Sea of Thieves to Introduce Custom Servers as Part of a Subscription Service
Sea of Thieves, the popular pirate-themed multiplayer game, will receive custom servers as part of a paid subscription service set to launch in early 2026. This announcement was made by developers Rare during the game's first-ever community direct event. However, this is just one aspect of the studio's broader plans, which include significant changes to the game and its development pipeline.
Context Behind the Changes
The decision to implement these updates comes amidst challenging circumstances for Rare. Earlier this month, the studio was affected by Microsoft's mass layoffs, which also led to the cancellation of several in-development games, including Everwild. These developments have created a less-than-ideal backdrop for the game's future expansion.
Rare is determined to ensure that Sea of Thieves remains competitive in a crowded multiplayer market. The studio has acknowledged the need to address shortcomings in player experience, including issues related to game performance, cheating, and player feedback, particularly on PC. In a statement shared through the community direct and a Steam blog post, Rare admitted, "We know we haven’t hit the mark our players were hoping for in terms of game health and performance, especially when it comes to being reactive to cheating and the game experience on PC."
New Team Structure and Seasonal Updates
To address these challenges, Rare has restructured its development teams, expanding the group focused on "improving the core playability and stability of the main game." Additionally, the studio is revamping its seasonal content structure. Instead of the traditional three-month seasons, players can now expect new content every month, ensuring a steady stream of fresh activities to keep them engaged.
Custom Servers and Subscription Service
While upcoming seasons 17 and 18 were teased during the event, the introduction of custom servers is one of the most anticipated features. These servers will launch as part of a new subscription's premium package early next year. This package will include various benefits, allowing players to customize their servers to suit their preferences. Features will include:
- Spawning or disabling enemies
- Running safer seas fleets
- Using the developers' cinematic camera
- Full control over server settings
Rare described the custom server feature as a way to empower creative communities and partners. "Although this subscription service is landing next year, we’ve taken the decision to announce it nice and early so that our Partners and creative communities can start making plans sooner rather than later," the developers stated. By adopting a subscription model, Rare aims to ensure ongoing investment in the development and enhancement of custom servers.
Looking Ahead
With these changes, Sea of Thieves continues to chart its course forward. Rare's commitment to working closely with the community and introducing meaningful updates suggests a bright future for the game. As the developers put it, "Sea of Thieves is sailing on. Hoist the mainsail."