Ubisoft is gearing up to launch what is expected to be one of its biggest titles in 2024, one that its executives are already calling a ‘Quadruple-A’ title ahead of its release.Skull and Bonesis coming to a variety of platforms including PC, Xbox, Playstation, and Amazon’s Luna cloud streaming later this week, but only 1 platform will allow users to play the title at the highest graphics settings possible.
It comes with a decent set of hardware requirements that scale well in terms of what one’s PC is capable ofwith an SSD being a core requirement for all PC gamers, much like its console equivalents which use the faster medium as a de facto storage method. This means users can look forward to very different-looking versions of Skull and Bones depending on what their individual gaming PCs are capable of in 2024.
Skull and Bones: PC Requirements Explained
Ubisoft has published detailed hardware requirements for Skull and Bones for low, high, and ultra presets at a variety of resolutions ranging from 1080P/FHD to 4K/UHD which lets users pick a set of hardware that suits their needs better:
Minimum requirements (1080p at 30 frames per second, low preset)
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 5 1600 @ 3.2 GHz, Intel Core i7-4790 @ 3.6 GHz, or better
RAM8 GB (running dual-channel mode)
Video cardAMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (8 GB), NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (6 GB), or better
Recommended requirements (1080p at 60 frames per second, high preset)
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 5 3600 @ 3.6 GHz, Intel Core i7-8700K @ 3.7 GHz, or better
RAM16 GB (running dual-channel mode)
Video cardAMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8 GB), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (8 GB), or better
Recommended High configuration (1440p, 60frames per second,high preset)
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 5 5600X @ 3.7 GHz, Intel Core i7-9700K @ 3.6 GHz, or better
Video cardAMD Radeon RX 6800 (16 GB), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 (8 GB), or better
Recommended 2K configuration (2160p, 60frames per second,ultra preset)
ProcessorAMD Ryzen 5 5600X @ 3.7 GHz, Intel Core i5-11600K @ 3.9 GHz, or better
Video cardAMD Radeon RX 6800 XT (16 GB), NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (10 GB), or better
The hardware requirements across the board seem middling when considering more recent AAA titles and their significantly higher recommended requirements at times. These could also be a testament to the degree of optimization that Ubisoft has done on a title that has reportedly been in development since 2013 despite numerous changes to its vision and target platforms.
This is in addition to the hardware/software requirements that remain unchanged irrespective of the gaming preset being targeted above:
Operating system:Windows 10 (64-bit version) or Windows 11
Hard drive:65 GB available storage (SSD required)
DirectX version:DirectX 12
It is clear from the above that Skull and Bones requires at least Windows 10 or higher (and therefore DirectX 12 and ideally a DirectX 12-based GPU), a minimum free SSD real estate of 65GB (with more potentially required for subsequent patches). While Ubisoft does state that Skull and Bones can be played with 8GB of RAM (in dual channel mode), all 3 recommendations with decent quality presets come with 16GB of RAM in play. This, in addition to Game Rant’s minimum requirementrecommendations for a gaming PC under $1000both point to users using at least 16GB of RAM for all gaming PC endeavors.
The team at Game Rant has suggested 3 PC builds below, all of which cater to different performance targets and presets in a bid to unlock value for money and performance and maintain upgradeability wherever possible while using the newest possible hardware without compromising on one’s budget meaningfully:
The Recommended Entry-Level Pirate Sailor’s PC Build
Intel Core i5-14400F
Intel Core i5-14400F is a revised edition of the i5 13400F that brings higher clock speeds for the same price. The Raptor Lake Refresh architecture helps it improve in overall performance while retaining its power efficiency. The i5 14400F brings 6 performance and 4 efficient cores, resulting in a total of 16 threads.
GIGABYTE H610M S2H V2 DDR4 Motherboard
The GIGABYTE H610M S2H V2 DDR4 Motherboard is an excellent, entry-level motherboard that offers the Gigabyte UD moniker indicating better build quality on offer than most of its competing entry-level alternatives.With a single M2 slot and 2 DIMM slots on offer, the H610M is built for minimalistic, budget-centric PCs with support for Intel’s 12th, 13th, and 14th-generation CPUs.
Silicon Power Value Gaming DDR4 16GB (8GBx2) 3200MHz (PC4 25600) CL16 RAM
The Silicon Power Value Gaming RAM is a DDR4 memory module engineered to enhance the capabilities of desktop PCs. It offers a memory size of 16GB and speeds of 3200 MHz. This RAM is designed to be compatible with Intel Coffee Lake processors and adheres to Intel Extreme Memory Profile (Intel XMP) standards, ensuring seamless integration with various systems.Equipped with an aluminum heat sink, the RAM efficiently dissipates heat while its 1.35V low voltage reduces power consumption for hardware components. These attributes contribute to maintaining swift and stable performance during extensive gaming periods or intensive workloads.
