Skull and Bones Adds Land Combat This Fall: Ubisoft Reveals Year 2 Plans

Ubisoft is setting sail to make Skull and Bones Year 2 the most exciting chapter yet for the pirate multiplayer game, with a treasure trove of new content including new modes, ships, a fearsome Kraken, and the long-awaited land combat feature that fans have been clamoring for since the game's initial launch.

During a special Year 2 showcase premiered yesterday, Ubisoft unveiled its ambitious plans for the upcoming year. The presentation was brimming with exciting updates, but it's Season 3: Guts and Glory, set to launch this fall, that has players particularly thrilled. This season will introduce the much-anticipated land combat feature, allowing players to step off their ships and engage in swordfights and firearm duels on land. This new addition is part of the Rogue Warlord update, where players will explore sandy beaches and damp caves to rescue skilled crewmembers known as Officers. A teaser video offered a glimpse into this feature, but the full experience awaits later this year.

While land combat is the crown jewel of Skull and Bones Year 2, the roadmap for 2025 promises a wealth of additional content to keep players engaged. Season 1: Ascent into Chaos, which launches today, April 15, introduces a loot-enhancing item ascension feature, challenging World Tiers, a new Schooner medium ship, and the team-based Death Tides PvP mode. Season 2: Oaths of War, scheduled for summer 2025, will feature Megaforts and the imposing Frigate large ships. Finally, Season 4: Eye of the Beast, arriving this winter, will introduce the legendary Kraken, the Hunter’s Guild, and the Corvette large ship.

If the prospect of these new features excites you, you're in luck. Skull and Bones is hosting a free weekend from April 17 – 21, giving players a chance to dive into the pirate PvP action. Additionally, the game will be available at a discounted price during this period, though the exact discount has yet to be announced.

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