Sea of Thieves News
Determine the Destiny of Golden Sands Outpost in a New Adventure, 'Lost Sands'!
The fate of Golden Sands Outpost hangs in the balance in Sea of Thieves’ fourth time-limited Adventure, ‘Lost Sands’. In a departure from previous Adventures, players can pick the path they wish to follow, either choosing to aid in the Outpost’s reconstruction or dooming it to be ever shrouded in ethereal mist.
The side with the most support at the end of the Adventure will determine the future of Golden Sands in Sea of Thieves, so weigh your options carefully! Do you want the Outpost restored to its previous prominence, or would you rather leave it in ruins as a tactical play or a testament to Captain Flameheart’s power? As with previous Adventures, players have been given a glimpse of the current state of play in the cinematic opening trailer...
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Sand and Deliver
[/h3]
Following the thrilling conclusion to ‘The Shrouded Deep’, Merrick found his lust for excitement and adventure rekindled, and has now set his sights on rebuilding Golden Sands Outpost – which was left abandoned at the beginning of the very first Adventure, ‘Shrouded Islands’. But even as Merrick tries to rally the island’s inhabitants, a shadowy threat lies in wait. The Servant of the Flame is determined that the Outpost should remain in ruins, and gathers his forces to plot sabotage.
Will you be swayed by Merrick’s fervor and take the Hunter’s Path, helping him track down key supplies to restore Golden Sands to its former trading glory? Or will you slip onto the Servant’s Path, using Soulflame Rowboats to smuggle Relic Caches to the Reapers, scheming to keep the island shrouded?
The future of Golden Sands can even be influenced when not directly taking part in the Adventure. Anyone can contribute to the reconstruction by delivering useful supplies to Merrick, or disrupt those supply lines to support the Servant of the Flame. Every little action could swing the balance until this Adventure concludes on June 9!
If you want a recap of everything that’s happened up to this point, our Adventures Ahead series of story primers should provide all you seek. We release a new instalment before the start of each new Adventure, so you can jump right into the story whether you’re a veteran Adventurer or ‘Lost Sands’ is your very first.
Now it’s time to act, pirates – pick a side and help decide Golden Sands’ destiny in ‘Lost Sands’! Don’t forget to use the #SaveGoldenSands or #RuinGoldenSands tag to state your allegiance on your social channel of choice. You’ve got until June 9 to help change the course of Sea of Thieves history…
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[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, get familiar with Who’s Who or pick up some gameplay 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!
The side with the most support at the end of the Adventure will determine the future of Golden Sands in Sea of Thieves, so weigh your options carefully! Do you want the Outpost restored to its previous prominence, or would you rather leave it in ruins as a tactical play or a testament to Captain Flameheart’s power? As with previous Adventures, players have been given a glimpse of the current state of play in the cinematic opening trailer...
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]Sand and Deliver
[/h3]
Following the thrilling conclusion to ‘The Shrouded Deep’, Merrick found his lust for excitement and adventure rekindled, and has now set his sights on rebuilding Golden Sands Outpost – which was left abandoned at the beginning of the very first Adventure, ‘Shrouded Islands’. But even as Merrick tries to rally the island’s inhabitants, a shadowy threat lies in wait. The Servant of the Flame is determined that the Outpost should remain in ruins, and gathers his forces to plot sabotage.
Will you be swayed by Merrick’s fervor and take the Hunter’s Path, helping him track down key supplies to restore Golden Sands to its former trading glory? Or will you slip onto the Servant’s Path, using Soulflame Rowboats to smuggle Relic Caches to the Reapers, scheming to keep the island shrouded?
The future of Golden Sands can even be influenced when not directly taking part in the Adventure. Anyone can contribute to the reconstruction by delivering useful supplies to Merrick, or disrupt those supply lines to support the Servant of the Flame. Every little action could swing the balance until this Adventure concludes on June 9!
If you want a recap of everything that’s happened up to this point, our Adventures Ahead series of story primers should provide all you seek. We release a new instalment before the start of each new Adventure, so you can jump right into the story whether you’re a veteran Adventurer or ‘Lost Sands’ is your very first.
Now it’s time to act, pirates – pick a side and help decide Golden Sands’ destiny in ‘Lost Sands’! Don’t forget to use the #SaveGoldenSands or #RuinGoldenSands tag to state your allegiance on your social channel of choice. You’ve got until June 9 to help change the course of Sea of Thieves history…
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[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, get familiar with Who’s Who or pick up some gameplay 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!
