Sea of Thieves News

[p]Season 17 has begun! And some unfamiliar faces have been spied on remote islands as The Smugglers’ League settle in and begin their hunt for high-value, dangerous prizes.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]While they show a surprising appreciation of Fine Art and fragile bottles of even finer rum, the League are also on the hunt for Black Powder Barrels. These devastating delights pack more of a punch than any other explosive on the seas, so you’ll want to be careful about bringing them aboard your own ship.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And there is cargo to be found! A recent run of bad luck has seen several Smugglers’ Shipwrecks left to languish beneath the waves, hiding treasures that can be returned to the League for a comfortable payout.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Season 17 wouldn’t be complete without a host of new Commendations to measure your success! Completing Voyages for the Smugglers and handing in their cargo will help you unlock a wealth of cosmetics to update your pirate’s style.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]September and October will bring in Act 2 and Act 3 of Season 17, where there’ll be plenty more Smuggler activity to join in with including a daring Heist and newly fortified Reaper Fortresses. Get a preview of those in the Content Update trailer:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]For the more complete rundown of what you can look forward to in the Season, head to the full Season 17 Launch Article. And for even more details in painfully diligent detail that the Merchant Alliance would surely give a small nod of approval, you can read the release notes right here.[/p][p][/p][h3]Set Sail and Get a Free Eyepatch![/h3][p]The free Rare Ruby Eyepatch is now on offer as a celebratory Sea of Thieves login bonus to mark Rare Ltd's 40th anniversary! Set sail between now and Sea of Thieves' September update to secure your celebratory patch.[/p][p][/p][p]There's plenty more to discover with today's update, from a new Plunder Pass and Pirate Profiles in the Emporium to a range of new Outpost cosmetics to splash your gold on, so all that's left is to wish you successful smuggling! We'll see you on the seas...[/p]

