Sea of Thieves News

The Sea of Thieves has always been a wild, untamed sanctuary for pirates, but in Season 15 the stakes across these scattered islands and open waters are being raised once again! The latest free Seasonal update sees The Hunter’s Call Trading Company vastly expanding their offerings while two uniquely powerful Megalodons join the fray, with further hunt-related excitement set to follow in the months ahead. Here’s what you can expect from Season 15 of Sea of Thieves…

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[h3]The Hunter’s Call Grows[/h3]
Season 15 is all about exploring the wilder side of life on the Sea of Thieves, and who better to lead the charge than The Hunter’s Call? This Trading Company, first introduced with our original Anniversary Update in 2019, sets itself apart from the others with a focus on fishing and, as the name would imply, hunting. Until now, pirates have been able to climb to rank 50 by delivering fish and meat to The Hunter’s Call representatives at Seaposts or, more recently, to the Sovereigns on their behalf.

From Season 15, however, The Hunter’s Call undergoes a major expansion. First and foremost, it’s being brought in line with other Trading Companies in terms of ranking prospects, with the reputation cap being raised to 100 and five levels of Distinction added. This means you can continue to progress with the Company well beyond what was previously possible, unlocking themed cosmetics as you go.

You can also choose to raise a Hunter’s Call Emissary Flag for the first time, enabling increased rewards for treasure handed in – but at the cost of making yourself a target for any Reapers lying in wait nearby! At the same time, new Fishing and Raid Voyages provide opportunities to set out in search of Company-specific loot, including exotic Treasured Fish hauled up from the depths and ready to make you rich…

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[h3]Megalodon Mutations[/h3]
Growing alongside The Hunter’s Call are the new dangers introduced to the seas, most notably two terrifying Ancient Megalodons that have crossed over from the Sea of the Damned, ready to unleash carnage with abilities that make them substantially more dangerous than any everyday shark.

The Feared Redmaw has risen from the boiling depths, wreathed in flame and wielding a devastating explosive attack to torch any ship that drifts a little too close. Keep your water barrel full to deal with fires breaking out or you’ll quickly find yourself in the hot seat! Meanwhile, the armour-plated Barnacled Dread torments sailors with Eel-ectric invasions, spawning these formidable Ocean Crawlers onto the decks of attacking ships. Repel boarders while using your cannons to chip away at the Megalodon’s coral armour until you can strike the beast directly!

These fearsome monsters offer tantalising loot if you manage to best them, but finding them isn’t always easy. In this, Hunter’s Call Emissaries have the advantage: ships flying a Grade 5 Emissary Flag will be able to track Ancient Megalodon locations using their Map Table and sail headlong into battle…

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[h3]Hunter’s Gear[/h3]
With a new Season, as always, comes 100 new levels of Renown to be earned and all the associated rewards! You can work towards earning new themed cosmetics such as Hungering One Hunter’s clothing, as well as a hoard of gold, Doubloons and Ancient Coins – while purchasing a Plunder Pass also lets you unlock the enigmatic Dynasty of the Deep collection and an extra 750 Ancient Coins.

The Pirate Emporium shopkeepers also debut the fabulous Rococo set this month, inviting you to indulge in the finest historical fashion. This collection includes a ship set with optional Collector’s items, weapons, costume and makeup to add some ostentatious flair to all aspects of the pirate life. Inclined towards the edible arts? You may also enjoy the Culinary Cadet Emote Bundle, with four cooking-themed emotes to get you in the gastronomic spirit!

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[h3]All This and More[/h3]
To keep the new content flowing steadily, not all of Season 15’s features will be landing at launch! The monthly updates in March and April will deliver further features on the hunting theme, as teased in our Season 15 launch trailer.

