Skull and Bones: Everything we know so far

It's spent a long time at sea, but Skull and Bones is soon to make port. A new trailer shown at The Game Awards 2023 has finally given us a release date, meaning it should be one of the top new games for 2024 when it launches in February.

Sea of Thieves is reigning supreme right now as far as games about seafaring plunderers are concerning, but with Skull and Bones is set to deliver it's own take on ship-based combat set in the golden age of piracy, it shouldn't be discounted. Starting your journey as a low-ranking grunt, stranded at sea following a shipwreck, as word of your notorious deeds spread you'll soon be in with a bid to conquer the Indian Ocean and fight back against rival pirates. 

We've been waiting patiently for this upcoming Ubisoft game for quite some time now, but 7 years on from announcement, Ubisoft is determined as ever to "deliver an immersive pirate experience." Read on to find out everything we know so far about Skull and Bones, from gameplay details to when you'll finally get your hands on it.

Skull and Bones release date

The Skull and Bones release date has been set for February 16 2024. The announcement was made at The Game Awards 2023, where a new trailer let slip the new release date to the tune of a popular sea shanty.

It's been a long time coming, with Skull and Bones having been beset by numerous delays in the past. Just weeks out from its original March 9 release date, Ubisoft decided to push the game to the vague release window of 2023 to 2024. It's good to see that the publisher has made good on this promise, and with any luck, we could finally have the full game in our laps in a matter of weeks.

Skull and Bones platforms

Skull and Bones will release on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC. There were originally plans for Skull and Bones PS4 and Xbox One editions when the nautical adventure was scheduled to release in 2018, but Ubisoft later dropped support for the two systems as it shifted its focus toward current-gen platforms.

Skull and Bones delays

With a new release date now set, it's still worth mentioning that there were six Skull and Bones delays since the game was unveiled at E3 2017. Skull and Bones was first delayed in 2018, where the game was pushed to a loose 2019 window as reports surfaced suggesting development had been rebooted. 

It was then delayed to 2020, and again into 2021, and then a fourth time to 2022 – where it was eventually given a November 8 release date. Sadly, Ubisoft delayed Skull and Bones a fifth time, pushing it to March 9, 2023. Skull and Bones was delayed for a sixth time on January 11, 2023, before The Game Awards firmed things up and announced that we can expect it in February 2024.

Skull and Bones setting

Skull and Bones is set during the 'Golden Age of Piracy' – a period between the 1650s and the 1730s where maritime piracy was a significant issue around the globe. Ubisoft has settled on an open world inspired by the Indian Ocean, which the publisher has described as being "beautiful yet dangerous." We'll be able to explore this setting as a pirate on the rise – starting out as a lowly outcast who is focused on gaining infamy and hunting for resources, funneling the pair into building the ultimate pirate ship. 

Skull and Bones gameplay

The Skull and Bones gameplay is designed to make you feel like a deadly pirate captain. While something like Sea of Thieves has you controlling individual aspects of your vessel to make it function, Skull and Bones has you controlling all of the ship's functions – such as navigation, combat, and crew management. It's kind of like the naval sections in Assassin's Creed 4: Black Flag, albeit with nine years of iteration behind it. 

There are three Skull and Bones ship types: Navigation, Firepower, and Cargo. Each ship has its own proficiencies and perks, and you'll ultimately want to build out a fleet of ships that leave you prepared for any situation you may find yourself in or contract that you take on. Navigation ships are the fastest of the lot, which is great for when you're moving over large distances; Cargo ships allow you to carry the most items, perfect for when you go off in search of valuable loot or resources for crafting; and Firepower vessels, naturally, pack the biggest punch in combat. 

You'll be able to customize all of the available ships (12 in total) to better dial in your preferred playstyle. Additionally, you'll also need to be wary of ship condition and crew morale – Ubisoft has even teased that your crew can call for a mutiny if they aren't properly fed or kept happy. And lastly, we know that Sea of Thieves will have a penalty for failure; if your ship sinks, you'll respawn at the closest Pirate Den and only some of your cargo will be recovered – you can go back for the rest in another ship, although you should be prepared to fight other players over it once you get there. 

Skull and Bones single-player

Is Skull and Bones a single-player game? It's a good question, and one that Ubisoft hasn't made super clear over the years. We now know that Skull and Bones is now a multiplayer-first, live-service experience that will give you the choice of playing solo if you want to. There isn't a set single-player campaign, as Ubi wants players to "create your own stories." So you'll be running through pirate contracts and missions as you would in the multiplayer experience – albeit in lonelier waters, filled with little more than pirate hunting AI and any NPCs necessary to complete quests. You'll also be able to play Skull and Bones co-op with two friends.

Skull and Bones multiplayer

Skull and Bones multiplayer is the main attraction here. Ubisoft has designed the game to allow you to sail the open seas either alone or in groups of three, engaging in either PvE or PvEvP – as in, either against existing elements in the environment or with other real-world players thrown into the mix for a little extra flavor. It's clear that Ubisoft has developed Skull and Bones with competitive pirate action at its heart, so expect many of the ship-to-ship combat and defensive systems to be geared around player interaction. Oh, and if you really want to lean into the fantasy of it all, every player will be able to get their own secret pirate lair.

Skull and Bones crossplay

Ubisoft has confirmed that there will be full Skull and Bones crossplay support from launch. Speaking with 12DOVE, game director Ryan Barnard told us: "multiplayer is something you choose to do – either through uPlay with your friends or in-game, you can invite players to join your party" and that "yes, Skull and Bones is fully crossplay across PS5, PC, [and] Xbox Series X."

While you wait for Skull and Bones, why not check out some of the best games like Assassin's Creed Black Flag, or jump into one of the best PS5 games and best Xbox Series X games.