[p]Season 17 has begun! And some unfamiliar faces have been spied on remote islands as The Smugglers’ League settle in and begin their hunt for high-value, dangerous prizes. They’re open to letting pirate crews help them transport their cargo where it needs to go, and maybe recovering some choice items misplaced along the way. Their true goal, however, remains rather mysterious… but for now, let’s find out what you can expect from this new Season in Sea of Thieves!
[/p][h3]Introducing the League[/h3][p]These shadowy newcomers have set up shop in secret hideaways across the seas, and they’ve set their sights on some explosive new treasures. While they show a surprising appreciation of Fine Art and fragile bottles of even finer rum, the League are also on the hunt for Black Powder Barrels. These devastating delights pack more of a punch than any other explosive on the seas, so you’ll want to be careful about bringing them aboard your own ship.[/p][p]As The Smugglers’ League get accustomed to life on the Sea of Thieves, they’re recruiting pirates to ferry some of their precious cargo safely from pick-up point to destination. That means sending crews out on Smugglers’ Route Runs, perilous delivery Voyages along a highly contested route. If you want to make it through unscathed and with the cargo still in your possession, you’ll need to keep a keen eye on that horizon. Elsewhere, find a Message in a Bottle with the Smugglers’ mark and you can set out on other Smugglers’ Runs too, ranging far and wide with some of the most valuable contraband on the seas.[/p][h3][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Making Their Mark[/h3][p]You don’t last long in the smuggling trade by doing business out in the open, so The Smugglers’ League have sought secret spots on the Sea of Thieves to conduct their covert operations. Each of them has established a Smugglers’ Hideout, somewhere out of sight and protected by traps. You’ll have to pinpoint these Hideouts yourself if you want to get to know the League and deliver any cargo you discover on your travels.[/p][p]And there is cargo to be found! A recent run of bad luck has seen several Smugglers’ Shipwrecks left to languish beneath the waves, hiding treasures that can be returned to the League for a comfortable payout. Some of this wayward cargo has also washed up on beaches for passing ships to spot, while opportunistic Skeleton Ships have been seen to scoop up the rest. Hunt them down and sink them if you want to claim those spoils for yourself…
[/p][h3]The Season Continues[/h3][p]Surreptitious they may be, but those Smugglers don’t sit still for long. When September and October bring in Act 2 and Act 3 of Season 17, there’ll be plenty more Smuggler activity to join in, including a daring Heist that pits crew against crew to secure some very valuable loot. Those who take part will descend upon Royal Crest Fortress in search of a painting specially requested by an important patron of the League, but remember: you won’t be the only one after the prize! Surviving skirmishes with rival sailors will be crucial to claiming the payout.[/p][p]In the meantime, Captain Flameheart’s forces are using the distraction offered by the League’s arrival to strengthen their position at the Skeleton Forts. In Act 3 of Season 17, you’ll be able to find the newly fortified Reaper Fortresses under siege from a Phantom fleet. Fight off both sides, and you might just be able to escape with a cache of dangerous loot – provided none of the Fort’s new traps get you first…[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]Rewarding Work[/h3][p]With so many new additions to the seas, Season 17 wouldn’t be complete without a host of new Commendations to measure your success! Completing Voyages for the Smugglers and handing in their cargo will help you unlock a wealth of cosmetics to update your pirate’s style. For completionists, new achievements (and Trophies) present a tantalising challenge as the potential gamerscore on offer climbs towards a tremendous total…[/p][p]As always, there are new Pirate Emporium offerings including the dusty outlaw chic of the Riptide Rodeo set, plus of course a new Season means a new Plunder Pass packed with goodies to unlock – this time including the Rare Regalia ship set and clothing, as well as 750 Ancient Coins for spending in the Pirate Emporium.[/p][p]Whether you pick up the Pass or not, there’s a trove of rewards on offer for climbing 100 more levels of Renown this Season, including items from the Master of the High Seas, Fabled Fins and Faraway Shores sets. To help you earn these time-limited rewards, a new Deed system has been implemented to encourage arrangements with the Smugglers and earn increased Renown by doing so![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Pirate Profiles also arrive this Season, offering a way to access an extra pirate persona without overwriting your existing one. Want to keep your current adventurer firmly on their own path, while embarking on a separate seafaring saga under another pirate identity? Adding a new Pirate Profile will let you do that, splitting your time between two (or three, or more) profiles as you see fit. Swing by the Pirate Emporium and purchase a Pirate Deed if this sounds like something for you![/p][p]There are a lot of changes coming to the seas this Season, spaced out to ensure you have something new to discover each month. For a full tour of everything arriving in August, be sure to read through the detailed Season launch release notes, and check out the dedicated Season 17 page – and for more about the features coming in September and October, follow Sea of Thieves on your social media channel of choice to stay in the loop. Until then, we wish you good luck and successful smuggling![/p]

[h3]Smugglers’ Tide[/h3][p]New blood brings new opportunities as The Smugglers’ League settle into the shadows of the Sea of Thieves! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season 17 page.[/p][p]The Smugglers’ League[/p]

• [p]The Smugglers' League have sailed in from unknown waters and established six Hideouts across the islands of the Sea of Thieves. Visit these new locations to learn more about The Smugglers’ League and cash in Smugglers’ treasure.[/p]

[p]Smugglers’ Route Run[/p]

• [p]The Smugglers’ League now provide an on-demand Voyage from the Quest Table, tasking crews with covertly transporting dangerous and fragile high-value goods.[/p]
• [p]The Smugglers’ Route Run will always direct players down the same treacherous pathway marked on the ship’s map, where other opportunist crews may lie in wait…[/p]

[p]Messages in a Bottle[/p]

• [p]For the duration of Season 17, any Message in a Bottle discovered outside The Devil's Roar will offer a sneaky Smugglers’ Run along a route hidden from the map, providing lucrative rewards.[/p]

[p]Black Powder Barrels[/p]

• [p]The Black Powder Barrel is a powerful new explosive item that can be sold to The Smugglers’ League at their Hideouts.[/p]
• [p]This barrel is held upright, making it an easier target, but is also reinforced for increased durability. The barrel will show visual signs of damage before it explodes, dealing more damage than a Stronghold Keg and with a considerably wider blast radius.[/p]
• [p]Each Black Powder Barrel has a long 10-second fuse, allowing for more devious traps to be laid.[/p]