Sea of Thieves Release Notes - 2.5.2.1
As Season Six continues, the team have been working on the next time-limited Adventure along with additional fixes based on feedback from the community. We’re introducing more of this content to the game in today’s release, update 2.5.2.1.
For more information on the last batch of improvements and May’s Pirate Emporium offerings, see the previous release notes. For a refresher on all the new content that arrived back at the start of Season Six, check out the launch release notes!
[h3]Adventures[/h3]
The seas have settled following the successful recovery of the Veil of the Ancients. However, Golden Sands Outpost remains on the verge of being lost forever as our Adventures continue. It will take everyone working together to save it... if that’s what they choose to do!
‘Lost Sands’ (May 26th – June 9th)
[h3]Fixed Issues
[/h3]
Gameplay
[h3]Known Issues
[/h3]
Reduced Server Performance
[h3]Download and Installation
[/h3]
Download size:
Steam: 5.26 GB
For more information on the last batch of improvements and May’s Pirate Emporium offerings, see the previous release notes. For a refresher on all the new content that arrived back at the start of Season Six, check out the launch release notes!
[h3]Adventures[/h3]
The seas have settled following the successful recovery of the Veil of the Ancients. However, Golden Sands Outpost remains on the verge of being lost forever as our Adventures continue. It will take everyone working together to save it... if that’s what they choose to do!
‘Lost Sands’ (May 26th – June 9th)
- Merrick has returned to Golden Sands to lead the rebuilding effort, recruiting its former inhabitants along with any other pirates willing to help. Meanwhile, sinister figures have been spotted lurking in the shadows of the Outpost’s surrounding islands…
- Speak to Larinna to begin this Adventure and join in the global community effort, as the fate of Golden Sands Outpost is left in players’ hands! Will you follow the Hunter’s Path or the Servant’s Path? Are you team #SaveGoldenSands or #RuinGoldenSands?
- Choose to either help Merrick track down precious supplies to restore Golden Sands to its former Outpost glory, or side with the Servant of the Flame and use Relic Caches to keep this once thriving island enshrouded by the fog.
- Even when not directly taking part in the Adventure, players can tip the balance by delivering useful supplies to Merrick or diverting them to the Servant of the Flame. All viable actions can influence the outcome until the Adventure ends on June 9th.
- Separate cosmetic rewards are available for completing the Hunter’s Path and the Servant’s Path, serving as Mementos of the time players helped decide the fate of Golden Sands. An exclusive Title can also be earned for completing all Deeds in this Adventure.
- During this Adventure, pirates can discover Soulflame Rowboats emergently across the seas, crafted by The Reaper’s Bones for the purposes of causing mayhem.
- Soulflame Rowboats come with a reinforced explosive keg strapped to the rear, allowing pirates to light the fuse before reaching their target and detonating. The keg is resistant to small arms fire, but repeated attacks will eventually cause it to explode.
[h3]Fixed Issues
[/h3]
Gameplay
- Improved the experience when bailing a full bucket of water, reducing scenarios where water would still be left in the bucket after bailing.
- Players lighting the Flames of Fate and placing a Ritual Skull within the Fort of the Damned will now consistently begin the encounter.
- Players should now encounter a more consistent rotation of World Events across the seas.
- While wearing the Lionfish Costume, attempting to perform the emote from the radial menu will now display the correct iconography.
- Optimised retrieval of player models for players joining a server to improve server performance and reduce black screen load times.
[h3]Known Issues
[/h3]
Reduced Server Performance
- Players may experience scenarios where they encounter ping spikes at random while playing, resulting in rubberbanding or client stutters. While improvements have been released in update 2.5.2.1, the team continue to work on further improvements for future updates.
- Some Steam players may find that after an achievement is unlocked in the game, it is not unlocked within Steam.
- In areas of intense action, players may find themselves firing shots or landing strikes that do not cause damage to their targets. While small improvements continue to be delivered during our regular updates, we are continuing to investigate and identify further improvements to the player combat experience.
[h3]Download and Installation
[/h3]
Download size:
Steam: 5.26 GB
Adventures Ahead: ‘Lost Sands’
Out on the lawless Sea of Thieves, Outposts are the closest thing to civilisation, with any number of traders and tavern-keepers eager to help pirates empty their holds of treasure and kick back with a well-deserved grog.
Small wonder, then, that the unexpected shrouding of Golden Sands Outpost – previously one of the more charming and cheerful ports of call – was a loss felt by many, and proof that The Reaper’s Bones are determined to oust the Trading Companies once and for all.
