Sea of Thieves News

Hi everyone, I just wanted to share an update on the progress of Season Seven with you all. As we revealed during the Xbox & Bethesda Showcase in June, Captaincy is at the heart of Season Seven and this is an update we are hugely excited about.

We believe Captaincy will transform the experience of playing Sea of Thieves, adding deeper meaning and history to every session and every encounter out on the seas, along with the much-requested ability to own and finally name your ship.

However, with such a fundamental update to the game, there is a lot of hidden work to be done in the background. This is an update that brings in a vast range of new stats to track, and has required a complex partnership across our Game, UI and Services teams to bring it to life.

As we started getting closer to the originally stated release date, it became apparent that things were coming in hotter than we liked and there was a real risk of not delivering to the quality and polish we expect, as well as putting undue pressure across the team to get it all over the line. Subsequently, we have made the decision to shift the release date back slightly to August 4th.



We understand this will be disappointing for those of you who are eagerly awaiting this update, and we appreciate your patience with this change. We know Season Six has been a looooong one, but we are super-excited about Captaincy and we hope you are too. Not too much longer to wait, we promise! We also want to make sure that with Season Seven arriving a little later than planned, you’ll have plenty of time to play through this new Season when it arrives and enjoy levelling up your Renown.

August promises to be an incredibly exciting month for Sea of Thieves – as we look past the launch of Season Seven, we also have our next Adventure ‘A Hunter’s Cry’ arriving on August 18th, so it’s going to be a busy month!

Running Sea of Thieves as an ongoing live experience is still a journey where we learn new things every day, but we will always consider what is the best course of action for the players and our development team alike. We believe the decision to shift this release is absolutely the right one to deliver the best experience for you all, while ensuring we continue to operate with a healthy and sustainable approach.

Thank you for your understanding, and for your continued support for Sea of Thieves. We appreciate you all, and as always, we’ll see you on the seas!

- Joe “Three Sheets” Neate

Here we are, halfway (and a bit) through 2022. Hasn't it been lovely so far? No. No, it's been a bit pants, hasn't it. But at least the Sea of Thieves is open for sailing when you need some escapism, keeping up an ongoing monthly bombardment of new stuff for you to do – and in fact June packed in pieces of two separate Adventures, the next phase of the current Mystery and the revelation of what's coming in the next Season. But before we say any more about all that, let's drop in the Content Update subheader...

[h3]Content Update
[/h3]
Much better. Yes, the start of June was all about the struggle for Golden Sands Outpost as Sea of Thieves' fourth time-limited Adventure, 'Lost Sands', entered its final week. After one last update on the numbers, the Adventure concluded on June 9th with the outcome declared in a special livestream – determining that that Reapers had been repulsed and Golden Sands was saved from forever being a foggy dump with rubbish shopping facilities.

A couple of weeks later, it wasn't quite time for Adventure 5 yet but it was time for the other monthly update, the one that brings in a month's worth of fixes and improvements and more creations from the clandestine lunatics who supply the Pirate Emporium – creations like the Prehistoric Plunderer ship set that nails a fossilised behemoth to the front of your ship. That's right! They're off their heads.

The month ended with the 'The Forsaken Hunter', our fifth Adventure, coming in all aflutter with the news that Merrick had mysteriously vanished! Mind, the cinematic trailer on the 27th gave some pretty good indications that he didn't just get drunk and fall off his Seapost, and the launch trailer on the 30th put paid to any remaining uncertainty over that. But the question remained for players to answer over the course of the Adventure: who did this? And why? That's two questions. And what happens next? Three questions, and you can't even answer that one yet without making something up.

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[h3]News and Features
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The biggest news of the month, of course, was the revelation of Captaincy coming to Sea of Thieves in Season Seven. In this announcement that dropped at the Xbox & Bethesda Games Showcase, taking the form of an actual song called 'Captains of Adventure' because why not, some of the main features – such as ship naming and personalisation, the ability to save loadouts and the services of the Sovereigns – were either teased by or heartily sung from a scroll that ended in the fourth-wall-busting declaration that Sea of Thieves has now passed a monumental 30 million players.

Also doggy-paddling in June's editorial pool was an Adventures Ahead article summing up relevant story events ahead of 'The Forsaken Hunter', then an Xbox Wire post on launch day to lay out what the Adventure entailed. A Season Six Community Day lookback dropped in at the start of the month and, later, there was a recap of our first Mystery so far to bring budding detectives up to speed. But #WhoIsT? No, not 'whoist', that sounds like some sort of weird dessert. And there was no skimping on player Spotlights either, with June lighting up many-time #SoTShot and Hat winner Sayuta and cinematic artisan TruEdits.