Over the next few months, you can expect to take up a new throwable hunting spear that will prove highly effective at taking down wild beasts, and experience a sudden bloom in the range of ambient wildlife you’ll see on your travels. Following that, some decidedly less passive wild boars will be taking up residence across the islands with their own stashes of loot to protect…

To help keep the feisty local fauna under control, The Hunter’s Call will offer pirates new Hunting Voyages, sending them off to seek a savage Grand Boar or trail in the wake of a rampaging Megalodon as it causes chaos across the waves. To get to grips with all the changes coming soon to the seas, be sure to dive into each month’s release notes when the accompanying updates go live!

[h3]Find Out More[/h3]
For more information on the Sea of Thieves Season 15 update, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieves website. The update is available for free to all Sea of Thieves players 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. Join the ongoing adventure at www.seaofthieves.com where you can embark on an epic journey with one of gaming’s most welcoming communities!

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[h3]Wild Seas[/h3]
Heed the call in Season 15, which brings a wealth of new incentives to The Hunter’s Call while introducing new wildlife both harmless and hostile. For an overview of the fierce features due to roll out over the course of this Season, head to our dedicated Season 15 page!

Ancient Megalodon Encounters

• Ancient Megalodons have torn through from the Sea of the Damned and begun terrorising pirate crews with their terrifying powers. Hunters should keep a keen eye on the waves for these deadly new foes.
  
• The Feared Redmaw is a ferocious beast with fiery attacks. Crews must quell its supercharged assault by damaging it to release its pressure and avoid a cataclysmic explosion.
  
• The menacing Barnacled Dread must have its coral armour removed before the beast can be defeated. Look out for its shocking bite and ability to summon Eel-ectric Ocean Crawlers onto your ship!

On-Demand Hunter’s Call Voyages

• The Quest Table now offers a range of Voyages on demand for The Hunter’s Call, allowing crews to sail or dive to their location.
  
• New Fishing Voyages provide hunters with the locations of Treasured Fish where they gather near islands, tasking them to retrieve these new fish for the Company.
  
• The Treasured Fish caught from these Voyages are unique and highly valuable, so they cannot be cooked, eaten or stored in a player’s inventory. They can be handed in for gold and reputation, but beware – they can also be stolen by other pirates!
  
• Hunter’s Call Raid Voyages allow players to experience any of the eight existing Raids on demand, while awarding new Hunter’s Call treasure.

Emissaries for The Hunter’s Call

• Crews can now represent The Hunter’s Call as an Emissary, boosting their rewards as they go hunting across the seas. On reaching Emissary Grade 5, crews should keep an eye on the ship’s map as recent sightings of Ancient Megalodons will now be shown.
  
• Players sailing as an Emissary will now appear on The Hunter’s Call Emissary Ledger and be eligible to earn new rewards.

Hunter’s Call Trading Company Expansion

• Players can now climb to rank 100 with The Hunter’s Call, with new rewards from the Killer Whale set to unlock as they progress. Reaching the lofty rank of 100 will unlock the Hunter’s Call Costume along with a Distinction Ring, allowing players to continue representing the Company towards their next Distinction.

Wild Seas Commendations and Rewards

• With ferocious new encounters to face and Hunter’s Call treasure on offer, a range of new Commendations have been added within the Reputation tab to challenge would-be hunters. Explore the challenges under Wild Seas to unlock rewards from the new Eternal Hunt set.
  
• With the introduction of Hunter’s Call Emissary play, The Reaper’s Bones are now offering the Disgraced Hunter’s Hat for crews willing to claim the Flags of fallen Hunter’s Call Emissaries.
  
• Four new Pirate Milestones have also been added with Wild Seas, unlocking access to new Trinkets: the ‘Fearsome Flame’, ‘Coral Calamity’ and ‘Tides of Tranquillity’ Trophies along with the ‘Gone Fishin'’ Painting.

[h3]Season 15[/h3]
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!

Season 15 Rewards and Plunder Pass

• As The Hunter’s Call expands this Season, players can now earn Renown when defeating new threats and cashing in the new treasures on offer.
  
• Progressing through the 100 levels of Renown in Season 15 will reward players with the Hungering One Hunter’s clothing set and unique Season 15 rewards, alongside time-limited Call of the Seas collectibles. Head to the Seasons profile page to browse the new rewards and check your pirate’s progress!
  