ASUS Dual GeForce RTX™ 4060 OC Edition 8GB
The ASUS Dual RTX 4060 GPU offers a higher boost clock than many of its peers while offering a compact, 2.5-slot GPU that can easily fit in most cases. Powered by a single 8-pin connector with a thermal design power (TDP) of 115W, it offers more efficiency than its predecessor but has no RGB lighting whatsoever in a bid to match Nvidia’s MSRP for the Founder’s Edition.
Kingston NV2 500G M.2 2280 NVMe Internal SSD
The Kingston NV2 500G SSD uses Gen 4x4 NVMe PCIe technology. This drive delivers read speeds up to 3,500 MB/s and write speeds up to 2,800 MB/s. It’s designed for systems requiring fast performance, in both laptop and desktop builds. It is suitable for most applications thanks to the compact, single-sided M.2 2280 design. And the low power requirements mean that it produces minimal heat.
Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX PSU
The Thermaltake SMART 600W ATX is a power supply unit that is designed to provide reliable and efficient power for your computer. This unit delivers 600 watts of continuous output. It complies with both Intel ATX 12V 2.31 and EPS 12V 2.92 standards, ensuring compatibility with many PC builds.The SMART 600W ATX has received an 80 PLUS certification, indicating 80% efficiency under a typical load. This power supply supports two PCI-E 6 plus 2-pin connectors.
GAMDIAS ATX Mid Tower Gaming Computer PC Case
The GAMDIAS Aura GC2 is another great mid-tower ATX PC case. It comprises a tempered glass casing through which users can view all the components inside. Besides enabling users to view inside, the PC case is suitable for RGB connection with a compatible motherboard. It has four built-in 120mm ARGB fans, which help cool down the PC while working hard during gaming sessions. Also, unlike other PC cases that require tools during installation, this case is completely tool-free.
Target Resolution and Preset: 1080P/FHD High
The Entry-Level Pirate Sailor’s PC Build aims to match or exceed Ubisoft’s guidelines for what constitutes a powerful enough hardware spec to handle the title with a reasonable frame rate (60 FPS as suggested by Ubisoft) while aiming to use newer but equivalent components than the requirements have guidelines for currently.
This build pairs Intel’s latest locked 14th generation Core i5 14400F CPU with an entry-level H610 motherboard from Gigabyte. It also adds a capable pair of low latency DDR4 RAM sticks from Silicon power into the mix, matching Ubisoft’s dual channel requirements. At the same time, ASUS’s overclocked version of the Nvidia RTX 4060 8GB is in play to make the most of Nvidia’s new DLSS2 driver for the title, along with 500GB of fast entry-level PCI-E 4.0 NVMe storage from Kingston bringing up the rear.
For the power supply, the Thermaltake 600W Smart PSU handles the PC’s relatively modest power requirements as the Gamdias ATX case allows users to get decent airflow, RGB lighting, and the potential to upgrade to a larger motherboard down the line without any further spending required.
The Seaworthy Mid-Range Pirate First Mate’s PC Build
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X
Gamers interested in upgrading to a newer CPU from Team Red will find the AMD Ryzen 5 7600X to be of spectacular value thanks to its high single-core performance, efficient hexacore architecture, and compatibility with newer technology such as PCI-E 5.0 and DDR5 memory. It also abandons AMD’s AM4 design, going for a pin-less processor offering by moving them to the motherboard instead.
ID-COOLING FROSTFLOW X 240 Snow CPU Cooler
The ID-COOLING FROSTFLOW X 240 Snow CPU Cooler is an excellent budget cooler that offers a somewhat longer tubing than most competing brands' 360 mm coolers while offering decent cooling and acceptable LED lighting that can help players build an excellent system without punching their wallet repeatedly.
NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard
The NZXT N7 B650E Gaming Wi-Fi 6 Motherboard is an excellent AMD socket AM5-based motherboard based on the 650E chipset with decent overclocking, excellent power delivery, and above-average expansion slots in tow. It comes in a white or all-black design that is enthusiast-friendly in terms of its design and feature set.
G.Skill Flare X5 Series (AMD Expo) 6000MHz 32GB (CL36)
The G.Skill Flare X5 Series RAM kits are DDR5 RAMs that operate at an overclocked 6000MHz sweet spot for AMD AM5 processors with a lower latency EXPO profile available to allow users to overclock their memory with a push of a button while costing significantly lower than the competition.