Now, however, the residents of this Outpost are being rallied by none other than Merrick, last seen menacing Megalodons in previous Adventure ‘The Shrouded Deep’. But he is not unopposed…
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]A Whale of a Time
[/h3]
Recalling past events may help shed light on Merrick’s motivations. Pirates who answered Larinna’s call in ‘The Shrouded Deep’ would encounter the Killer Whale, a (mostly) faithful recreation of Merrick’s original Galleon. Both he and Belle were aboard, having tried and failed to battle the legendary Shrouded Ghost. Not just for the Commendation, we hasten to add; Belle was racing against Captain Flameheart to recover a long-lost relic from the beast’s belly.
Thanks to Larinna sending reinforcements their way, Merrick and Belle were able to gather four fresh Megalodon souls and arrange them on a ritual table, urging multiple crews to band together as… well, a band. When five pirates joined forces to play ‘Summon the Megalodon’, the resultant racket was enough to call forth the irate Shrouded Ghost, ready for a rematch.
[h3]Lifting the Veil
[/h3]
As if the arrival of an ill-tempered behemoth wasn’t enough, Captain Flameheart’s Ghost Ships soon made an appearance, eager to prevent players from laying claim to the Veil of the Ancients – the treasure that’s made the Shrouded Ghost so elusive for all these years.
Just when things seemed about to spiral out of control, the odds were evened by the arrival of the good ship Blackwyche. Helmed as ever by Sir Arthur Pendragon, it was drawn to the fray in the wake of a ritual that, its captain declared, had caused “quite the stir” in the Sea of the Damned.
With the help of this aristocratic ally, Belle, Merrick and embattled pirates alike were able to triumph over the Shrouded Ghost and force Flameheart to retreat. Pendragon retrieved the Veil of the Ancients on Belle’s behalf, though it was soon discovered to be missing the Veil Stones that imbue it with power.
With the Veil delivered to the Pirate Lord for safekeeping (after it’s been thoroughly disinfected, or so we’d hope) it looked as though Merrick’s lifelong ambition had finally been realised. He was free to return to his spot at Stephen’s Spoils and bask in the satisfaction of a job well done – not to mention the world’s largest fish supper.
[h3]A Little Knowledge…
[/h3]
Time spent in Belle’s company, however, has given the wily Hunter plenty of valuable insights into recent difficulties, including a way to finally dispel the fog surrounding Golden Sands. Armed with this information and with his adventurous spirit rekindled, Merrick has a new mission: he’s determined to rally the Outpost’s residents and restore Golden Sands to its former glory.
This lofty goal puts Merrick in direct conflict with the Servant of the Flame and, by extension, the rest of The Reaper’s Bones. The Trading Companies once again prospering at Golden Sands would mean that the Reapers had failed to follow Flameheart’s express orders, and the Servant will stop at nothing to ensure that his father’s wishes are obeyed.
As for the Shrouded Ghost, who knows what strange abilities the creature might still possess after spending so long with the Veil in its belly? Whatever distant shores the Ghost now haunts, pirates should expect its fleeting visits to the Sea of Thieves to be as infrequent as ever, preserving its legendary reputation among crews in the future.
[h3]Looting, Shooting, Now Recruiting
[/h3]
When Lost Sands arrives on May 26th, pirates will be able to help or hinder Merrick’s plans as they see fit, both by actively taking part in the Adventure and seizing other opportunities to tip the scales. Speaking to Larinna to begin the Adventure and then choosing to follow either the Hunter’s Path or Servant’s Path will ensure that your actions contribute to Golden Sands’ resurrection or its ruin.
Even outside the Adventure, Merrick will accept donations of fruit and wood crates to help Golden Sands’ cause, along with cloth, rum bottles and the Reapers’ Relic Caches for safe disposal. Alternatively, players loyal to the Reapers should look for distinctive Soulflame Rowboats. Destroying these near Golden Sands will unleash supernatural energies and fortify the fog, hampering the rebuilding efforts. Sticky-fingered Reapers can also swipe special supplies before they reach Merrick and deliver them to the Servant of the Flame to cause further chaos.
Whichever path you choose, expect Golden Sands to be a lively destination for the duration of ‘Lost Sands’ as both sides seek to exert their will upon the waves. The Adventure will be live until June 9th, and what happens to the Outpost in its wake is entirely up to you...
[h3]Previously
[/h3]Adventures Ahead: ‘The Shrouded Deep’ Adventures Ahead: ‘Forts of the Forgotten’
Adventures Ahead: ‘Shrouded Islands’
Small wonder, then, that the unexpected shrouding of Golden Sands Outpost – previously one of the more charming and cheerful ports of call – was a loss felt by many, and proof that The Reaper’s Bones are determined to oust the Trading Companies once and for all.