[p]Smuggling Skeleton Ships[/p]

• [p]Skeleton Ships have recovered valuable Smugglers’ League treasure items and weapons, and are now stockpiling them on board in addition to their usual rewards.[/p]
• [p]Skeleton Ships are now guaranteed to have a Black Powder Barrel aboard, and a high chance of rare items like the exotic rum crates favoured by the Smugglers, Skulls of Siren Sorrow and Ashen Winds Skulls.[/p]
• [p]All roaming and ambushing Skeleton Ships encountered on the seas contain these new Smugglers’ League treasures, while the Skeleton Fleet world encounter remains unchanged.[/p]

[p]Smugglers’ Shipwrecks[/p]

• [p]Crews setting sail may now discover these smuggling vessels sunk while transporting their precious cargo. While these wrecks are rarer than traditional shipwrecks, their rewards are worth the detour![/p]
• [p]Smugglers’ Shipwrecks contain an assortment of high-value treasure in addition to their usual rewards, with unique ship journals that can be returned to The Smugglers’ League and an assortment of weapons including devastating Black Powder Barrels.[/p]
• [p]Players diving down to a Smugglers’ Shipwreck will find handy air bubbles throughout the ship to help them while exploring.[/p]
• [p]For the duration of Season 17, the Reaper’s Chest and Reaper’s Bounty are now exclusively found within sunken Smugglers’ Shipwrecks and no longer found within the Fort of the Damned.[/p]

[p]Smugglers’ Caches[/p]

• [p]As some of the Smugglers’ vessels have been lost at sea, caches of their goods have now begun washing ashore on islands. Finding them will reward eagle-eyed crews with various Smuggler treasures and resources.[/p]

[p]Reaper’s Bones Rowboats[/p]

• [p]These returning Rowboats have been refitted with reinforced Gunpowder Barrels and can also be found with a cannon or harpoon attached. They can be rowed, docked and repaired just like standard Rowboats, but detonate after taking enough damage or when the fuse is lit.[/p]
• [p]While now a permanent addition to the seas, these Rowboats will appear more frequently for the duration of Season 17.[/p]

[p]Smugglers’ Tide Commendations and Rewards[/p]

• [p]A range of new Smuggler Commendations have been added this Season to provide an additional challenge to players. Explore these from the newly rebranded Adventure at Sea Commendation tab in the Pirate Log.[/p]
• [p]The Smugglers’ League now offer access to themed clothing and ship rewards along with a range of Trinkets and a mischievous Black Powder Barrel Disguise, unlocked through their Commendations. These items will arrive over the course of Season 17 and can be found in Outpost shops once unlocked.[/p]

[p]Season Overview Menu[/p]

• [p]A new Season Menu has been introduced, showcasing the new content set to arrive this Season and helping players track their progress and earned rewards.[/p]
• [p]The Overview tab breaks the Season into three Acts, highlighting the content coming throughout these three months of updates. Players can view the content, progress and available rewards.[/p]
• [p]The Deeds & Rewards tab introduces challenges to complete during each Act. Completing these will earn players a boost to their Season progression along with a few time-limited rewards.[/p]
• [p]With this new approach to Seasons, the old Weekly, Monthly and Seasonal Trials and Daily Deeds have now been retired.[/p]

[p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]Season 17[/h3][p]Another Season means 100 new levels to climb by raising your Renown, with racks full of rewards to snag along the way – and an optional Plunder Pass adding even more![/p][p]Season 17 Rewards and Plunder Pass[/p]

• [p]Progressing through the 100 levels of Renown in Season 17 will reward players with Master of the High Seas clothing items and unique Season 17 rewards, alongside time-limited Fabled Fins collectibles. Head to the Seasons profile page to browse the new rewards and check your pirate’s progress![/p]
• [p]Pick up a Plunder Pass to gain access to a plethora of additional unlockable cosmetics from the Rare Regalia collection, including a ship set and selection of themed clothing, all individually earned by raising your Renown. The Plunder Pass can be purchased in-game through the Pirate Log or Pirate Emporium, or via the Pirate Emporium webpage or Steam Item Store.[/p]

