The short answer: yes, Skull and Bones has full crossplay. PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC players can all sail together in the same open world, form fleets, and take on contracts regardless of which platform anyone owns. The game also supports full cross-progression, meaning your infamy, ships, and progress follow you if you ever switch platforms. That is the headline. But there is more to understand how to enable it, how the Ubisoft Connect requirement works, how to add and invite cross-platform friends, and what the current state of the game looks like in Year 3.
Does Skull and Bones Have Crossplay?
Skull and Bones cross-platform play has been confirmed for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Amazon Luna. According to Ubisoft’s own closed beta announcement, servers can host up to 20 players with crossplay functionality across PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and Luna, and those who want to play in co-op can form groups of up to three seamlessly by finding and inviting others to join their fleet.
Crossplay is enabled by default when you first launch the game. To access the crossplay settings, head to Settings > Accessibility > Crossplay to enable or disable the feature.
For players comparing how Skull and Bones handles this versus other Ubisoft-published titles, our Arc Raiders crossplay guide at PlayXArena offers a useful side-by-side look at how different games implement cross-platform systems in 2026.
Does Skull and Bones Have Cross-Progression?
Yes. Skull and Bones has cross-progression, so you do not need to worry about your progress getting lost across multiple platforms. You will be able to navigate the open seas without having to worry about losing your loot.
Cross-progression in Skull and Bones means your entire account infamy rank, ships, equipment, cosmetics, currency, and seasonal progress is tied to your Ubisoft Connect account rather than to any individual platform. Switch from PS5 to PC or vice versa, and everything is exactly where you left it.
For a deeper explanation of how cross-progression works across the industry, including the technical mechanics of cloud-synced save data and what to do when things go wrong, our cross-progression explainer covers the full picture.
How to Enable Skull and Bones Crossplay
Crossplay is on by default, but here is the exact setup per platform:
On PlayStation 5: Active immediately on first launch. To use cross-platform friend features and cross-progression, link your PSN account to Ubisoft Connect via the in-game menu or at ubisoft.com. A Ubisoft Connect account is optional for general play but required for cross-platform invites and progression sync.
On Xbox Series X|S: Same as PS5 crossplay is default, Ubisoft Connect required only for cross-platform friends and progression.
On PC (Ubisoft Connect / Epic Games): Ubisoft Connect is mandatory on PC since it is how you access the game. Crossplay is fully active from the start you will encounter PS5 and Xbox players in the open world by default.
How to Add Cross-Platform Friends and Form a Fleet
Step 1 — Both players need Ubisoft Connect accounts. This is the universal friend layer across all platforms. Console players who skip this cannot send or receive cross-platform invites.
Step 2 — Add each other on Ubisoft Connect. From Settings, go to Ubisoft Connect > Social tab. Send a friend request using the other player’s Ubisoft Connect username. Once accepted, you are cross-platform friends.
Step 3 — Invite to fleet in-game. Once you are Ubisoft Connect friends, invite each other to a fleet from the in-game social menu. You can have up to three players in a fleet, then set sail together for combat, plunder, or sea creature hunts.
Step 4 — Check your crossplay toggle. If your friend is not appearing or invites are failing, verify Settings > Accessibility > Crossplay is on. A disabled toggle stops cross-platform friend visibility entirely.
Troubleshooting: If invite issues persist after a patch, relaunch the game and re-check the Ubisoft Connect social tab. Most crossplay friend-visibility bugs resolve after a game restart.
The Skull and Bones World: What You Are Playing
Skull and Bones is an action-adventure game set in East Africa and Southeast Asia during the late 17th century’s Golden Age of Piracy. You play as a customizable pirate captain who washes up as a shipwreck survivor and must climb from outcast to kingpin through infamy, naval combat, and trade empire building.
The game runs on a live-service seasonal model. Year 3, Season 1 “Shattered Seas” is the current active season as of May 2026, introducing large ships including a Galleon class, a Seasonal Mastery Tree, and new contract types. Each season runs alongside a Smugglers Pass and brings new story content involving the game’s established cast of kingpins.
