for IGN. Discover him on Twitter at @wyp100. You’ll be able to attain Wesley at wesley_yinpoole@ign.com or confidentially at wyp100@proton.me.