[p]Season 17 Emissary Ledger Rewards[/p]

• [p]This Season, the Guild Emissary Ledgers offer the ‘Moonrise Mariners’ Painting, ‘The Unseen Deal’ Ornament and the Guild of Crafty Contrabandists Title to Guilds who represent them well and perform proudly in the Ledgers.[/p]
• [p]The Hunter’s Call Emissary Ledger now offers the Call of the Seas Wheel and Cannons along with the Assailant of Treacherous Targets Title. These new rewards are earnable by Hunters representing the Company as Emissaries.[/p]

[p]Chest of Fortune[/p]

• [p]The Chest of Fortune remains within the Fort of Fortune and crews can now earn the next Grade of the Fortune’s Favour Commendation, unlocking access to the Regal Fortune Lantern, Spyglass, Compass and Bucket.[/p]

[p]Reaper’s Chests[/p]

• [p]Crews chasing down the tell-tale beacon of the Reaper’s Chest or Reaper’s Bounty can earn the next Grade of the Reaper’s Riches Commendation and start unlocking access to the Regal Fortune Banjo and Drum.
  [/p]

[h3]Pirate Emporium[/h3][p]Show off your personal style with purchases from the Pirate Emporium! Pick up exclusive cosmetics such as ship liveries, costumes, weapons, pets and emotes using your Ancient Coins, purchasable with real money. Head to the Pirate Emporium to browse and buy the latest additions![/p][p]New Items – Now in Stock![/p]

• [p]Riptide Rodeo Ship Collection and Ship’s Crest[/p]
• [p]Riptide Rodeo Weapon Bundle[/p]
• [p]Riptide Rodeo Hat, Jacket, Boots and Mask[/p]
• [p]Riptide Rodeo Pocket Watch[/p]
• [p]Ghostly Curse Alsatian (requires Pirate Legend status)[/p]
• [p]Fan the Hammer Emote (free!)[/p]

[p]Pirate Profiles[/p]

• [p]Players can now purchase additional Pirate Profiles, unlocking access to multiple pirate slots from the Pirate tab in the front-end menu. Each pirate will have their own journey with separate progression, rewards and visual customisation.[/p]
• [p]Players can open up these extra profiles by purchasing a Pirate Deed, either from the Pirate Menu or the Pirate Emporium, where bundles of three Deeds can also be purchased at a discount. Once a Deed has been purchased, players can create and customise a new pirate.[/p]
• [p]Pirate Appearance Potions can now be used on individual pirates through the Pirate Menu.
  [/p]

[h3]Rare 40th Anniversary[/h3][p]Sea of Thieves studio Rare is celebrating 40 years of making games, and the festivities include a range of Ruby-themed cosmetics rolled out for pirate players to pick up in various ways![/p][p]Login Bonus[/p]

• [p]Players will receive the Rare Ruby Eyepatch for free when arriving on the seas at any time between Season 17 launch day and September 1st.[/p]

[p]Outpost Stock[/p]

• [p]Appropriately colourful new items are now on offer in the Outpost shops: the Ruby Celebrations Eyeshadow, Lipstick and Makeup along with Red Buckled Boots, Red Sailor Bandana and Red Stitched Shirt.[/p]

[p]Pirate Emporium[/p]

• [p]Available to buy until the September update, the Ruby Reaper’s Mark Sails put a special anniversary spin on this classic time-limited design.[/p]

[p]Microsoft Rewards[/p]

• [p]Players can acquire the Rare Ruby Hat as a redeemable item through Microsoft Rewards.[/p]

[p]Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Perks[/p]

• [p]Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers can get access to the Rare Ruby Emote through the XGPU Perks programme.
  [/p]

[h3]Outpost Cosmetics[/h3][p]Season Ten Legacy Cosmetics[/p]