ASUS Dual RTX 4070 SUPER OC 12G
ASUS’s dual-fan take on the RTX 4070 SUPER is possibly one of the most cost-effective launch units with a decent factory overclock.The RTX 4070 SUPER itself adds 15 to 20 percent gains in terms of raw performance to Nvidia’s first RTX 4000 series SUPER GPU release versus its predecessor.The 2.56 Slot GPU offers a relatively compact take on the RTX 4070 SUPER which also sees itself featured in larger premium tri-fan SKUs even as it sees a significant performance increase versus the RTX 4060 Ti thanks to its GDDR6X memory on offer.
SAMSUNG 990 PRO NVMe 4.0 SSD 1TB
The Samsung 990 Pro is Samsung’s latest and greatest PCI-E 4.0 SSD endeavor. It delivers blazing-fast read and write speeds with a solid 5-year warranty and excellent software support in tow via the Samsung Magician software suite allowing for fine-grained control to users giving them the ability to tweak, benchmark, and customize how their SSDs function.
Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W
The Thermaltake Toughpower GF A3 750W power supply is a fully modular offering in the long-running Toughpower series. It is an 80-Plus Gold-rated PSU with peak power of 750W, which is sufficient even for most high-end PCs. It features a PCIe Gen 5.0 connector to power GPUs with the new 12VHPWR cable. It also follows the ATX 3.0 standard for better power excursion and low-load efficiency. The 120mm fan has a Smart Zero Fan mode for silent operation.
LIAN LI LANCOOL 216 PC Case
The LANCOOL 216 is a mid-tower case with all-around mesh panels for optimal airflow. Thanks to its modular rear panel, it can be optimized for air or water cooling. It includes 2 x 160mm and 1 x 140mm pre-installed PWM fans and an innovative rear PCIe fan bracket to maximize airflow.
Target Resolution and Preset: 1440K/2K High/Ultra
The Seaworthy Mid-Range Pirate First Mate’s PC Build offers significantly better power under the hood than the entry-level option as it aims to push for a solid 60 FPS option at a 2K resolution or higher with a high/ultra preset in play. It leverages the built-in DLSS2 support for the title using the newly released RTX 4070 SUPER while pairing it with the fast, unlocked Ryzen 5 7600X that is cooled by an entry-level ID-Cooling FrostFlow AIO.
On the storage end, a high-end PCI-E 4.0 SSD in the shape of the Samsung 990 Pro makes it to the table in a 1TB configuration as it leverages the well-designed and white-themed NZXT B650E motherboard that also offers features like Wi-Fi 6E and PCI-E 5.0 support for upgrades down the line. With a cost-effective 32GB RAM kit that offers a built in AMD EXPO profile and a 750W Thermaltake Gold-rated PSU in play, the PC is well-balanced and easy to upgrade down the line when it comes to its other components, though a beefier GPU might require a better PSU down the line.
On the cooling end, the airflow-centric Lian Li Lancool 216 offers 3 large fans with PWM support and decent RGB lighting in tow even as it costs significantly less than most of its comparable options that deliver similar performance and modular upgradeability for users looking to change things up in the near future.
Target Resolution and Preset: 2160P/4K Ultra
AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
The AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D is AMD’s latest and greatest CPU when it comes to gaming. With an excellent and highly efficient gaming performance that tops the charts currently, the Ryzen 7 7800X3D is here to stay and has a crown to claim thanks to its 3D V-Cache-enabled prowess when it comes to gaming on a PC.The octa-core CPU currently happens to be the fastest in the business for gaming even as it leads efficiency charts at the top, making it a very sought-after gaming upgrade.
MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler
The MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler will unlock the overclocking potential of AMD and Intel CPUs, with cooling that far surpasses any conventional fan/heatstink combination. Compatible with the most recent Intel LGA 1700 processors, the CoreLiquid S360 features a 7th generation Asetek pump, a 60 mm VRM fan to cool adjacent components, and 3 Silent Gale P12 fans. A beautiful 2.4-inch IPS display keeps gamers and system builders constantly aware of CPU temps, pump and radiator fan speeds, and much more.
G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO Series (AMD Expo) 64GB Kit CL30
The G. Skill Trident Z5 NEO sticks are a pair of 32GB RAM sticks that conform to AMD’s more stringent EXPO memory requirements for overclocking. With tight timings and a CAS latency of just 30-40-40-96.With a subtle RGB effect and a premium feel, the Trident Z Neo is one of the best premium RGB RAM sticks money can buy that is designed for AMD-based systems.
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero
ASUS ROG Crosshair X670E Hero is an overkill board for any high-end Ryzen CPU and is best suited with flagship chips such as the Ryzen 7900X, 7950X, or the 3D variants. It boasts an incredibly powerful 18+2+2 power stage VRM, plenty of troubleshooting options, great connectivity, support for high-bandwidth components, and a mesmerizing RGB lighting zone on the I/O shroud.