As far as goodies and giveaways were concerned, Pride Month saw a very fine Sea of Thieves shirt added to the Xbox PRIDE 2022 range, there were other shirts to encourage taking a stand on Golden Sands, and Titan Comics announced the bundled Sea of Thieves Origins collection coming in October. All that plus a mid-month Gold & Glory Weekend to mark the 30 million player milestone, and a login bonus for the occasion of our second Steam anniversary in the form of a ruddy big scar. Might not be the sort of bonus you'd appreciate getting in real life, but to a pirate it's like a fancy new tie.



[h3]Videos and Streams
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Leading the charge in June was that Season Seven singalong announce trailer, performed with gusto by our regular trailer voice man and Video team grafter John. He'd pop back up later in the month shoving his own actual face all over your screen in our first Mystery So Far video, compressing all the key developments into a Scots-inflected rapid-fire recap for which, don't worry, we also provided captions.

Then there was the pairing of our cinematic and launch trailers for 'The Forsaken Hunter', spaced a few days apart as is the way these days to build some buzz before an Adventure kicks off. This one runs until July 14th, so if you act fast there's still time to take part in the manhunt for Merrick's assailant. And the next Adventure will be another finale to a three-episode arc, just like 'The Shrouded Deep' was to the first, so expect some drama leading on from the events of 'The Forsaken Hunter'...

Elsewhere in June, SoT News let our other Scottish Jon into your living rooms to get you all caught up, covering the latest from the Xbox Showcase and Pirate Emporium while dropping dates for end-of-month Adventuring. And the 'Lost Sands' results stream came at you live from the tavern at Rare, with Jo and James from the Community team joined by familiar faces Joe, Mike, Chris and a couple of Sea of Thieves Partners as the community-driven decision to #SaveGoldenSands was unveiled. Yes, we did make sure folks from both sides of the fence were on hand to ensure some on-air salty tears.

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[h3]Social Channels
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There was plenty for our channels to get playful with in June, notably the long-awaited announcement of ship naming and the meme-fest that followed (including John being pulled back into the recording booth for frivolous reasons). We also celebrated New Golden Sands getting its dues, bigged up a Social Swag bonus when 'Lost Sands' was at its peak, requested final judgement on the Lionfish Costume and asked what secrets you might have for the Order of Souls to suck out of your skulls. Just curious.

Social channels continue to play a key role in other areas: like furthering out-of-game elements of the first Sea of Thieves Mystery, with a shift in June as music box clues made way for a note leading players to the next stage of their hunt for answers. They're also invaluable for shouting out Community Hub updates, as new batches of player creations earn the Hat of Unfeasibly Glorious Fame every couple of weeks, and #SoTShot results, with Golden Hour Sails going to a clutch of Instagram and Twitter winners on the Rivalries theme before June's sunlit second theme set up shop in The Shores of Plenty.

Meanwhile, the other hashtags we use 'on the regular' brought in #TriviaTuesday treats for the lorehounds (on subjects from Sea Forts and shanties to the Singh siblings), #SoTGear selections for the collectors (Servant of the Flame Cutlass, Golden Gatherer Merchant Sail and a timely tip of the hat to the Fallen Sea Dog Lantern), and #SundayVibes settings for marauders with more chill than most (taking in trips to Sanctuary and Plunder Outposts, with an additional stop to watch a shipwright do overtime to really make sure those nails were in properly).



And that image serves as a timely if slightly disrespectful end to proceedings here today – but if the combination of feature teases and sass appeals to you, get more of it without waiting for a round-up by following Sea of Thieves on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or Twitch, then indulge in diverse antics in the official Forums or on Discord. Anything to avoid going outside if it's as hot as it is here in the UK, because your face could melt right off your head, and that's no way to discover you've been some sort of implausible pirate robot this whole time.

[hr][/hr]
[h3]Previously in 2022:
[/h3]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: May 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: April 2022
Sea of Thieves Round-Up: March 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: February 2022
Sea of Thieves Round-Up: January 2022

First introduced alongside an aquatic nemesis way back in Sea of Thieves’ first ever content update The Hungering Deep, the fearless fisherman known as ‘Merry’ Merrick has become a familiar face to pirates old and new. Most recently, he’s been championing the restoration of Golden Sands, a beloved Outpost that had fallen into ruin as part of Captain Flameheart’s nefarious schemes.

Now, in the wake of a victory against The Reaper’s Bones, Merrick has vanished without a trace. Although the cinematic preview of the new Adventure suggests that a foul fate may have befallen this famous Megalodon wrangler…

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[h3]Something Fishy
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There are plenty of questions to be answered, and the only way to uncover the real truth behind Merrick’s absence (and learn the identity of those responsible for waylaying the hapless Hunter) is to talk to Larinna, follow her advice and throw yourself into the search. From there, your journey will take you on a trip to Stephen’s Spoils – the humble Seapost where Merrick usually spends his days representing The Hunter’s Call – before the Adventure carries you onward…

If the idea of wading in after four Adventures is a little intimidating and you need a recap of all that’s happened so far, check out the latest in the series of Adventures Ahead primer articles. Consulted alongside the Sea of Thieves Who’s Who directory, these will rapidly get you up to speed and ready to sail!