• [p]Cosmetics previously available during Season Ten have arrived in the Outpost shops and can now be purchased with Doubloons![/p]
• [p]Players can purchase the Intrepid Explorer clothing set, plus the Intrepid Explorer Bobbed Hair, Braided Hair and Beard. The Compass of Nuanced Navigation, Spyglass of Skilful Steering and Bucket of Eternal Cooking are also available.[/p]
• [p]Pirate Legends can purchase the Larinna Tribute Tattoo.[/p]
• [p]The time-limited Gilded Sovereign items, however, remain exclusive to players who participated in Season Ten.
  [/p]

[h3]Gameplay Improvements[/h3][p]Improved Controller Keybinds[/p]

• [p]Players on controller now have the ability to use separate keybinds for a range of actions. These actions can now be customised independently or share a button: Secondary Interact and Swap Weapons, Secondary Interact and Reload, and Primary Interact and Reload.[/p]
• [p]These keybinds can be customised in the Controller Settings Menu, with the default remaining as Y on Xbox controller and Triangle on DualSense™ wireless controller, and can be reset to default if changed at any time.[/p]

[p]Cross-Region Matchmaking Improvements[/p]

• [p]Following the release of Cross-Region Matchmaking in 3.4.1, players now have the choice to opt out of this feature and return to only matchmaking within their home region.[/p]
• [p]Players are free to change this setting either in the front-end settings or in-game during a session, and this will take effect when next attempting to matchmake into an experience such as Faction Battles, Voyages, entering the Tunnels of the Damned for Tall Tales or scuttling a ship.[/p]
• [p]When playing in a crew, if any player has chosen to opt out of Cross-Region Matchmaking, that will prevent the crew from migrating across regions during their session.[/p]
• [p]Support for additional regions has been added in France, South Africa and India, providing lower-latency servers for players in those regions and additional Cross-Region Matchmaking routes for nearby locations.[/p]

[p]Performance Improvements[/p]

• [p]Following the prior rebuild of the Sloop, Brigantine and Galleon, this update now allows the game client to utilise the system to smooth out how other ships are loaded when approaching them at a distance, stabilising framerates while sailing.[/p]

[p]Hit Registration Improvements on Animals[/p]

• [p]Players attacking various animals like chickens and pigs with melee attacks will now experience improved hit registration, dealing more consistent damage to targets.[/p]

[p]Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage Notifications[/p]

• [p]Players who have their Skull of the Banished stolen by a rival crew will no longer be notified with a pop-up notification. This ensures consistency with how stolen items are handled across the wider experience.[/p]

[p]The Devil’s Roar Balancing[/p]

• [p]Further improvements have been made to volcanoes, ensuring that players caught on an island about to erupt can more predictably plan their escape. After a volcano starts to smoke, the time before it erupts has now been reduced slightly as a result.
  [/p]

[h3]Events[/h3][p]Season 17 Community Weekend (August 30th – September 1st)[/p]

• [p]Your favourite 48-hour event is back for Season 17! Enjoy free gifts, pose at Picture Walls, solve puzzles as you seek Pop-Up Plunder, and make use of reward boosts thanks to the Community Emissary Grade raised by watching Sea of Thieves streamers on Twitch.[/p]
• [p]As a bonus goal to tie in with Rare’s 40th anniversary celebrations, reaching a cumulative community total of World Events completed during Community Weekend will unlock the Ruby Legend Figurehead for everyone.[/p]
• [p]Find out more in August’s This Month in Sea of Thieves article, and stay tuned for a full rundown closer to the date!
  [/p]

[h3]Fixed Issues[/h3][p]Gameplay[/p]

• [p]Players taking damage soon after healing to full health will no longer find their health bar becomes hidden even though they are not at full health.[/p]
• [p]Voyage notes pinned to the ship’s mast now require players to be much closer and facing the note before being able to interact with it, preventing accidental use.[/p]
• [p]Skeletons killed by a thrown knife will no longer leave behind an invisible surface that prevents players from attacking enemies behind it.[/p]
• [p]Improvements have been made to boarding audio effects to prevent players muffling certain effects when repeatedly attempting to give an item while grabbing the ladder.[/p]
• [p]Ships that are beached in shallow waters around islands can now be consistently sunk by rival crews. Once sufficient damage has been dealt to a ship, even if the ship is unable to fill with water, it will be considered sunk and destroyed.[/p]
• [p]During a Faction Battle, a ship that is sunk due to heading into the Devil’s Shroud now consistently causes the match to end and loses the encounter.[/p]
• [p]Bone piles belonging to the Order of Bone and Blade should no longer appear on lava where they cannot be dug up.[/p]
• [p]Ashen Lords in combat will now continue to actively attack players using a nearby cannon.[/p]

