Fix Skull and Bones Crashing on PC, Xbox, and PS5

Skull and Bones is a newly launched co-op pirate-based open-world action-adventure RPG in 2024 by Ubisoft that’s seriously evolving the tactical gaming experience. It allows both single-player and multiplayer options to get into the naval warfare pirate gameplay sets in East Africa and Southeast Asia in the late 17th century. Even though the title is doing well in the gaming community, several players are facing the Skull and Bones Crashing issue on multiple platforms that we can’t deny.

It’s been almost three weeks right now since the game was released officially but multiple bugs or errors are already troubling a lot of players irrespective of the gaming platform. Although the game is promised to receive new challenges and features in every season, conflicts with the startup crashes or even gameplay crashes can be frustrating for sure. Most importantly, the crashing issue occurs quite frequently on both PC and gaming consoles which should be addressed soon by the devs.

The chances are high that somehow your game starts crashing due to multiple possible reasons such as an outdated game patch version, corrupted game files, issues with the server connection to your gaming platform, lack of system admin access, system compatibility issues, a temporary glitch with the system, and more. Conflicts with the antivirus or firewall blocking, overheating issues, outdated graphics drivers, account profile syncing issues, etc can also trouble you with game crashes.

Luckily, here we’ve shared with you some workarounds that should come in handy. Make sure to follow all troubleshooting steps until the problem has been fixed. So, without wasting any more time, let’s get into it.

1. Restart the Gaming Device

Before heading over to other workarounds, it’s highly recommended to restart your respective gaming device manually to ensure there is no issue with the temporary system glitch or cache data. This kind of issue mostly happens due to the longer system uptime or a pending restart. A normal restart refreshes the system and allows programs to run smoothly. Just press the Power button to switch off the device > Wait for a couple of seconds and then boot the system again.

2. Check for the Skull and Bones Server Status

We suggest you check for the Skull and Bones server status on Ubisoft to ensure there is no issue with the connectivity & performance at the time you’re trying to play the game. This server alert shows all three gaming platforms PC, PlayStation, and Xbox for you to understand better whether the game is actively running from the server end or not. In case, there is any operational outage happening, you should wait for a couple of hours and try again later. If the game servers running fine then you can head over to the next method.

3. Check the System Requirements

Another thing you can do is to check for the system requirements of Skull and Bones to ensure that your PC configuration is capable of running this game properly or not. Any kind of conflict with the software or hardware can eventually trouble you with startup crashes most of the time. Here we’ve shared with you the minimum requirements below so that you can cross-check the tech specs of your desktop or laptop.

OS: Windows 10
CPU: Intel i7 4790 AMD Ryzen5 1600
GPU: Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB or AMD RX 570 8GB
RAM: 8 GB Dual Channel
Storage: 65 GB SSD

4. Run the Game as an Administrator

You might also need to run the game application manually with the system admin access to avoid potential issues with the program startup. You should follow the steps below to run your game application with the system admin privilege. To do this:

Right-click on the Skull and Bones (exe) on your PC.
Click on Properties > Go to the Compatibility tab.

Enable the Run this program as an administrator checkbox.
Click on Apply and select OK to save changes.

5. Update Skull and Bones

You can try updating the Skull and Bones game to the latest version available to avoid any kind of conflicts with the crashes. You can check the steps below to do so.

For Ubisoft Connect:

Open Ubisoft Connect on the PC.
Log in to your Ubisoft account.
Click on the Menu icon > Go to Settings.
Click on Downloads from the left pane.
Now, Turn On the Enable automatic game updates checkbox.

For Epic Games Launcher:

Open the Epic Games Launcher.
Go to Library > Click on the three dots of Skull and Bones.
Enable the Auto Update option.

For PlayStation:

Go to the Home screen on the PlayStation console.
Navigate to Games > Select Skull and Bones.
Press the Options button on your controller.
Select Check for Update from the drop-down menu.

For Xbox:

Go to the Xbox Dashboard menu.
Navigate to My Games and Apps.
Select Manage > Go to Updates.
Check for the Skull and Bones update.
If available, press the A button on the controller to start it.

6. Verify and Repair the Game Files

Sometimes missing or corrupted game files installed on the PC might also trouble you a lot with the startup crashes. You can check the steps below to repair the game files respective to your gaming client.

