Sea of Thieves News

The sun is shining and the wildflowers are running amok, which can only mean we’ve ventured deep into spring! As always, we’re making time for a look back at all the excitements arising in April, neatly summarised in this handy round-up. Let’s find out what you might have missed…

[h3]Content Update[/h3]
Marking the final instalment of Season 15, April’s monthly content update rolled out new Voyages for The Hunter’s Call, sending keen pirates in search of rampaging Megalodons and dangerous wild boars. Check out the release notes for the full rundown on the Hunters’ last update for now! This one arrived fairly late in the month on 24th, but that ensured there was plenty of time to slot in a quick hotfix beforehand to address a few quirks of the March update.

Just before April’s content drop, however, word started getting around that the bony inhabitants of the Skeleton Forts were up to no good, hiding vast quantities of Ashen treasure in some of their Vaults. Fortunately, plenty of pirates proved adept at liberating said fortunes during the Mega Stashes Event that ensued, and earned some lovely new facial hair along the way.

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[h3]News and Features[/h3]
Following the regular This Month article to tee up April’s calendar of events, we had some big announcements to unveil, starting with Sea of Thieves’ upcoming arrival on Battle.net®! Our new friends won’t be joining us in full until Season 16 lands later in May, but be sure to give them all a warm welcome when they do. Second on the ballot was a series of substantial changes to our enforcement policy. This is the process by which we ensure that players adhere to our Code of Conduct and keep the seas safe – so the article is well worth checking out for an overview of how the new system works and where to check your own status.

Of course we couldn’t let the month go by without fulfilling a couple of regular features: our latest Community Spotlight featured #SoTShot success story and committed completionist GingerJefferson, while the maestros in Sea of Thieves’ music department seized the opportunity for another soundtrack addition, ‘The Great Meg Chase’! Who doesn’t want a dash of monster-hunting adrenaline in their morning playlist?


[h3]Videos and Streams[/h3]
The Battle.net news came with its own essential announce video in April, while some familiar faces headed on over to the Tavern for the Season 15 edition of our in-house podcast, discussing the Season so far, our ongoing work around game health and a sneak peek at what’s to come later in the year.

And even though we’re all busily lining up a new Season launch in May, the Video team wouldn’t let you miss out on April’s staples: Daryl swung by with a new episode of Sea of Thieves News, as did Drew with the latest Developer Update, alongside all the usual suspects you’d expect from a monthly update including a release trailer and an Emporium overview. News also broke that applications for our Stream Team are once again open, so if you’re an up-and-coming streamer who doesn’t quite yet meet the requirements of becoming a Sea of Thieves Partner, the Stream Team might be the place for you!

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[h3]Social Channels[/h3]
We managed to pack two thrilling rounds of #SoTShot entries into April, zeroing in on Celebratory Scenes and Heart-Stopping Horizons, as well as a fresh set of fan creations in the Community Hub. The mayhem-inspiring Compass of Chaos also saw an update introducing a collection of new adventure prompts based on Season 15 features, while the latest set of Twitch Drops offered another incentive to watch streamers exploring the new monthly update.

As you might expect from a Season focused on wildlife, many of our community conversations this month were about animals – primarily what the new jellyfish like to be called and why we’ll follow Captain Porkers anywhere, regardless of his helmsman skills or lack thereof. Even the Kraken wanted to get in on the discussion! Needless to say, that went off the rails pretty quickly.


So as we head off to check that those excessive Krakenings have been brought under control, we’ll leave it there for another month! You can still find us in all of the social places you’d expect – Twitter/X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, the official Forums and Discord – but until next time, that’s us. There’s some serious fishing to do before the latest Event ends, after all…
[hr][/hr][h3]Previously in 2025:[/h3]
Sea of Thieves Round-Up: March 2025 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: February 2025 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: January 2025

“Piracy’s more of an art than a science,” some grizzled old salt probably once said. There’s no way to be completely sure, but do please give us the benefit of the doubt, or this is going to be a very awkward opening paragraph.

One thing we do know for certain is that creating a pirate paradise takes an awful lot of science and art. So much so that in 2018 we were able to release The Art of Sea of Thieves: an entire volume of concept sketches and aesthetic explorations charting the evolution of the game’s distinctively ‘wonky’ graphic style and the creation of its pirates, ships and islands.