[p]Followers of the Flame Voyage[/p]

• [p]If players are moved to another server during the Followers of the Flame Voyage, the Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons will now continue to behave as expected.[/p]
• [p]Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons revived near the dig site will no longer seem to disappear.[/p]

[p]Reaper’s Chests Unsealed[/p]

• [p]Unsealed Reaper’s Chests and Chests of Bones that have been depleted will no longer show bones inside the chest.[/p]
• [p]Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons should no longer start following allied players if the unsealed Reaper’s Chest is not nearby.[/p]

[p]Cannon of Rage[/p]

• [p]Players approaching a deployed Cannon of Rage will now find the interactions have been repositioned to make the weapon easier to load, fire and retract.[/p]
• [p]Retracting a Cannon of Rage no longer causes it to briefly disappear.[/p]
• [p]Players joining a session in progress should now see deployed Cannons of Rage in their correct state.[/p]

[p]Environment[/p]

• [p]Improvements have been made to the environment beneath Skeleton Camps to prevent players from using a Grapple Gun to leave the designated area.[/p]
• [p]A range of island improvements have been made to prevent players becoming stuck within the environment.[/p]
• [p]Mysterious journals found on Crescent Isle should now all be readable.[/p]

[p]Visual and Audio[/p]

• [p]Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons now move smoothly when following players or walking while holding weapons.[/p]
• [p]When Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons appear, the visual effects now show consistently.[/p]
• [p]Dropping a Chest of Bones or Reaper’s Chest no longer causes the audio effect to be heard at extended distances.[/p]
• [p]Players will now consistently hear their pirate gasp for breath when resurfacing if they had begun to drown.[/p]
• [p]Crews with the Regal Fortune Wheel equipped will now find it appears visually correct after being fully repaired.[/p]
• [p]When performing the Grog Shaker Emote, the audio effects can now be heard fully.[/p]
• [p]Ancient Phantoms encountered during the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage should now consistently have audible voiceover when subtitles are shown.[/p]
• [p]The image on the Crate of Immaculate Diamonds now appears at the correct orientation when placed on the ground.[/p]
• [p]Players wearing the Oyster’s Prize Eyepatch will now find the eyepatch is hidden when performing a disguise.[/p]
• [p]Players’ hands will now appear correctly when performing the Target Hide Emote.[/p]

[p]Text and Localisation[/p]

• [p]‘The Lair of LeChuck’ – Players using non-English languages will now find interactions on the Headless Monkey are translated.[/p]
• [p]‘Captains of the Damned’ – Captain Jack Sparrow’s subtitles will now be shown fully when speaking.[/p]
• [p]‘Lords of the Sea’ – The voiceover and subtitles shown during this Tall Tale now match correctly.[/p]
• [p]Players using replaced gamertags will now see Half-Stew Jean’s name spelled correctly.[/p]
• [p]Players using Russian language settings should now find the Dire Dark Warsmith set name has been changed to better differentiate it from the original Dark Warsmith set.[/p]

[p]Performance and Stability[/p]

• [p]Further improvements have been made to game stability to reduce scenarios where players unexpectedly exit the game or become disconnected from their session.
  [/p]

[h3]Known Issues[/h3][p]To learn more about known issues in Sea of Thieves currently being tracked and their status, head over to our Known Issues support site article.[/p][p][/p][h3]Download and Installation[/h3][p]Download Size:[/p]

• [p]Steam: 2.9 GB[/p]