All Key Characters in Skull and Bones
Your Captain — The Protagonist
You are the player character fully customizable, referred to as Captain throughout. You begin as a shipwreck survivor of the Exeter who arrives at Sainte-Anne with nothing. Every alliance, contract, and ship you commission builds the reputation that determines who will deal with you and on what terms. You are not simply a hired gun the game positions you as an emerging kingpin whose loyalties are entirely transactional.
John Scurlock — Kingpin of Sainte-Anne
Faction: Pirate Den | Location: Sainte-Anne
John Scurlock is one of the Kingpins in Skull and Bones a middle-aged, gnarly pirate known for his ruthless ways of gaining profits. He leads the Pirate Den Sainte-Anne and exploits all factions in the region, including the Sea People, Clan of Fara, and the Compagnie Royale.
Scurlock is the first major character you work for, and the game immediately frames him as someone who treats captains including you as expendable. He is locked in a struggle with the French Compagnie Royale for control of the Red Isles’ trade routes. You defeat his arch-nemesis Francis Caradec only to discover Scurlock intended to use you as bait establishing early that every alliance here has a price.
His backstory adds surprising depth: born in England with a harsh upbringing, he fled home after his mother died, begged on the streets, then joined a ship’s company and turned to piracy. He styles himself the Lion of Sainte-Anne. In Year 3, both Scurlock and Admiral Rahma remain central you can earn Helm Leases by completing seasonal contracts or striking a deal with either kingpin.
Admiral Rahma Kingpin of the East Indies
Faction: East Indies | Location: Telok Penjarah
Admiral Rahma is the second major kingpin you build a relationship with. She calls the Captain to aid her rebellion against the Dutch Merchant Company you battle DMC forces and ultimately defeat her arch-nemesis Karel von Kinckel. Where Scurlock is purely transactional, Rahma’s rebellion carries ideological weight around regional sovereignty and resistance to colonial control, giving the narrative its moral texture. Her dynamic with the Captain is the game’s strongest character relationship.
Faction: Compagnie Royale | Role: Primary Antagonist (Act 1)
Caradec is Scurlock’s nemesis and the first major antagonist you are sent to hunt. An elite captain of the French Compagnie Royale, he represents the colonial power structure the pirate factions are fighting against. His destruction, engineered by the same man who sent you after him, delivers the game’s first major plot twist and establishes that no kingpin has clean hands.
The Helmsman Ship’s Advisor
Role: Tutorial and Navigation Guide
The Helmsman is the in-game voice that guides you through Skull and Bones’ opening hours, explains mechanics, and provides contextual commentary. He gives the tutorial a narrative presence rather than dry instruction boxes a practical character rather than a story-driven one.
Skull and Bones Crossplay: Quick Reference Summary
| Feature | Status |
|---|---|
| Crossplay (PS5 ↔ Xbox ↔ PC) | ✅ Fully supported |
| Cross-progression | ✅ Fully supported |
| Required account | Ubisoft Connect |
| Max fleet size | 3 players |
| Crossplay toggle | Settings > Accessibility > Crossplay |
| Amazon Luna support | ✅ Confirmed |
| PS4 / Xbox One support | ❌ Not supported |
| Steam version | ❌ Not available |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Skull and Bones crossplay between PS5 and PC?
Yes, PS5 and PC players share the same servers and can play together fully via Ubisoft Connect friends.
Do I need Ubisoft Connect for Skull and Bones crossplay?
On PC, yes, it is mandatory. On console, it is optional for general play but required if you want cross-platform friend invites and cross-progression.
Can I turn off crossplay in Skull and Bones?
Yes. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Crossplay and toggle it off. Note that doing so may increase matchmaking wait times in the open world.
Is Skull and Bones cross-progression?
Yes. Your entire account progress is stored via Ubisoft Connect and carries between PS5, Xbox, and PC seamlessly.
Is Skull and Bones on Steam?
No. PC access is through Ubisoft Connect or the Epic Games Store only.