Now, however, the residents of this Outpost are being rallied by none other than Merrick, last seen menacing Megalodons in previous Adventure ‘The Shrouded Deep’. But he is not unopposed…
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
[h3]A Whale of a Time
[/h3]
Recalling past events may help shed light on Merrick’s motivations. Pirates who answered Larinna’s call in ‘The Shrouded Deep’ would encounter the Killer Whale, a (mostly) faithful recreation of Merrick’s original Galleon. Both he and Belle were aboard, having tried and failed to battle the legendary Shrouded Ghost. Not just for the Commendation, we hasten to add; Belle was racing against Captain Flameheart to recover a long-lost relic from the beast’s belly.
Thanks to Larinna sending reinforcements their way, Merrick and Belle were able to gather four fresh Megalodon souls and arrange them on a ritual table, urging multiple crews to band together as… well, a band. When five pirates joined forces to play ‘Summon the Megalodon’, the resultant racket was enough to call forth the irate Shrouded Ghost, ready for a rematch.
[h3]Lifting the Veil
[/h3]
As if the arrival of an ill-tempered behemoth wasn’t enough, Captain Flameheart’s Ghost Ships soon made an appearance, eager to prevent players from laying claim to the Veil of the Ancients – the treasure that’s made the Shrouded Ghost so elusive for all these years.
Just when things seemed about to spiral out of control, the odds were evened by the arrival of the good ship Blackwyche. Helmed as ever by Sir Arthur Pendragon, it was drawn to the fray in the wake of a ritual that, its captain declared, had caused “quite the stir” in the Sea of the Damned.
With the help of this aristocratic ally, Belle, Merrick and embattled pirates alike were able to triumph over the Shrouded Ghost and force Flameheart to retreat. Pendragon retrieved the Veil of the Ancients on Belle’s behalf, though it was soon discovered to be missing the Veil Stones that imbue it with power.
With the Veil delivered to the Pirate Lord for safekeeping (after it’s been thoroughly disinfected, or so we’d hope) it looked as though Merrick’s lifelong ambition had finally been realised. He was free to return to his spot at Stephen’s Spoils and bask in the satisfaction of a job well done – not to mention the world’s largest fish supper.
[h3]A Little Knowledge…
[/h3]
Time spent in Belle’s company, however, has given the wily Hunter plenty of valuable insights into recent difficulties, including a way to finally dispel the fog surrounding Golden Sands. Armed with this information and with his adventurous spirit rekindled, Merrick has a new mission: he’s determined to rally the Outpost’s residents and restore Golden Sands to its former glory.
This lofty goal puts Merrick in direct conflict with the Servant of the Flame and, by extension, the rest of The Reaper’s Bones. The Trading Companies once again prospering at Golden Sands would mean that the Reapers had failed to follow Flameheart’s express orders, and the Servant will stop at nothing to ensure that his father’s wishes are obeyed.
As for the Shrouded Ghost, who knows what strange abilities the creature might still possess after spending so long with the Veil in its belly? Whatever distant shores the Ghost now haunts, pirates should expect its fleeting visits to the Sea of Thieves to be as infrequent as ever, preserving its legendary reputation among crews in the future.
[h3]Looting, Shooting, Now Recruiting
[/h3]
When Lost Sands arrives on May 26th, pirates will be able to help or hinder Merrick’s plans as they see fit, both by actively taking part in the Adventure and seizing other opportunities to tip the scales. Speaking to Larinna to begin the Adventure and then choosing to follow either the Hunter’s Path or Servant’s Path will ensure that your actions contribute to Golden Sands’ resurrection or its ruin.
Even outside the Adventure, Merrick will accept donations of fruit and wood crates to help Golden Sands’ cause, along with cloth, rum bottles and the Reapers’ Relic Caches for safe disposal. Alternatively, players loyal to the Reapers should look for distinctive Soulflame Rowboats. Destroying these near Golden Sands will unleash supernatural energies and fortify the fog, hampering the rebuilding efforts. Sticky-fingered Reapers can also swipe special supplies before they reach Merrick and deliver them to the Servant of the Flame to cause further chaos.
Whichever path you choose, expect Golden Sands to be a lively destination for the duration of ‘Lost Sands’ as both sides seek to exert their will upon the waves. The Adventure will be live until June 9th, and what happens to the Outpost in its wake is entirely up to you...
[h3]Previously
[/h3]Adventures Ahead: ‘The Shrouded Deep’ Adventures Ahead: ‘Forts of the Forgotten’
Adventures Ahead: ‘Shrouded Islands’
Mysteries Unfold in Sea of Thieves!