• Pick up the latest Plunder Pass to gain access to a plethora of additional unlockable cosmetics from the Dynasty of the Deep set, including a ship set with Collector’s items and a selection of themed clothing, all available to earn by raising your Renown. Purchase a Pass in-game through the Pirate Log or Pirate Emporium, or via the Pirate Emporium webpage or Steam Item Store.

Season 15 Emissary Ledger Rewards

• This Season, the Guild Emissary Ledgers offer the ‘Circle of Death’ Painting, ‘Rock Hopper’ Ornament and Guild of Piratical Predators Title to Guilds who perform proudly in the Ledgers.
  
• The initial rewards for the new Hunter’s Call Emissary Ledger include the Assailant of the Abyss Title, Hunter’s Call Inaugural Explorer Sails and Hunter’s Call Inaugural Forager Sails.
  
• In line with the regular rhythm of Emissary Ledgers, these rewards will be earnable from the start of the next month, March 1st.

Chest of Fortune

• For the duration of Season 15, the Chest of Fortune has been returned to the Vault of the Fort of Fortune.
  
• Crews who retrieve Chests of Fortune can now earn the next Grade of the Fortune’s Favour Commendation, unlocking access to Regal Fortune clothing items.

Reaper’s Chests

• Crews chasing down the telltale 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 Hook, Pegleg, Tattoo and Eyepatch.

[h3]Gameplay Improvements[/h3]
Performance Improvements

• Sea of Thieves servers now support multithreading and have received the first phase of performance improvements. Parts of the physics and network systems are now directed to a different core and can run in parallel to the main game.
  
• Performance improvements have been made to how treasure is populated within shipwrecks, ensuring that it’s only placed when crews engage with it and more readily cleaned up to improve server performance if items are left behind.
  
• Broad performance improvements have been made for players across both PC and console when playing at higher framerates, improving loading behind the scenes based on the client framerate. These improvements have been tuned to target framerates between 60fps and 120fps, but may also provide some improvements for higher framerates where supported.
  
• Performance optimisations have taken place on all islands across the Sea of Thieves, with each island receiving a pass. There will be no visible changes to the islands as part of these optimisations.
  
• Performance optimisations have been made when selling treasure to Trading Company representatives while representing as an Emissary.
  
• The appearance of the Burning Blade is now much rarer on the seas, with the other World Events now increased in rotation.
  
• In addition to the above areas, this update includes a range of smaller optimisations to game performance providing improvements across the broader experience.

Blowpipe Improvements

• Switching between dart types is now much more responsive and allows for quicker switching before firing.

Trap Inventory

• Traps have now been separated from throwables in the player’s inventory. Players can now carry a maximum of two traps and five other throwables. These revised trap limits are now shown by a separate Trap category in the player’s inventory.
  
• Traps will now be included when cycling through throwables by using the available hotkey.
  
• When using a cannon, traps have been removed from the cannonball radial menu.

Addressing Unsinkable Ship Locations

• Changes have been made to a range of islands where ships have been reported to become unsinkable when partially beached in shallow areas, with players taking advantage of this during Faction battles.
  
• The following islands have been improved to address these shallow spots: Dagger Tooth Outpost, Kraken’s Fall, Shark Tooth Key and Port Merrick.

Hidden Skeleton Fort Vaults

• The Vaults beneath all Skeleton Forts including the Fort of the Damned have been hidden, with players no longer able to see through the cracks from the floors above to spy the Vault treasures waiting to be claimed.

Menu Navigation on Controller

• Navigating through the game’s various menus has been improved when using a controller, providing a more fluid experience when navigating in diagonal movements and held directions now scrolling across larger areas.
  
• These menu navigation improvements can be customised further in the game’s input settings as ‘Controller Menu Deadzone’ and ‘Controller Menu Repeat Speed’.

[h3]Pirate Emporium[/h3]
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!

New Items – Now in Stock!