[p]Can you believe it’s been a full month since we last stopped by with a round-up? We hardly could, but our calendars insist upon it which means we’ve got a job to do. A lot of big news arrived throughout July, as well as a game update and a bumper Event, so let’s look back at all the things you may have missed in the last few weeks.
[/p][h3]Content Update[/h3][p]No month would be complete without a Sea of Thieves content update, and in July that meant the final update of Season 16, delivering the second Voyage for The Reaper’s Bones – known as Followers of the Flame – along with an Ashen version of the Search for Ancient Secrets. The update also took a second shot at rolling out a rebalance of Kraken activity. Fingers and tentacles crossed that she behaves a little better this time around.[/p][p]The animosity between the Pirate Lord’s Legends and Captain Flameheart’s Reapers has been on the rise again recently, culminating in two full weeks of chaos in July! During Legends Unleashed, pirates on both sides of the conflict were tasked with completing Goals to earn gold, reputation, Renown and even a few exclusive Trinkets. And, in case that wasn’t quite enough to keep you occupied, the Compass of Chaos saw a new expansion of prompts based on the latest Season 16 content. Never a dull moment![/p][p][/p][h3][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]
News and Features[/h3][p]July began with the usual This Month in Sea of Thieves article, followed by a lengthy unpicking of something new we’ve decided to embark upon in the spirit of openness: the Sea of Thieves Community Direct! After that came the unveiling of Season 16’s Style of Thieves contest categories – and, later, the names of the fashionable pirates sailing away with a win.[/p][p]Community creativity also came under the spotlight in a #SoTShot round focused on landmarks and a fresh collection of Community Hub entries, this time with a little SoTFest twist. The community spirit isn’t for everyone, though, is it? With so many celebrations taking place, The Reaper’s Bones were quick to remind everyone that their ruthless approach to piracy was the focus of Season 16, with a substantial guide to the ins and outs of their Company. If you’re looking for the lore on these red and black-clothed reavers, look no further!
[/p][p][/p][h3]Videos and Streams[/h3][p]We led into July’s monthly update with the usual suspects: an episode of Sea of Thieves News to announce what was coming up, a Developer Update from Drew digging into some of the work already going on behind the scenes, and a trailer or two showing off the new arrivals players could expect to enjoy.[/p][p]It wasn’t all standard fare, however! As mentioned earlier, July saw our very first Community Direct, in which some familiar faces sat down to discuss the current state of Sea of Thieves and everything we want to accomplish in future. Even more information was to follow in our latest official podcast, focused on Season 16. This gave us a chance to clarify some things touched on in the Community Direct, such as how our new approach to Seasons will incorporate permanent changes to the game world, and whether or not Drew was wearing trousers. All in all, a very enlightening watch.
[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]
And with that, we’re at the end of July and our latest round-up! If you have a few more seconds to spare, you’re always welcome to come and find us on social media, including Twitter/X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Threads and Twitch, as well as the official Forums and Discord! You can drop by to send us any feedback you might have, or just stop in to say hi, provided you maintain a respectful distance from our loot pile. No, genuinely, leave it alone. See you there!
[/p][h3]Previously in 2025: [/h3][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: June 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: May 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: April 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: March 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: February 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: January 2025[/p]

