A protracted-requested characteristic is lastly crusing to Sea of Thieves, however gamers must shell out some money to benefit from it. Customized servers, together with different unannounced “advantages,” are included in a subscription service coming to Uncommon’s live-service pirate sport in early 2026. Builders from Uncommon made the announcement throughout a Neighborhood Direct video on Wednesday.
Sea of Thieves depends on emergent encounters with each computer-controlled enemies and actual gamers, each of whom can interact in hostilities with gamers. With customized servers, gamers can create their very own “non-public customisable sandbox” with adjustable choices for loot and enemy spawns. Non-public servers may also run “Safer Seas Fleets,” permitting gamers to ask their mates, freed from beligerent randos. Uncommon has not acknowledged how a lot this subscription mannequin will value.
Uncommon was one of many many studios hit by huge layoffs at Microsoft, which additionally resulted within the cancellation of the studio’s undertaking Everwild. Gregg Mayles, a veteran of the corporate who served because the artistic director for each Sea of Thieves and Everwild, reportedly departed Uncommon following the latter’s cancellation.
The almost hour-long Neighborhood Direct didn’t tackle the layoffs, the destiny of Everwild, or Mayles’ exit from the corporate. As an alternative, the video featured 5 members of the Sea of Thieves workforce addressing the well being of their on-line sport and detailing additions coming within the subsequent a number of months.
Uncommon additionally touched on the already-announced Season 17, which introduces a brand new faction referred to as The Smugglers’ League and extra loot to the sport’s sandbox. Seasons total may have a extra month-to-month construction, introducing new content material and occasions each month moderately than throwing all the things new on the gamers upon the season’s debut.
With Season 17 particularly, the primary month will correctly introduce The Smugglers’ League, the second month brings a “heist” stay occasion, and the third month will refresh the map’s Skeleton Forts. The builders additionally briefly teased Season 18, which facilities on the perilous Satan’s Roar space of the sport’s world.
And in a transfer that may excite devoted gamers, Uncommon is lifting the NDA from the sport’s Insider Programme, which gives preview builds showcasing upcoming updates to Sea of Thieves. The builders describe the transfer as a “first step” in opening bigger conversations with the sport’s group.
It has been tough waters for Uncommon, however the studio seems eager to reassure Sea of Thieves gamers that the sport nonetheless has wind in its sails, hopefully for years to return.