• Pig Pets: Oatmeal, Pomegranate, Truffle, Cinnamon and Mulberry
  
• Rococo Ship Collection
  
• Rococo Ship’s Crest
  
• Rococo Costume Bundle
  
• Rococo Weapon Bundle
  
• Culinary Cadet Emote Bundle
  
• Sting Tide Pistol (free!)

[h3]Outpost Cosmetics [/h3]
New Outpost Stock!

• Fans of the Lucky Hand set can now find the instruments available at Outpost equipment shops.

Season Eight Legacy Cosmetics

• Cosmetics previously available during Season Eight have arrived in Outpost shops and can now be yours in exchange for Doubloons!
  
• Players can now purchase the Cursed Bone clothing set, along with a range of unique one-off items first available during this Season. Pirate Legends can also pick up Flameheart’s Hat and Cutlass.
  
• The time-limited Cursed Bone Flag, Sails, Makeup, Tattoo and Scar, however, remain exclusive to players who participated in Season Eight.

[h3]Updates[/h3]
Detection Improvements for Ban Evasion

• Further detection improvements continue to roll out behind the scenes targeting players who evade game bans to regain access to Sea of Thieves. These improvements will continue to be deployed in phases over the coming months to systematically crack down on banned players and prevent them from returning to the seas.

Quest Table Voyage Cooldowns

• Following the introduction of the Quest Table and the refreshed Voyages delivered in Season 11, players have discovered techniques to increase their progression and gold acquisition in unintended, accelerated ways. The Sea of Thieves team now has the ability to apply cooldowns to specific Voyages should crews start and cancel the same Voyage repeatedly in a short space of time.
  
• While no Voyage restrictions have yet been placed as part of this update, the team will continue to monitor player behaviour and target specific Voyages as part of future updates.

Temporary Voyage Locking

• The Sea of Thieves live team now has the ability to temporarily lock a Voyage and prevent it from being started on the Quest Table. This allows the team to react quickly and protect players in the live environment should a high-impact issue occur, without the need to take the game down for maintenance.

[h3]Accessibility [/h3]
Custom Text Overlay

• A new accessibility feature has been introduced to improve the readability of Riddle Maps. Within the Language settings of the game menu, players can enable a Custom Text Overlay and further customise the appearance, adjusting screen position, font size, background and text colours.
  
• After preferences have been saved, the overlay will be applied when viewing any Riddle Map, with a scroll bar available for longer text.

[h3]Fixed Issues[/h3]
Gameplay

• When players dive to a Faction battle, the enemy ship will now consistently appear visible upon surfacing to begin the encounter.
  
• Players using a Grapple Gun to pull another player while in the water can no longer cause their target to rotate.
  
• The audio effects for scooping and throwing water when bailing should now play consistently when performed in quick succession.
  
• The audio effects for a ship filling and creaking when taking on water are now prioritised over other effects, ensuring that these cues are always clear to players.
  
• Damage marks shown on the outside of a ship’s hull will now appear correctly based on the damage dealt.
  
• Throwables such as blunderbombs targeting the rear hull of the Galleon will now consistently impact the hull’s surface and not pass through certain areas to land inside the ship.
  
• Blowpipe darts embedded in moving ships are now more easily targeted and can be consistently destroyed through player actions.
  
• The prior fix to the Armoury (3.2.3) that addressed players being unable to switch weapons after receiving knockback damage has been reverted to prevent further impact. This issue will be addressed in a future update.
  
• Any open radial menus now close when crouching, preventing a range of visual issues caused by attempting to wield items while crouched.
  
• ‘The Journey to Mêlée Island’ – Emissary Grade progression is no longer awarded when collecting items found within the Tall Tale.

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.

Traps

• Traps should now consistently rest on the ground when placed in a range of locations.
  
• Traps will now be destroyed when thrown at the outside of a ship’s hull.
  
• Traps loaded with a Bone Caller will now trigger consistently when sprung.
  
• Throwing a trap inside a tavern will no longer prevent players from interacting with it or switching to other equipment.
  