[p]Welcome to another edition of This Month in Sea of Thieves, and August’s turn to take a star turn in the spotlight. It’s a big month for us here at Rare as the studio’s 40th anniversary swings into focus, and we’ve got a ton of seafaring fun to put the wind in your sails and add spice to your sailing sessions![/p][p]It’s a packed few weeks, with not just the anniversary celebrations but a new Season and a couple of exciting events too – so let’s not waste any time getting down to details…[/p][p]Rare’s 40th Anniversary – from Monday, August 4th[/p][p]The studio turns 40 years old imminently – so to celebrate, we’ve got a boatload of things to share with fans and players. Starting from August 4th, we’ve organised a suite of Ruby-themed gifts and tie-ins![/p][p]For Xbox Game Pass Ultimate players, the sparkling Rare Ruby Emote will be available as an XGPU Perk all the way through to October 4th. The roguish Rare Ruby Hat will also be earnable via Microsoft Rewards, and from August 6th there’ll be huge Pirate Emporium discounts on Sea of Thieves sets inspired by classic Rare titles (see full sale info below).[/p][p]The free Rare Ruby Eyepatch will be on offer as a celebratory Sea of Thieves login bonus starting from the launch of Season 17 on August 14th and running right through to the September update – and a grab bag of new ruby-tinted Outpost stock will be available to pick up with your in-game gold from the same date.
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Rare-inspired cosmetics will also be purchasable in a mega-bundle from August 14th, while the glorious Ruby Reaper’s Mark Sails will be made available as a time-limited Pirate Emporium offering. Meanwhile, the optional Season 17 Plunder Pass will allow players to unlock the classically themed Rare Regalia ship set and clothing as they power through those levels of Seasonal Renown![/p][p]There’s also more on offer in Season 17’s Rare-themed Community Weekend – but more on that later…[/p][p]Pirate Emporium Rare Anniversary Sale – Wednesday, August 6th – Monday, August 11th[/p][p]A major milestone deserves a major sale, so you can expect a huge range of deals to explore in the Pirate Emporium while this one is live! The Emporium has no shortage of ship sets, costumes, weapons and Trinkets inspired by Rare’s games and characters from the last 40 years, and most if not all of them are part of this special sale. From Bear & Bird to Paradise Garden, Night Wulf to Huntress and everything in between, there’s a look here for everyone to enjoy![/p][p]‘Smugglers’ Tide’ Release – Friday, August 8th[/p][p]The official Sea of Thieves soundtrack that’s streamable and downloadable from your choice of music provider gets another of its regular additions, this time the moody signature music from the upcoming Smuggler-driven Season. Check it out from August 8th, ahead of the Season’s launch a little under a week later…
[/p][p] Gold & Glory Weekend – Friday, August 8th – Monday, August 11th[/p][p]Our boosted rewards Event beckons players in over the second weekend of the month, giving persistent pirates a perfect opportunity to hit level 100 Renown in Season 16 before it ends! Gold, reputation, Allegiance and Renown will all be boosted for the duration of the Event, so make sure you’re heading out on the waves to make the most of these gains.[/p][p]Season 17 Launch – Thursday, August 14th[/p][p]Announced at the Xbox Games Showcase back in June, Smugglers’ Tide finally comes to Sea of Thieves’ shores later this month. With explosive Black Powder Barrels, fresh faces to meet and interact with, Smugglers’ Route Runs and new Deeds, Commendations, rewards and treasures, our smuggling-themed Season is all set to offer pirates new ways to make their fortune.[/p][p]Stay tuned to Sea of Thieves social channels for more information on what’s to come as part of Season 17’s package.[/p][p]Pirate Profiles Launch – Thursday, August 14th[/p][p]Also launching alongside Season 17 are Pirate Profiles, which players will be able to pick up from the Pirate Emporium! For those of you who like the idea of having multiple pirate personas to roleplay with – or if you just fancy taking on new challenges with a fresh-faced pirate (and no worries about overwriting your old one) – you’ll find this feature just the thing to help you scratch that itch.
[/p][p] Season 17 Community Weekend – Saturday, August 30th – Monday, September 1st[/p][p]Remember a few paragraphs ago, when we mentioned the next Community Weekend? Well, that’s all set to happen nice and early in the Season 17 calendar, with rewards and Pop-Up Plunder both themed to our 40th anniversary milestone. As usual, the Community Emissary Grade will be powered by hours of Sea of Thieves watched on Twitch – with a suite of Twitch Drops on offer for folks tuning in. Picture Walls will return to Outposts with a special ruby-red flavour, with one at The Reaper’s Hideout also back in action for the 48 hours of this Event.[/p][p]Pirates who pop in during the Weekend will receive two glorious login bonuses: the Season 17 Community Weekend Flag and the Paper Cutout Emote. And, if 100,000 World Events are completed during Community Weekend, a special Ruby Legend Figurehead will be unlocked for all participants. It’s set to be a stunning celebration of all things Rare, so make sure to mark the dates in your diary now to avoid disappointment.[/p][p]And that’s all for August! We hope to see you on the seas in honour of our studio’s milestone anniversary, and our thanks, as always, to those of you who have set sail with us at any stage of this unforgettable journey.[/p]