For Ubisoft Connect:

Open Ubisoft Connect on the PC.
Log in to the valid Ubisoft account.
Click on Games > Click on Skull and Bones.
Select Properties in the menu.
Under Local Files, click on Verify Files.
If prompted, click on Repair.
Wait for the process to be completed.
Once done, restart the PC, and run the game again.

For Epic Games Launcher:

Open the Epic Games Launcher.
Go to the Library.
Click on the three dots of Skull and Bones.
Go to Manage > Click on Verify files.
Wait for it to complete and then relaunch the game.

7. Check for the System Updates

It’s always recommended to check for available system updates on your respective gaming device. Updating the software will help in reducing multiple system glitches, bugs, instability issues, etc. It also improves overall performance and adds new features or security measures. So, check the steps below to search for available system updates and install the same.

For PC:

Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
Click on Windows Update.
Select Check for updates.
If a feature update is available, select Download and Install.
Wait until the software update is complete.
Once done, restart your computer to apply changes.

For Xbox Series X|S:

Press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide.
Select Profile & system > Go to Settings.
Choose System > Select Updates.
Select Keep my console up to date to update your console automatically.
Next, choose Keep my games & apps up to date to update games and apps automatically.
Once done, reboot the console to apply the changes.

For PS5:

Head over to the PlayStation home screen.
Choose Settings > Go to System.
Select System Software > Choose System Software Update and Settings.
Turn On the Download Update Files Automatically option.
Enable the Install Update Files Automatically option.
Once done, restart the console to change effects.

8. Update the Graphics Driver

Well, another method you can try is to update the graphics driver version on your computer to avoid an outdated or corrupted GPU driver. Sometimes conflicts with the graphics driver eventually trigger game startup issues that we can’t deny.

Recommended Update:

Open the Start menu > Search and open Device Manager.
Double-click on Display Adapters.
Right-click on the dedicated graphics card that you use.

Select Update Driver > Click on Search automatically for drivers.
If an update is available, the latest driver will be installed automatically.
Once done, restart the system to apply changes.

Manual Update:

In case, you don’t get any pending updates, visit the official website of the respective manufacturer for the graphics card model. Download the latest graphics driver on the PC and run the installer to get it installed. Once done, reboot the PC. You can jump to the link below to do so:

9. Ensure Your Gaming Device isn’t Overheated

Be sure that your gaming console or even PC isn’t overheated due to the long-running sessions. In some cases, conflicts with improper air ventilation can also trouble you a lot. So, it’s recommended to check whether your gaming device is properly cooling down or not. Having better air ventilation and a cool environment in your office or room can also play a major role.

10. Close Background Running Tasks

It’s also suggested to close background running processes on the computer by following the steps below. Ensure to manually close all the unwanted third-party tasks that are running in the background to improve the overall system performance. This workaround will help in allowing the system to increase resources so that the game can run properly.

Press the Ctrl+Shift+Esc keys to open Task Manager.
Go to Processes > Click on the unnecessary tasks (third-party) in the list.
Click on End Task to close it.
Close tasks one by one > Once done, reboot the system.

11. Disable the Performance Mode (PS5)

Try turning off the performance mode on your PS5 console to check if the Skull and Bones game crashes a lot. To do so, check the steps below:

Go to Settings on your PS5.
Go to Save Data and Game/App Settings.
Select Game Presets.
Choose the Performance Mode.
Select Game Default.
Once done, relaunch the game.

12. Turn Off Ray Tracing

Ray Tracing is a useful graphical setting that offers a better visual experience in video games. But it consumes higher system resources which usually puts strain on the hardware level. As a result, the overall gaming performance gets affected and the hardware overheating issue starts occurring. That’s why it’s recommended to disable ray tracing for the specific game to avoid unexpected crashes during the gameplay sessions.

Run the Skull and Bones game on your PS5 console.
Go to the in-game Settings menu.
Head over to Graphics or Display settings.
Disable Ray Tracing from the list.
Ensure to apply the changes and run the game again.

