Ubisoft Reveals Skull and Bones Land Combat Update for Fall

Ubisoft is steering Skull and Bones into its most ambitious year yet, with Year 2 promising an array of exciting additions to the pirate multiplayer game. The developer unveiled a treasure trove of content during a special Year 2 showcase that premiered yesterday, highlighting major updates like new game modes, ships, the introduction of a Kraken, and the much-anticipated land combat feature.

The highlight of the showcase was Season 3: Guts and Glory, set to launch this fall, which will finally bring land combat to the game. Players have been clamoring for this feature since Skull and Bones first set sail last February. In Season 3, as part of the Rogue Warlord additions, players will disembark from their ships to engage in swordfights and gunfights on land. The action will take place on sandy beaches and in damp caves, where players will rescue skilled crew members known as Officers. A teaser video offered a glimpse of what to expect, but fans will have to wait until later this year to fully experience the new gameplay mechanics.

While land combat is the crown jewel of Year 2, Ubisoft's presentation revealed a wealth of other exciting content for 2025. Season 1: Ascent into Chaos, which launches today, April 15, introduces an item ascension feature to enhance loot, challenging World Tiers, a new Schooner medium ship, and the team-based Death Tides PvP mode. Season 2: Oaths of War, slated for summer 2025, will bring Megaforts and the imposing Frigate large ships into play. Finally, Season 4: Eye of the Beast, set to debut this winter, will introduce the mythical Kraken, the Hunter’s Guild, and the Corvette large ship.

For those intrigued by the new content, Skull and Bones is hosting a free weekend from April 17 – 21, allowing players to dive into the pirate PvP action at no cost. Additionally, the game will be available at a discounted price during this period, though the exact amount has not yet been disclosed.

Skull and Bones launched on February 16, 2024, for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X | S, receiving a 7/10 rating in our review. While Ubisoft has been tight-lipped about specific sales figures, the company did mention that the game achieved "record player engagement" shortly after its release. Interestingly, the launch of Skull and Bones also saw a 200% surge in players for Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag.