Ubisoft has released a fresh trailer for the Skull & Bones closed beta that will take place next week, running on PC from 25th to 28th August.
To register for the Skull & Bones closed beta, you just need to head to the game’s web page and scroll down until you see the yellow banner and button to sign up. You will require a Ubisoft Connect account in order to register, and access is not guaranteed, as this is an invite-only beta.
If selected for the Skull & Bones closed beta, then you will also be able to invite up to two friends to join you and play. Those friends will also need a Ubisoft Connect account, and you’ll have to invite them from your Ubisoft Connect friends list.
What’s in the Skull & Bones closed beta?
The closed beta will introduce you to Skull & Bones’ Red Isle and the Coast of Africa, as you start from nothing and look to build up your ship and crew. The Red Isle is a safe zone where you can interact with other players, craft and equip gear for your ship and sell plunder without worrying about attack.
Venturing out to the Coast of Africa, you’ll meet different in-game factions and decide whether to interact peacefully or attack them. The most direct thing you can do is take on main campaign contracts, which will continue through to the Exterminate the Rat contract from the full game’s story. You’ll be able to reach the Buccaneer level of infamy as you go, taking on those main missions as well as side contracts, bounties, and merchant convoy events in the open world.
What are the rewards for taking part?
Taking part in the Skull & Bones closed beta comes with a handful rewards for the following tasks:
- Craft and sail on the Bedar – Spoken For Emote
- Complete a World Event – Pioneer Ship Set
- Reach Buccaneer Infamy (Tier 6) – Skull and Bones Firework
Skull & Bones PC specs and requirements
Ubisoft has helpfully outlined the PC specs that the game will need, starting off with the recommended specs for 1080p60, but also the absolute minimum and the recommendations for 1440p and 4K.
Recommended requirements (1080p at 60fps)
- 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 30fps)
- 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)
Recommended 2K configuration (1440p, 60fps)
- 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, 60fps)
- 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)
Wait, Skull & Bones really isn’t out yet?
That’s right. Skull & Bones still doesn’t have a firm release date, but it’s getting closer to hitting its most recent target of coming out before April 2024.
Skull & Bones is a multiplayer sea combat game, making use of similar technology to the sea-based Assassin’s Creed IV as it was originally intended as an expansion for Black Flag. It’s been in development since 2013, has been repeatedly over budget, and should have originally launched in 2018. The fact we’re here five years later without any sign of the final release date is certainly a concern for Ubisoft, but you have to imagine that they’re unwilling to give up on all of the money they’ve already invested when it is presumably so close to being finished. There’s still seemingly some excitement for the game, not least due to the continuing success of Assassin’s Creed, and the special place so many gamers have in their hearts for Black Flag.
This closed beta will finally give us a public chance to play the game and see how it’s coming together. Will it be a surprisingly good experience after being stuck in “development hell” for so long? Or will it just be a years-long mess?
Source: Ubisoft