PNY GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB Verto OC
The PNY GeForce RTX 4080 SUPER 16GB Verto OC is a powerful GPU that offers a mild overclock in a tri-fan design.With an included support bracket, the requisite 16-pin power cable, and a tri-slot form factor, the PNY RTX 4080 SUPER has everyone one needs to get started sans the RGB lighting some of its alternatives possess.
Teamgroup T-Force Z540 M2 PCI-E SSD 1TB
The Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD offers some of the fastest PCI-E Gen 5 SSD speeds money can buy in 2024 while throwing in a thin, patented graphene-based heatsink to keep things low-profile by design.It offers a whopping 11,700 MB/s sequential read and 9,500 MB/s sequential write speeds with decent random read/write speeds in tow,With a 3,000,000-hour MBTF and 700 TBW rating along with a comprehensive 5-year warranty in tow, the Teamgroup T-Force Cardea Z540 SSD delivers on its promise as a premium PCI-E 5.0 SSD in 2024.
MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU
The MSI MPG A1000G PCIE5 PSU is built from the ground up to support the ATX 3.0 spec while also being PCI-E 5.0 compatible in a fully modular design without costing an arm and a leg unlike some of its nearest competitors, making it a viable contender for a gaming PC.
Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL
The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL is a full-tower all-white PC case with a smart design. The case allows users to reverse the chassis, meaning the tempered glass will face the right way if the PC is kept on either the left or right side of the setup. There is integrated RGB lighting and a seamless tempered glass side that flows almost seamlessly into the front panel. The Lian Li O11 Dynamic EVO XL can accommodate up to a 420mm radiator next to the motherboard and the same at the top or front using the included bracket. A full-sized GPU that’s up to 450mm can also be used in this case.
The ultimate-tier Ironclad Class High-End Pirate Captain’s PC Build kicks things up a notch in all directions over the mid-range option, opting for the fastest desktop-class CPU money can buy in the shape of the AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D. Paired to this is an entry-level SKU of the newly released RTX 4080 SUPER that is currently limited in terms of availability and trades at a small premium even as it remains cheaper than its predecessor with a minor performance bump in play.
Powering this is a 1000W Gold-rated MSI PSU that also offers ATX 3.0 support and a native connector for the GPU’s 12WHPWR socket. On the memory front, 64GB of low-latency DDR5 EXPO RAMs with RGB lighting from G.Skill offer more memory than Skull and Bones should ever need, even as everything comes together with a pricey, but well-endowed enthusiast-tier ASUS Crosshair X670E Hero motherboard. With a much faster PCI-E 5.0 SSD in play thanks to the well-priced 1TB Teamgroup T-Force Z540 M2 on offer at multiple retailers, this makes for one of the fastest gaming PCs money can buy or build short of another $500 onecan spend on a powerful RTX 4090 upgrade.
On the cooling front, the PC leverages a large E-ATX case that allows users to go for more fans down the line in addition to a powerful LCD-touting MSI MEG CoreLiquid S360 Cooler that delivers on performance while being cheaper than most high-end AIOs that also sport an LCD display even as it prioritizes silent operation thanks to its Silent Gale P12 fans in play. The team at Game Rant recommends investing in another set of fans to complete the look of the PC if possible and has anexcellent guide of suggestions one would want to considerto pair with this case.
Estimated Build Cost: $3,161
Estimated build costs are based on the cheapest price available on retailers including Best Buy, Newegg, and Amazon at the time these builds were suggested. Prices are subject to change by these vendors. Game Rant will strive to keep the builds up to date as better alternatives appear on the market or prices change significantly. All the builds above target Ubisoft’s stated requirements and aim for a stable 60 FPS experience.
Skull and Bones
WHERE TO PLAY
Skull and Bones is an action-adventure title developed by Ubisoft with a heavy focus on piracy and naval combat. Set in an open world environment inspired by locations in the Indian Ocean, players take control of a customizable pirate captain and ship and undertake missions to collect treasure and raise in rank. Players will rely on ship combat with cannons, mortars, and rockets to defeat both NPCs and other player ships.
FAQ
Q: How Much RAM Do I Need For Skull And Bones?
While Ubisoft recommends a minimum of 8GB to run Skull and Bones, it recommends 16GB for higher-quality presets at 1080P and beyond. Users would ideally want to invest in at least 16GB of Dual Channel RAM if possible.
Q: Do I Need a Fast PC To Play Skull and Bones on PC?
Ubisoft’s published PC requirements for Skull and Bones are relatively modest and it should be playable on any recently-built gaming PC that can run other titles with ease.