13. Turn Off 120FPS (PS5)

It seems that using the 120FPS mode on PS5 can bring higher gaming performance but sometimes this mode can cause gaming conflicts up to some extent. This higher FPS mode increases the system overall. So, it’s suggested to turn off the 120FPS mode in PS5 by following the steps below:

Run the Skull and Bones on your PS5.
Select the Game Mode that you’re using.
Choose the menu icon at the top right side.
Go to Settings > Select Video.
TURN OFF the 120FPS Mode.
Hit Apply and then check for the crashing issue again.

14. Delete the Skull and Bones Saved Data

Sometimes your game’s saved data might be missing or outdated and needs to be deleted manually from the console. It’ll eventually help in creating new saved game data on the system whenever you relaunch the title. So, follow the steps below to check for the same.

Please Note: It’s recommended to take a backup of the saved data or download it to avoid losing your progress in the game.

For PlayStation 5:

Go to Settings on your PlayStation 5 console.
Choose Saved Data and Game/App Settings.
Select Saved Data (PS5).
Head over to Console Storage.
Go to Delete > Select Skull and Bones.
Press the Delete option at the bottom right side.
Wait for some time to delete the saved game data.
Restart your console and check for the error again.

For Xbox Series X|S:

Press the Xbox button on the controller to open the guide.
Select My games & apps > Select See all.
Highlight Games > Press the Menu button of Skull and Bones.
Choose Manage game and add-ons.
Select Saved data.
Select Delete All if you want to remove all saved data on your console.
- You can also choose the profile that you want to delete.
Choose Delete from Console or select Delete Everywhere.
Once done, reboot the PS5 console to check for game crashes.

15. Disable Rest Mode (PS5)

Multiple PS5 owners have tried this workaround and found this useful enough to fix startup crashes in most scenarios. The Rest Mode in PS5 can cause game crashes a lot if users enable rest mode during gameplay sessions and resume the game again.

Go to Settings from the PS5 homepage.
Scroll down and select Network.
Go to Power Saving.
Choose Set Time Until PS5 Enters Rest Mode.
Select Don’t Put in Rest Mode.

Please Note: After disabling rest mode, your PS5 console won’t go into sleep mode (rest mode) automatically while in idle mode. So, you’ll have to manually enter into the sleep mode when you’re not using the console.

16. Turn Off Windows Firewall

You can try disabling Windows Firewall manually to check if the security software is preventing the game files from running properly or not. Make sure to follow the steps below to do so:

Open the Start Menu > Search and open Windows Defender Firewall.
Click on Turn Windows Defender Firewall ON or OFF.
Select the Turn off Windows Defender Firewall (not recommended) option.

Click on OK to save changes.
Once done, reboot the PC to apply changes.

17. Disable Antivirus

The chances are high that turning off the antivirus protection manually on your PC to avoid any kind of aggressive antivirus blocking with the game application.

Press the Win+I keys to open Windows Settings.
Click on Update & Security.
Now, click on Windows Security from the left pane.
Then click on Open Windows Security.
Go to Virus & Threat Protection.
Next, click on Manage Settings.
Turn Off the Real-time Protection toggle.

If prompted, click on Yes to proceed further.
Finally, you can check for the Skull and Bones crashing issue.

Please Note: If you’re using any other third-party antivirus program on your PC then turn off the real-time protection feature manually.

18. Restore Licenses (PS5)

It seems that several PS5 users are having licensing issues with the purchased games, DLCs, pre-order contents, redeemed items, and more. It’s better to restore licenses by following the steps below to fix such issues.

Log into the valid Playstation account.
It’ll be the same account that you’ve used to purchase the game.
Go to Settings > Go to Users and Accounts.
Navigate to Other > Select Restore Licenses.
Select OK > Go to the PS5 Library.
Choose Skull and Bones.
Select Download to start the downloading process.
- For downloadable content (DLC), select the PlayStation Store to find the digital content.
- If the content has already been downloaded, it will display under Purchased.
Once done, launch the game to check for crashing.

19. Boot in Safe Mode (PS5)

Safe Mode allows you to start your PlayStation console with the basic functions active only. Third-party applications and games won’t work. The Safe Mode feature will help you troubleshoot potential issues and reasons by rebuilding the console storage database, changing the resolution, or resetting the console to its factory defaults.