[h3]Give Us a Clue
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As your search for Merrick takes you far and wide across the map, you’ll meet familiar friends and foes, some of whom will offer clues to the Hunter’s whereabouts and the motives of those who’ve been scheming against him. Ultimately, though, you’ll need to rely on keen eyes and a sharp sword to unveil a conspiracy that goes far beyond the welfare of a single pirate – it stands to permanently shift the balance of power on the Sea of Thieves.

Whether you stood with or against Merrick during the battle for Golden Sands Outpost, the dark secrets underpinning his disappearance will shape the seas in the weeks ahead. You can discover the truth for yourself, and earn an exclusive Memento of the Adventure, by taking part in ‘The Forsaken Hunter’ between now and July 14. Start sleuthing, pirates – Merrick is counting on you...



[h3]Find Out More
[/h3]
For more information on the latest Sea of Thieves update, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieves website. This update is available for free to all Sea of Thieves players who have bought the game on Steam, simply download and install the latest Sea of Thieves update to get access.

New to Sea of Thieves? Find out about the latest free content updates on our What’s New page and pick up some tips from our Pirate Academy, which provides invaluable information on topics ranging from sailing to swordplay as you prepare for your maiden voyage. Learn more about Sea of Thieves here, or join the ongoing adventure at www.seaofthieves.com where you can embark on an epic journey with one of gaming’s most welcoming communities!

It’s fair to say that Merrick, determined Hunter of the Hungering One, has been the talk of every tavern in recent days. The grizzled old salt was brought out of retirement by Belle during the events of ‘The Shrouded Deep’, becoming embroiled in a perilous quest to help slay the most elusive sea monster of them all.

Unsurprisingly, chasing Megalodons across the high seas soon rekindled Merrick’s desire to be where the action is. He set sail once again and arrived at Golden Sands Outpost, which had been left to rot in the wake of Captain Flameheart’s destructive ambitions, in order to champion its restoration.

So began ‘Lost Sands’, and after a tense tug-of-war with the Outpost’s fate in the balance, Merrick and his friends – not to mention the countless pirates who joined his cause – were able to drive away agents of The Reaper’s Bones and begin a new era of prosperity at Golden Sands. Why, then, has the victorious Hunter not been seen in recent days? Examining Merrick’s recent activities may provide insights…

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[h3]Foggy Recollections
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New arrivals on the Sea of Thieves may not remember Golden Sands Outpost as anything other than a desolate wasteland, let alone recall its days as an appealing destination for anyone looking to trade, but the island was once considered an idyllic rest stop at the heart of the Shores of Plenty.

That changed overnight when Golden Sands was suddenly drenched in a dense fog; an event that kickstarted the ‘Shrouded Islands’ Adventure and the beginning of an assault that saw the Outpost’s residents kidnapped by Flameheart’s forces, then imprisoned in six imposing Sea Forts.

While courageous crews ultimately arranged a daring rescue that saw the island’s inhabitants released from captivity, Golden Sands itself remained shrouded and abandoned – at least, until Merrick arrived on the scene…

[h3]Cache in Sand
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Time spent with Belle aboard the Killer Whale offered Merrick unique insight into what had kept the Outpost from recovering in the wake of ‘Shrouded Islands’. The answer, as it turned out, was lying beneath the very beaches that gave Golden Sands its name.

Accompanied by some willing residents who were keen to return home, Merrick proceeded to unearth hidden Relic Caches buried by members of The Reaper’s Bones. These secret stashes were intended to both cloak the Outpost and thin the barrier that separates the living world from the ghostly Sea of the Damned, furthering Flameheart’s agenda.

Unsurprisingly, the Servant of the Flame was less than pleased by this sudden interference in his father’s master plan. Having learned of Merrick’s reconstruction efforts from his avian spies, the Servant vowed to replace any Relics that had been destroyed, sending forth Reapers to cast Golden Sands even further into ruin.



[h3]Reap What You Stow
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The stage was now set for an intense confrontation between two unlikely opponents, each joined by more loyal pirates as the days went on and both sides determined to prevail. Pirates who sailed in Merrick’s name found themselves delivering much-needed supplies to the Outpost, while swiping Relic Caches from the Reapers ferrying them in aboard dangerous Soulflame Rowboats.