The promise of Sea of Thieves is that it’s a fantastical pirate world, rich with high adventure, derring-do, hidden mysteries and ancient secrets to uncover. This is truer today than ever. When we were looking towards 2022 and how we wished to continue evolving the experience, we were excited to embrace ongoing Adventures and Mysteries alongside our commitment to new content added through Seasons, to make the Sea of Thieves world feel richer and more alive than ever before.
Players have already seen the start of our unfolding narrative in Adventures, and they’ll continue to see this episodic story play out throughout the rest of the year, progressing and adding new layers to the gripping Flameheart saga. However, the Sea of Thieves is bigger and stranger than anyone knows, and there are so many opportunities to create parallel stories and experiences to explore and establish broader themes.
This week marks the start of the first Sea of Thieves Mystery, which is something we’re especially proud of as an example of live storytelling that players have never really seen before, in this game or elsewhere.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
When it comes to secrets and mysteries, we’ve previously used our world to keep players guessing, whether that’s foreshadowing upcoming content with mysterious structures building up over time or using the smallest changes in island dressing to inspire the imaginations of our players and encourage speculation. The biggest difference with Mysteries contrasted with what we’ve done previously is that they can progress dynamically, rather than being triggered by game updates. Players can expect numerous unfolding stages within a Mystery, with progression resulting from what players have discovered and the stage that the community has collectively reached.
Frankly, this is a game-changer in terms of the types of storytelling we can achieve with Mysteries, with genuine player surprises, twists and turns potentially happening at any time. Collectively, we consider Seasons, Adventures and now Mysteries as the cornerstones of the evolving Sea of Thieves world, with a connected sense of lore unfolding across all three elements. While Seasons and Adventures are designed to provide new experiences for as many players as possible, Mysteries will be a little different.
Through a combination of in-game puzzle-solving and elements discovered on other Sea of Thieves channels beyond the core game, Mysteries are designed to engage the efforts of the whole community to unravel. We’re excited to see how players engage with our first Mystery and we’re eager to learn how to improve what we do with this exciting new element of Sea of Thieves…
Now, this may all sound rather mysterious, and you’d expect me to discuss what this first Mystery is all about. However, that would take away the magic of uncovering it yourself. All I shall mention is that like many secrets on the seas, nothing is ever quite as it seems, and the truth is often stranger than you expect. Be alert for unusual sights on your Voyages and watch Sea of Thieves’ social channels as our first Mystery begins to unfold later this week. Glory awaits!
Players have already seen the start of our unfolding narrative in Adventures, and they’ll continue to see this episodic story play out throughout the rest of the year, progressing and adding new layers to the gripping Flameheart saga. However, the Sea of Thieves is bigger and stranger than anyone knows, and there are so many opportunities to create parallel stories and experiences to explore and establish broader themes.
This week marks the start of the first Sea of Thieves Mystery, which is something we’re especially proud of as an example of live storytelling that players have never really seen before, in this game or elsewhere.
[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
When it comes to secrets and mysteries, we’ve previously used our world to keep players guessing, whether that’s foreshadowing upcoming content with mysterious structures building up over time or using the smallest changes in island dressing to inspire the imaginations of our players and encourage speculation. The biggest difference with Mysteries contrasted with what we’ve done previously is that they can progress dynamically, rather than being triggered by game updates. Players can expect numerous unfolding stages within a Mystery, with progression resulting from what players have discovered and the stage that the community has collectively reached.
Frankly, this is a game-changer in terms of the types of storytelling we can achieve with Mysteries, with genuine player surprises, twists and turns potentially happening at any time. Collectively, we consider Seasons, Adventures and now Mysteries as the cornerstones of the evolving Sea of Thieves world, with a connected sense of lore unfolding across all three elements. While Seasons and Adventures are designed to provide new experiences for as many players as possible, Mysteries will be a little different.
Through a combination of in-game puzzle-solving and elements discovered on other Sea of Thieves channels beyond the core game, Mysteries are designed to engage the efforts of the whole community to unravel. We’re excited to see how players engage with our first Mystery and we’re eager to learn how to improve what we do with this exciting new element of Sea of Thieves…
Now, this may all sound rather mysterious, and you’d expect me to discuss what this first Mystery is all about. However, that would take away the magic of uncovering it yourself. All I shall mention is that like many secrets on the seas, nothing is ever quite as it seems, and the truth is often stranger than you expect. Be alert for unusual sights on your Voyages and watch Sea of Thieves’ social channels as our first Mystery begins to unfold later this week. Glory awaits!