So what’s left to show? Plenty, as it happens, as Sea of Thieves has continued to change and expand since launch and many more artistic endeavours have been undertaken. The fundamentals may have been nailed down, providing a platform for more focused creativity, but the game’s ongoing transformation has provided us with a wealth of fresh material to feast your eyes on.

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New characters, ship liveries, weapons, pets, threats and destinations… hundreds of unique art pieces have been created for the game’s various updates and Seasons, ranging from on-team concept work bringing ideas to life through to promotional renders that showcase the results. That’s more than enough to fill a second book and chronicle Sea of Thieves’ seven-year journey so far, and that’s where The Art of Piracy comes in.

Due for release on May 20th – and currently available to pre-order from all good retailers, so get that gold pouch ready – Sea of Thieves: The Art of Piracy goes year by year to provide a rich visual history of piratical pursuits, from the carnivorous peril of our first major update The Hungering Deep to the resurrection of Captain Flameheart and beyond.

Want to learn more? Set a course for Titan Books’ website!

Welcome to May, pirates! There’s a ton of fun planned for you over the next few weeks, so as is now customary, please enjoy this handy rundown of events and dates to look forward to. Grab a pen and your calendar before proceeding, because there’s plenty you won’t want to miss – including the start of a whole new Season…

Battle.net® Closed Beta – Friday, May 2nd – Monday, May 5th

For pirates preparing to set sail on Battle.net, the Sea of Thieves team are running a Closed Beta to help identify and iron out any issues before the global launch date of May 22nd. Players who’ve opted for the Sea of Thieves Deluxe or Premium Edition on Battle.net will be able to set sail on this platform for a long weekend – and, conveniently, will also get to enjoy the Festival of Fishing (see below) if they opt to play on High Seas.

Battle.net players over this period will be setting sail with players on all other platforms, so it’s a great opportunity to learn the ropes with some more experienced pirate pals!

Festival of Fishing Event – Friday, May 2nd – Monday, May 12th

The Festival of Fishing returns, bringing a brand new flavour to an old-school event. Building on the recent expansion of The Hunter’s Call, this Event tasks pirates with hauling in a variety of finned friends to complete an array of Event Goals. Two new Limited Voyages will also be on offer, along with double gold and reputation for fish handed in to The Hunter’s Call during the Event.

Players who participate in everything on offer can expect to bag the fantastic fish-themed Courageous Catch Fishing Rod, and the cracking Connoisseur of Culinary Craft Title.

Season 15 Style of Thieves Contest – Monday, May 12th – Thursday, May 15th

The latest Style of Thieves competition kicks off on May 12th, so keep your eyes trained on our official social media channels for information on the upcoming themes. The opportunity for some of our most well-dressed pirates to win a pair of Fashionista’s Finery Gloves is only a couple of weeks away!

Pirate Emporium Hidden Gems Sale – Thursday, May 15th – Tuesday, May 20th

May’s discount sale will spotlight a suite of items that haven’t been on sale for a while from the Emporium shopkeepers’ stock! Save some Ancient Coins on a range of stunning sets, with healthy discounts on the Checkmate, King’s Ransom and Ancestral Ship Collections. There’ll also be some cut-price Collector’s Pets, clothing, weapons and emotes – so make sure you browse the aisles and see if you can bag yourself a bargain while the sale is live.

Battle.net Early Access Begins – Friday, May 16th

For Battle.net Premium Edition purchasers, the six-day Early Access period will begin on May 16th! These players will be able to enjoy the final few days of Season 15 and earn some of this Season’s cosmetics by simply playing the game and raising their Renown. It’s also another chance to get familiar with the world ahead of Season 16’s launch, all while pocketing some extra gold to spend at the Outposts.

‘Reaper’s Requiem’ Release – Friday, May 16th

Our monthly musical release for May is ‘Reaper’s Requiem’, an anthemic ode to Flameheart’s Trading Company. Stream it straight to your ears via Spotify (or other streaming service of your choice) on May 16th, to get you all fired up for the Reaper-focused Season 16 landing later in the month.

The Art of Piracy Release – Tuesday, May 20th

May also sees the release of the long-awaited second Sea of Thieves art book: The Art of Piracy. Following 2018’s The Art of Sea of Thieves, this new instalment organises the game’s art into year-by-year selections that provide a rich visual history of its seven-year journey so far – featuring artwork for characters, ships, weapons, threats, pets and much more!