• Players setting the trap will now correctly receive the Red Alert Raider Commendation when meeting the necessary criteria, while those triggering the trap will no longer increase Commendation progress.

User Interface

• Resolved an issue that caused the Quest Table to display an extended loading spinner when browsing for Voyages.
  
• When using low graphics settings, browsing the Pirate Emporium from the Quick Menu during gameplay should no longer cause textures to fail to load within the Emporium and across the wider game upon exiting.
  
• Players earning Distinctions for a Trading Company will now see the correct rank when viewing the Pirate’s Log from the front end menu.

Environment

• Skeletons that emerge at Crow’s Nest Fortress and Barnacle Cay Temple should now appear in the correct locations and not become stuck.
  
• Rain will no longer appear to fall inside buildings at Lookout Point.
  
• ‘The Lair of LeChuck’ – Players can no longer become stuck among palm trees during this Tall Tale.

Visual and Audio

• The Tankard of the Damned now visibly runs out of grog when emptied.
  
• Shadow Skeletons set on fire while in shadow form no longer display distorted visual effects.
  
• Firing a ship’s cannon equipped with various Cannon Flares at Ghost Ships will no longer cause visual issues to appear within the sails.
  
• Dying during the final wave of a Siren Treasury encounter will no longer cause the music to overlap.
  
• The Cardinal Lodestar Flag is now correctly displayed on the Brigantine.
  
• The Cardinal Lodestar and Lodestar Spyglass now sit correctly in players’ hands across all body sizes.
  
• Players wearing the Captaincy of Courage Jacket or Dress now appear correctly when observed by others.
  
• The Horn of Fair Winds and Trident of Dark Tides now appear correctly when viewed at different distances.
  
• The Kate Capsize hairstyle now fits neatly around tall jackets across all pirate body sizes.
  
• Fruit held in a player’s hand now casts the correct shadow.
  
• The Fates of Fortune Pocket Watch now consistently displays the correct time.
  
• The Tiny Tree Emote’s visual effect now disappears when the emote is cancelled.
  
• The light effect of the Ancestral Collector’s Figurehead is no longer visible from inside the ship, and the item now appears correctly when lowering the graphic settings.
  
• The visual effects of the Radiant Comet Collector’s Figurehead now remain visible when viewed at a short distance.
  
• Green smoke from the Checkmate Cannon Flare is no longer visible to players launched from the cannon.
  
• ‘Lords of the Sea’ – The Black Pearl now consistently appears with a golden glow at the end of the Tall Tale.
  
• ‘The Quest for Guybrush’ – Stan's voiceover should continue to be heard after being locked inside the wardrobe.
  
• ‘The Lair of LeChuck’ – Murray’s skeleton now appears correctly once his head is attached.

Text and Localisation

• ‘The Lair of LeChuck’ – Improvements made to the Quest Book to address overlapping text in French and Italian languages.
  
• Improvements made to consistency in terminology across Simplified Chinese, Thai and Brazilian Portuguese languages.

[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]Download and Installation[/h3]
Download Size:

• Steam: 5.74 GB

Until February 20th (10am UTC), visit your Quest Table to undertake A Raid on a Dark Fortress, a ghost-busting Limited Voyage that leads to a more impressive loot haul than a standard Sea Fort.

As the New Year celebrations finish winding down and we settle into the rhythm of determining what 2025 will bring to you all, it’s once again time for a round-up! January brought in a nice collection of goings-on, including a game update, an explosive Event and the conclusion to a sneaky competition. So let’s give it all a look…

[h3]Content Update[/h3]
It was a banging start to 2025 in the content department, as a new live Event sent pirates off in search of Gunpowder Barrels for The Reaper’s Bones. Unique Limited Voyages led players to Skeleton Forts to uncover their perilous prizes, while the Servant of the Flame dished out increased rewards for barrels safely delivered. Getting them to The Reaper’s Hideout without incident, however, was no easy feat…

Once the debris from all that excitement had been cleared away, it was time to enter the final leg of Season 14 with the arrival of the January update. The major highlight was the long-awaited arrival of the Mimic Dart, which grants crafty blowpipe users the ability to masquerade as other pirates and skeletons. At the same time, improvements to the Grapple Gun made missing a shot just a touch more forgiving. And as always, you can read through the release notes for a full breakdown of all the tweaks and changes!

