Ubisoft’s long-awaited pirate adventure, Skull and Bones, is sailing closer to its February 16th, 2024 release date. Following several postponements, the game is now preparing up for a closed beta session, offering a taste of high-seas action to a select group of players.

The closed beta is scheduled to run from December 14th to December 18th. It starts at 1 AM PT on the 14th and concludes at midnight PT on the 18th. This event is available to players on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Participants will have six hours of playtime spread across the beta period. This duration counts only during active game sessions, so maximizing time is vital. Invitees will receive access via their registered Ubisoft Connect ID, and they can bring along two friends for the journey.

The Coast of Africa and the Red Isles will be open for discovery and interactions with different in-game factions. The beta will also introduce Golden Path Contracts, providing a structured objective for players.

Sskull and bones – your guide to the closed beta

Hello Captains,

The route towards the waters of Skull and Bones is opening once again during our Closed Beta on PC (Ubisoft Connect & Epic), PS5 and Xbox X|S.

Be ready to test your mettle from the 15^th to the 18^th of December.

closed beta key information:

Access: Invitation only – see below for more information.
Platforms: PC (Ubisoft Connect & Epic), PS5, Xbox X|S
Preload: 12^th December, 1 AM (PT) / 12^th December, 10 AM (CET) / 12^th December, 8 PM (AET)
Start: 14^th December, 6 PM (PT) / 15^th December, 3 AM (CET) / 15^th December 1 PM (AET)
End: 18^th December, 12 AM (PT) / 18^th December, 9 AM (CET) / 18^th December 7 PM (AET)
Time cap: 6 hours
Language: English only

closed beta time limit

For this Closed Beta, play time is limited to 6 hours and you may utilize the allocated time anytime between 15 Dec 2023 (3AM CET) to 18 Dec 2023 (9AM CET).

The 6-hour time limit is only counted when you are in a Game Session (i.e., once you “Start Game” or “Continue Game”). Please note that idling in the menus when you are loaded into the game world will count towards your total play time as well.

Once you exit the game, the counter will stop and you may resume playing as long as the Closed Beta is active, and if you are still within the 6-hour time limit.

Once your 6 hours are up, your play session will end, and the game will no longer be accessible.

participants & friend invites:

If you are selected to participate in the Skull and Bones Closed Beta, you’ll receive an invitation on your registered Ubisoft Connect email address. Check your spam folder in case the mail is redirected there.

All participants will be able to invite up to 2 of their friends to participate in the Closed Beta. Invited friends will need a registered Ubisoft Connect account.

To invite a friend:

In the confirmation email you received, select Invite My Friends.
Select Invite in the Ubisoft Connect friends list, next to your friend’s username.
Your friend will receive the invitation to the email address associated with their Ubisoft account.

pc specs

To be able to run the Closed Beta you will need to run it on a computer falling within these requirements:

closed beta details

discover the red isle and the coast of africa

Located within the Red Isle is the pirate den of Sainte Anne. Ruled by John Scurlock, the local Kingpin you’ll deal with as you start your rise to the top of the pirate world. This den is a safe zone where you can interact with other players, craft your ships, weapons, and equipment with the help of the skilled craftsmen who have made their home here. You’ll be able to access a warehouse to store your loot, repair your ship, sell the commodities you liberated from rich merchants, and more.

Explore the Red Isles, the Coast of Africa as well as the Open Seas during the Closed Beta, as you meet the different factions present in-game and face them peacefully or turn against them in-combat.

While doing so, keep a lookout for opportunities to grow your infamy and riches, as well as hidden areas where you can drop your anchor to stock up on ammunition or interact with vendors to fulfil contracts or buy rare items.

Be sure to plot your course wisely though, or you’ll face mutiny from your crew if you wander out of bounds.

golden path contracts, time limit and infamy tiers

As you find your sea legs in the world of Skull and Bones, the most direct path forward will be Golden Path Contracts. These contracts will act as a guide as you build your reputation and discover more about the world. These are marked with this icon:

[SAB] News - Closed Beta 2 - GOLDEN PATH 1

[SAB] News - Closed Beta 2 - GOLDEN PATH 2

But we highly encourage you to go off the beaten path and forge your pirate adventure!For the Closed Beta, you will be able to play and experience the world of Skull and Bones for 6 hours in total. You’ll have plenty of loot to hunt down, and activities to complete. Make full use of your Logbook, and the Journal in the Map tab to pin and track activities!

In addition, keep an eye out for these icons to engage with various activities:


Side contracts
Repeatable contracts
Bounty contracts
World Event

There is so much more to explore, but we’ll let you discover which secrets hide themselves in the storm!

closed beta participation rewards

Closed Beta participants will be able to unlock a set of exclusive rewards for use at launch.


Skull and Bones Welcome Firework	Play the full 6 hours
Pioneer Set (Ship Vanity Set) consisting of: • Pioneer’s Sails (Sail Color) • Voyager’s Hues (Hull Color) • Pioneer’s Motifs (Sail Pattern) • Pioneer’s Emblem (Ship Emblem) • The Pioneer (Ship Plate)	Complete a World Event World Events can be identified using this icon on the map:
Spoken For Emote	Craft and Sail a Bedar

Skull and Bones Welcome Firework

Play the full 6 hours

Pioneer Set (Ship Vanity Set) consisting of:
• Pioneer’s Sails (Sail Color)
• Voyager’s Hues (Hull Color)
• Pioneer’s Motifs (Sail Pattern)
• Pioneer’s Emblem (Ship Emblem)
• The Pioneer (Ship Plate)

Complete a World Event

World Events can be identified using this icon on the map:

Spoken For Emote

Craft and Sail a Bedar

streams, photo mode & insider program

The Skull and Bones Closed Beta is not under NDA as such we encourage players to stream their game sessions.

You can also discover the world of Skull and Bones by watching your favourite streamers overcome the odds as they attack a fort or in their search for legendary treasures.

The photo mode is also implemented in game, so feel free to share screenshots of your favourite outpost, animal, pirate outfit. You’ll have plenty of settings to take advantage of to immortalise the best moments of your rise to Kingpin.

If you feel the call of the sea and wish to be more involved in the world of Skull and Bones, do not hesitate to sign up for the Insider Program. The Insider Program Is an on-going live testing initiative where selected players play different iterations of the game in real condition.

If that sounds like something you want to get involved in, you can get more info and apply here.