Although it releases worldwide on May 20th, the book is available to pre-order now from a number of retailers. Head over to publisher Titan Books’ website for more information.

Season 16 Launch – Thursday, May 22nd

As teased on Season 15’s recent podcast, Season 16 will be all about the Reapers, who are once more out to cause chaos on the Sea of Thieves. The majority of information on this upcoming Season is yet to be revealed, so expect more details in the weeks ahead regarding the Reapers’ aggressive ambitions.

Season 16 will begin on May 22nd, alongside Sea of Thieves’ full launch on Battle.net – so if you haven’t yet raised your Renown all the way to level 100 in Season 15 and earned all the unlockable rewards along the way, that’s your challenge before the big day…

Twitch Drops for Everyone – Friday, May 23rd – Monday, May 26th

With a new Season launch comes a fresh batch of Twitch Drops! Watch any participating channel between these dates to score an assortment of free items over Season 16’s first weekend. Our approach to Twitch Drops is evolving to offer a wider variety of goodies moving forward, so expect to hear more about the items included soon.

Twitch Drops are available by linking your accounts and watching any participating Sea of Thieves streamer on Twitch. Anyone can offer this set of Drops by streaming in the Sea of Thieves category and ensuring they have Drops enabled. If you’re just watching, go ahead and tune in to your favourite participating streamer or check our Partner Directory to see who’s online when these Drops go live!

While Season 15 will be saying its final farewells this month, there’s still plenty to keep you busy on the seas – so plot a course taking in everything that’s piqued your interest, and circle back here next month for a look at what June has in store.

[h3]Wild Seas[/h3]
Wild Seas Commendation Balancing

• Commendations tasking crews with the delivery of Pristine Tusks, Scales and Teeth have been rebalanced to require fewer items to unlock. While Grades 1-3 remain unchanged, Grade 4 now requires 15 (down from 25) and Grade 5 requires 20 (down from 50).
  
• The following Commendations have been rebalanced: Master Hunter of the Savage Boar, Master Hunter of the Pristine Maw and Master Hunter of Pristine Megalodon Spoils.
  
• Players with partial progress may need to hand in a further Pristine item in order for their correct Grade progress to be shown.

Kraken Encounter Balancing

• While Kraken encounters will retain the ability to occur on a server alongside other World Events, the frequency of these Kraken encounters has now been significantly reduced.

[h3]Fixed Issues[/h3]
Gameplay

• Resource Barrels released from a sunken vessel will once again float to the surface and the resources can be consistently retrieved.
  
• Crews beginning a Faction battle will be unable to receive aid from other crew members who join after the battle has begun. Additional crew members will now be held on the Ferry of the Damned until the battle is complete.

Performance and Stability

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

Megalodon Hunting Voyage

• Players with a high-resolution display should no longer find that using the Shrouded Glass creates a picture-in-picture effect.

Hunting Spear

• Players can no longer use various methods to duplicate their stock of hunting spears.

Pirate Emporium

• The King’s Ransom Grapple Gun is no longer shown as ‘On Sale’ and has returned to its correct price of 249 Ancient Coins.

[h3]Known Issues[/h3]
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.

[h3]Full Release Notes[/h3]
These release notes cover a hotfix. For full details on recently added game features, see the release notes on our latest content update.

Since Sea of Thieves launched, we’ve taken thousands of enforcement actions against those who’ve acted against our Pirate Code when sailing the seas. When our enforcement system was first designed, we had a lot less experience in the live service arena – and while we were as informed as we could’ve been back then, we didn’t necessarily understand what the impact of this would be years down the line.

Over the last six months or so, we’ve been taking the time to review and analyse our enforcement strategies with a view to evolving how we move forward. While we’ve shared our plans for this in a previous Developer Update (from 7:15 in the video below), today our new policy goes live – so we wanted to take this opportunity to talk a little more about the how and why.

From today, we will be giving players more information on why we’re taking action against their accounts and an opportunity to change their ways. While, unfortunately, there are a few bad eggs in this world who do want to cause harm and distress to others, we’re conscious that some folks might just be having a bad day and immediately regret their actions – and we want to give these players room to learn from their mistakes.