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[h3]News and Features[/h3]
As is becoming tradition, we kicked off the news machine for January with a new This Month article to outline everything you could expect from the month ahead – as always, a fine place to find out what’s on the schedule so that you can plan your Voyages accordingly.

Over in the world of Spotlights, we had one focusing on the artistic soul of Penguill, and another delving into the adventures of Stream Team stalwart Arrvocado! Give them a read if you want to know what some familiar faces in the community have been up to lately, or maybe just want some insight into one of those people who uses a computer mouse with their left hand. We like to cater to all readers here.

And speaking of what everyone’s been up to, January marked the conclusion to the Golden Scallywag Awards! After weeks of pirates sharing their sneakiest skulduggery, difficult decisions had to be made about which moments of mischief were most deserving of a prize – and the glory of a Scallywags win.

Elsewhere, a new tune emerged to add a touch of Siren spice to your Spotify playlists, while our friends at Yootooz had some time-limited merchandise for the animal lovers among you. Did you finally manage to get your hands on your very own Shrouded Ghost?


[h3]Videos and Streams[/h3]
Down the corridor in the Tavern, Daryl started his 2025 shenanigans with the first Sea of Thieves News episode of the year. The Tavern was then taken over by Production Director and deliverer of technical news Drew for the latest Developer Update! Sadly no questionable wardrobe choices for this one, but plenty of info on the improvements being made to game performance.

Shortly after that it was time for the January update to get underway, and that meant the Video team had two more trailers to release before the month was out. First up was the update trailer, showcasing the aforementioned changes to the sandbox, before the Pirate Emporium unveiled what was in store for patrons this month. Truly a star-studded collection.

Slightly further afield, Steamforged Games had a handy video to share with all you boardgame fans out there: a playthrough of the official Sea of Thieves: Voyage of Legends game! If you’ve been toying with the idea of adding a new pirate experience to your gaming shelf, this offers up some useful insight. Just brace yourself for some banana slander in the first couple of minutes.

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[h3]Social Channels[/h3]
Naturally, the start of a new year meant that we began January with some lofty ideas about what we wanted to achieve over the next 12 months – some substantially loftier than others, it must be said – and risked trying out a new look while we did it. At the same time, an influx of fresh faces had us sharing as many tips for new pirates as we could think of, filled with advice for every situation. Every. Situation.

The conclusion of the Golden Scallywag Awards got us in the spirit of giving, so it only made sense to join in with the frosty Twitch Drops Fest and hold two rounds of #SoTShot to hand out some more of those Golden Hour Sails. Initially we tested everyone’s ability to work together with a spot of Crew Bonding, before dispensing with the niceties and demanding you show us some cool Explosions. The Community Hub also saw a fresh round of fan creations, while on a more serious but no less exciting note, GameBlast25 opened its doors for sign-ups and saw Sea of Thieves streamers once again coming together to help raise money for SpecialEffect!

The community spirit stayed strong throughout the month, with discussions of crew mottos and GIF summaries, as well as a little healthy anchor management shaming. There were a few sad moments mid-month when we feared we’d have to say goodbye to some loyal pirates, but two days later everything seemed to resolve itself – just in time for some new Season 14-inspired Compass of Chaos shenanigans. Panic over, most of the rest of the month was spent testing the limits of the new Mimic Dart and enjoying everyone’s ingenuity. It’s been a lot of fun.


And so we arrive in February! Even though it’s the shortest month of the year, there’ll be plenty to report back the next time we convene for a round-up, so we’ll simply leave you with the usual rundown of all the places you can reach out to us to share your thoughts: Twitter/X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, or via the official Forums and Discord. Until then, we have February mischief to be getting on with…
[hr][/hr][h3]Previously: [/h3]
Sea of Thieves Round-Up: December 2024