Note: Do keep in mind that some Safe Mode options will result in the loss of data. So, be sure to back up data to a USB drive or Cloud Storage before hard reset.

Turn Off your PS5 console. (press & hold the Power button for 3-4 seconds)
Once the power indicator stops blinking, wait for a minute.
Now, press and hold the Power button again for a while.
Once you hear the second beep after seven seconds, release the button.
Then connect the PS5 controller with the USB cable.
Next, press the PS button on the controller to pair it.
Your PS5 will boot into the Safe Mode.
Finally, you can now follow the next method to rebuild the database easily.

20. Rebuild Database (PS5)

Rebuilding the database on PS5 will allow the system to find out potential issues related to the storage drive that might conflict with the games and cause crashes.

Press and hold the Power button until you hear the second beep. This will boot your PS5 in Safe Mode.
Connect the PS5 DualSense controller to a USB cable.
Then press the PS button on the controller to pair it.
It may take a moment to display Safe Mode options.
Now, select Clear Cache and Rebuild Database.
Choose Rebuild Database.
Wait for the process to complete.
Then your PS5 will boot back to the normal mode again.

21. Change the Account Profile (Xbox)

If your Xbox Series X|S fails to load the game then you should try switching the account profile which is linked to your gaming profile. You can try the steps below to switch profiles:

Press the Xbox button on your controller.
Go to Profile and System.
Select Add or Switch.
If you have multiple profiles, switch to a valid one.

22. Reinstall the Skull and Bones Game

If none of the workarounds did come in handy then make sure to uninstall and reinstall the Skull and Bones game on your respective platform. Any kind of installation issues with the game can also trigger crashes in most cases.

For Ubisoft Connect PC:

Open Ubisoft Connect PC.
Go to the Games tab.
Right-click on Skull and Bones that you want to uninstall.
Select Uninstall.
Once done, open the client > Go to the Games tab again.
Select the Skull and Bones game you want to reinstall.
Click on Download.
Wait for the game to be installed.
Finally, run the game to check for crashes.

For Epic Games Launcher:

Open the Epic Games Launcher > Click on Library.
Click on the three-dot icon next to Skull and Bones.
Click on Uninstall > Wait for the game to be deleted.
Once done, reboot the PC to apply changes.
Finally, open the Epic Games Launcher, and try to reinstall the game again.

For PlayStation:

Go to the Skull and Bones game in the Games Menu.
Highlight the game > Press the Options button on your controller.
Select Delete from the menu.
Confirm it and the game will be uninstalled.
Once done, reboot the console.
Finally, reinstall the game from the store.

For Xbox:

Press the Xbox button to open the guide.
Select My Games & Apps > Hit See All.
Choose Games > Highlight Skull and Bones you want to uninstall.
Press the Menu button > Select Uninstall.
Then follow the on-screen prompts.
Once done, go to My Games & Apps.
Go to See All.
Select Full Library to reinstall the game.
Finally, run the game to check for potential issues.

23. Reset the Console

As a last resort, you’ll need to manually perform a factory reset method on your gaming console by following the steps below. This workaround will help in fixing potential system glitches or corrupted game installation data.

For PS5:

Go to PS home screen > Settings.
Hit Saved Data > Go to Game/App Settings.
Choose Saved Data (PS5) > Console Storage.
Select Upload to Cloud Storage.
After backup, go to Settings > System > Reset Options.
Select Reset Your Console.
Choose Follow on-screen instructions.
After restart, sign in to the account.
Now, Reinstall the Skull and Bones game.
Sync game-saved data to check for crashes.

For Xbox Series S|X:

Press the Xbox button on the controller.
Go to Profile & system > Settings.
Navigate to System.
Choose Console info > Select Reset console.
Select Reset and remove everything when prompted.
It’ll delete all the user data.
Your Xbox console will reset to factory settings.
Wait for the process to finish.
Finally, reboot the Xbox Series X|S console.

24. Contact Ubisoft Support

Last but not least, you can contact Ubisoft Support and submit a support ticket for the same issue to get further assistance. Well, submitting the support ticket will allow Ubisoft to investigate the issue deeply.

That’s it, guys. We assume this guide was helpful to you. For further queries, you can comment below.