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[h3]Our Previous System[/h3]
Our previous enforcement system was a three-strikes-and-out policy – which has worked for us, but has also had some limitations and made it hard to take nuanced action. For example, if a player had received their third strike for a relatively minor offence, under the old system they would have received a lifetime ban – which, after a long and lengthy review on our side, felt perhaps a little too inflexible.

For someone on the end of this enforcement action, under our old policy they would have simply received a Redbeard error message upon their next attempted login, rather than any specific information on what happened and why, resulting in a lack of clarity around our decision-making. In this scenario, a user may have ended up banned without necessarily understanding why, or perhaps even thinking that we’d overreacted to a report about a smaller infraction.

With that in mind, we’ve been developing a new enforcement system that allows us to more accurately capture the nuance of offences committed, and enables us to communicate exactly why action has been taken against someone’s account. Our system is an evolution of the Xbox points system, and we’ve spent a lot of time collaborating and consulting to ensure that the new system addresses our concerns with our previous enforcement policy, while also making sure that punishment of more serious offences carries the right weight.


[h3]Newly Introduced Changes[/h3]
Under our recently introduced policy, every new player begins their journey on the Sea of Thieves with zero points, and can accrue a total of 12 points before receiving a permanent ban on their account. If a report is submitted against them, points will be administered to their account – with clear communication to the offending player(s) as to why. Varying points will be accrued for certain types of offence; the below classifications aren’t an exhaustive list, but we wanted to provide some clear examples.

• Toxic communication over text/voice chat that isn’t of a discriminatory nature (i.e. doesn’t use racist, homophobic, misogynistic or ableist terms) will – depending on the strength of the offence – earn a player from 1-3 points and a corresponding suspension of 1-3 days for each instance of this behaviour.
  
• Discriminatory toxic communication that uses slurs/prejudiced language over text or voice chat will earn players 7 points and a seven-day suspension. This means that previously, under our three-strike system, players had to offend three times to be banned – whereas with these types of offence, it’s now reduced to just two (within a given time period).
  
• Cheaters will receive 12 points immediately, plus a permanent ban.

[h3]Key Changes Beyond the Points System[/h3]
The important thing with these offences is that the offending player is told that why they’ve received a suspension and points on their account. They won’t just log in to find a Yellowbeard or Redbeard with minimal context, but will be contacted directly with the reasoning behind the action taken.

Another thing we’re introducing with this policy is that, if a player with points has a ‘good’ month – i.e. they do not receive any more reports of poor behaviour – their total points tally will decay by 1. This means that if you receive 2 points for toxic communication, but behave yourself over the following couple of months, you’ll go back down to a total tally of 0. Our hope and intention is to communicate with these players why they received their initial enforcement action, and give them space to reflect and improve upon their conduct.

If that sounds like something it might be hard to keep track of, don’t worry – we’re bringing players’ enforcement status to their profile on seaofthieves.com, so everyone knows exactly where they stand. This will also include when their access to Sea of Thieves will be restored, if they’re currently serving a temporary suspension for an offence.


[h3]Previous Offences[/h3]
For players who have recently offended and received enforcement action on any scale: we’ve had our points system up and running in the background for a little while now, so when this change comes into effect, you’ll see your score reflected when you log in to the website. We’re not wiping the slate clean on previous poor behaviour, but there will be a net benefit in that our approach to further offences will have a better-suited and more nuanced outcome.

For players who’ve experienced poor behaviour, the reporting process will remain largely the same. However, we’ll continue to work on improving the ways you can get reports and information over to us for review. To submit a report about something you’ve encountered on the seas, please head to support.seaofthieves.com to provide evidence and a summary of what you’ve experienced – or initiate a report via the in-game menu.

[h3]An Evolving Process[/h3]
Although we’ve been monitoring recent enforcement activity in the background through this new lens, we’ll continue to keep an eye on scores and behavioural changes as it comes into effect. We know that there are still a few things we’ll have to refine or work on to ensure fairness across the board, but change has to start somewhere – so we hope you’ll understand and appreciate our move to a much more transparent and flexible system that looks to forgive players who can recognise they’ve made mistakes, while punishing folks who want to undermine the integrity of the Sea of Thieves experience.

While we can appreciate this is quite a significant change in how we approach enforcement, the ultimate goal is to provide transparency on why we take action, and allow players to grow with that feedback instead of rebel against it. We hope – and believe – that this will lead to a better player experience for all pirates.