The Servant’s allies, meanwhile, strove to escort those same Relic Caches safely to the intended destination, then destroy their Rowboats on the beaches of Golden Sands itself, unleashing ethereal energy to plunge the island further into darkness. If they were able to make off with Merrick’s supplies along the way, so much the better.

It was Team Merrick standing triumphant when this contest concluded, though an early lead and the determined efforts of The Reaper’s Bones almost saw the Outpost evacuated for good. With the Servant in reluctant retreat, the denizens of Golden Sands returned home at last – and so did Merrick, bowing out gracefully and setting a course for Stephen’s Spoils to resume his culinary duties with The Hunter’s Call.



[h3]The Hunter, Recalled
[/h3]
Barely had Merrick set a pegleg on his favoured Seapost, however, before he was drawn away on some new journey – and this time, not even Larinna’s Bilge Rats can divine his exact whereabouts. There are those who suspect he’s fallen back into bad habits and will turn up in a grog-fuelled stupor sooner or later, though others are more concerned about foul play preventing his return.

Have Merrick’s recent successes brought about his own undoing, is he simply taking a well-deserved vacation, or are there more nefarious forces at work? It’s true that in the wake of ‘Lost Sands’, Merrick has made new enemies eager to take revenge upon the pirate who many consider to be a pillar of the community. For all we know, you may even be among their number…

Still, there’s no question that the Sea of Thieves owes Merrick dearly. Soon Larinna will be entreating pirates to settle that debt and see if they can bring the heroic Hunter safely home. You’ll be able to join her search and discover the truth behind this fateful disappearance for yourself when ‘The Forsaken Hunter’ launches on June 30th, a maritime manhunt that lasts until July 14th. Mark the date carefully – it may just save Merrick’s skin…

[h3]Previously
[/h3]
Adventures Ahead: ‘Lost Sands’
Adventures Ahead: ‘The Shrouded Deep’ Adventures Ahead: ‘Forts of the Forgotten’ Adventures Ahead: ‘Shrouded Islands’

As the first official Mystery began to unfold on the Sea of Thieves, it was a shock to pirates sailing the seas last month when a skeleton appeared, unannounced, on the potentially appropriately named Sea Dog’s Rest. Boots, gloves and a hat suggested a victim, but the question for now was a simple one: who did this surprise skeleton belong to?

The nearby accoutrements immediately called to mind the recently retired Sea Dogs, leading most passing gumshoes to suspect the dynamic duo of DeMarco and Lesedi, what with their disappearance following the disbanding of the Sea Dogs and closure of their tavern. Regardless of who it belonged to, the cadaver drew curiosity from a crowd of corsairs, with swathes of scoundrels visiting to pay their respects in a range of unique ways! At least, we think they were paying their respects…

Regardless, an event quickly flipped the question from murdered to murderer!

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A short while after the skeleton’s initial appearance, pirates became privy to previously unseen symbols on the nearby music box via the engagement of outside eyes. And only when enough pirates were brought into the presence of the mysterious marks did a melody start to play…

The shanty ‘Seek the Dead’ could be heard from the music box, but that wasn’t all. Strange footprints, a note and a red shell collaborated to point pirates to a mysterious offshore chest containing the Fallen Sea Dog’s Lantern. Once equipped, the red glow of this secret searchlight revealed a hidden message: Who Killed DeMarco?

There was also the question of “Who’s that?”, quickly replaced with “Oh, it’s Lesedi”, as the other former head of the Sea Dogs had taken up a spot nearby to drown her sorrows and ensure she didn’t have to pick a side in the whole Golden Sands situation.

And that wasn’t all! The Fallen Sea Dog’s Lantern not only showed the seeming affirmation of DeMarco’s demise, it revealed hidden messages at certain grave sites containing a sentence each. A conversation? An argument? Who knows!

As the month went on, more mysterious objects and marks appeared in spaces frequented by pirates outside the Sea of Thieves, and once again droves were drawn to the music box and what secrets would await once an ample audience was acquired. A change of tune to ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ signalled a boatload of new message fragments. Then another summons to mass caused a smooth transition to ‘Ballad of the Mer’, spawning more messages in the Sunken Kingdom.

After all this had occurred with seemingly no new leads, it wasn’t long before a hastily intercepted message from the Order of Souls appeared to answer one of the questions of “Who” and introduce a new one…



It seems the mysterious message fragments comprise an argument between the Sea Dog siblings, but there was clearly another at the scene with a name beginning with ‘T’, who may be able to shed some light on the events that befell our skeletal stiff. But who, then, is T?

Keep your eyes sharp and your lanterns held high, pirates, as clues to the ongoing Mystery could be hidden anywhere. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook to stay up to date with secrets as they appear, and join our official Discord to share theories and collaborate with fellow pirate investigators. Now, if you’ll excuse us, we’re off to waggle our hook at a few suspicious tavern keepers…