Ubisoft has once again delayed the Skull and Bones release date, this time moving it to March 9, 2023 from the original date of November 9 this year. This just seems par for the course at this point for the beleaguered pirate adventure game as it was delayed in 2018, didn’t appear at E3 2019, and was delayed again in 2021. That said, it does have the excuse of getting out of the way of God of War: Ragnarok, which releases November 8, one day before Skull and Bones was set to launch.
Skull and Bones delay comes with new open beta
Perhaps recognizing that the game still needs to be run through its paces, notably after a test through its Insider Program which finished over the past two weeks, Ubisoft has revealed plans for an open beta. Not many details have been given on when this will be held or on how to register for the test. All we know so far in terms of timing is that it will be held “in the near future” according an update on the official website.
The latest statement from Ubisoft suggests that players will have a lot of access to the game’s features during the beta at the very least:
An Open Beta will be held ahead of the game’s worldwide launch to ensure players get a firsthand look at the dangerous world of Skull and Bones. Players will have the opportunity to discover the game’s unique take on the piracy fantasy, its gritty naval combat as well as the immersive and beautiful seas of the 17th century Indian Ocean.
Ubisoft says that this delay will not change its 2022-23 financial targets, and believes that the new March 9, 2023 date provides a “suitable release window” for the long-term success of Skull and Bones. The game is still set to release on PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Amazon Luna, and PC via Epic Games Store and the Ubisoft Store.
In other news, PS Plus Essential Games for October 2022 include Hot Wheels Unleashed and Injustice 2, and a new Wild Hearts trailer mixes monster hunting with a fantasy feudal Japan.
