Sea of Thieves News

As we approach the end of a strange year, we as a team are proud of the amount of free content rolled out to all Sea of Thieves players in 2020 despite all the changes and challenges of remote working. To continue to deliver on this throughout the year has been testament to the team spirit and culture we have here, and the way everyone on the team has supported each other throughout it all has made me even more proud to be a part of Team Rare.

We’ve been busy with more than the regular updates you’ve already experienced: we’re hard at work behind the scenes on some significant changes that will lead us into 2021, with plans in motion for how we continue supporting the game and some major news still to come. Sea of Thieves isn’t slowing down any time soon.

However, it does mean that we’ve had to slightly rethink our end-of-year updates to lay some groundwork and allow us to focus on things beyond the immediate future. So November’s update is more of a quality of life update, largely focused on bug fixes and improving the core Sea of Thieves experience for all players. However, we’ve made sure there’s still plenty to do in terms of events and in-game activities, extending some events and building on the success of others, while the Pirate Emporium team have also restocked the shelves with more of the endlessly creative things they’ve been working on.

The progression of weekly Challenges and Voyages throughout the Fate of the Damned update led to a point where all Challenges and Voyages were unlocked and available, so those will stay in the game until December 9th for players to embark upon and earn rewards including Soulflame weapons and gear. Talk to Larinna at the tavern or visit the Fate of the Damned Event page for details on what you can get and how to get it!

If you enjoyed September’s Vault of the Ancients update, you’ll be pleased to know we’ve continued to add to that, and The Devil’s Roar region has now joined the list of possible Treasure Vault locations. So one of those Voyages picked up from the Gold Hoarders could now be made even more epic by superheated seas and fire from the sky! And if you tackle a Treasure Vault Voyage over Thanksgiving, you could get rich quick as that’s when we’ll be running the next Gold & Glory Weekend, with double gold and reputation on offer for all treasure handed in.



November’s Emporium update puts the Fightin’ Frogs Ship Set up for anyone to buy, if they haven’t already earned it by playing through Act I of the new Battletoads. Joining it are our latest unique pets, The Hunter’s Call Forager Parrot and Monkey – but we couldn’t overlook the other pets, so there are also Bone Crusher Outfits available for all species including cats and dogs. The popular Festival of Plenty pet outfits and musical instruments make a return to mark this time of year. Meanwhile, players always looking for new ways to express themselves should enjoy the all-in-one Varied Weapon Pose Emote, along with new Barrel Emotes and the Fightin’ Frogs Flex Emote that we’re making available as a freebie for everyone.

So even with a lighter update than usual, there’s still plenty to get your teeth into! Full release notes will accompany the update as usual on Wednesday November 18th, so you can see everything that’s new and all the latest performance and quality of life fixes, while the Pirate Emporium and Events Hub pages will be brought right up to date.

We hope you enjoy it, and also hope you’re looking forward to the end-of-year celebrations and Sea of Thieves’ next stage of adventure that lies beyond. We’ve got a special edition of SoT News coming in the next few weeks that will talk about the December update, and we’ll also be talking about our plans heading into the new year. We have some significant and exciting changes coming as we move into what’s likely to be Sea of Thieves’ biggest year yet, and we’re excited to share our thoughts with you all soon!

From October 28 to November 3, players who purchase a digital copy of Sea of Thieves on Xbox, Windows 10 or Steam will also receive a number of blood-curdling bonuses along with the game. This time-limited bundle includes the Collector’s Soulflame Ship set, which you can use to transform your pirate vessel into something truly terrifying, as well as a faithful Skeleton Alsatian pet who’ll accompany you on your adventures across the sea.



You’ll also receive 550 Ancient Coins to spend in the Pirate Emporium, a place where premium outfits and weapons, pet costumes and much more are available for purchase. Scarily good value!

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
As the nights draw in and pumpkins pop up in unexpected places, it’s time for Sea of Thieves to celebrate the scariest of seasons with its latest free update, available today to all Sea of Thieves players on Steam.

This year, pirates will be dealing with a sudden influx of dangerous enemies known as Shadows of Fate – a tricky type of skeleton normally confined to the Fort of the Damned. Working together with the Bilge Rats, players will uncover the story behind this emerging threat as it unfolds week by week, carrying crews into different regions of the seas.

[h3]Voyages of the Damned
[/h3]

Nowhere is completely safe during the Fate of the Damned update, as an advancing threat spreads across the seas. Pirates will receive Mysterious Notes before they set out on their adventures, urging them to speak with Larinna outside the tavern to find out what she’s learned, as well as which regions are being menaced by the Shadows of Fate that week – and those places are likely to be a hive of piratical activity, encouraging crews to plan their adventures accordingly.



Larinna will also be offering free Voyages that send players in search of her missing Bilge Rat crews, a task that guarantees some spectral scuffles along the way. Luckily, these same Voyages will give players the knowledge and tools to find the light that can banish the Shadows of Fate. The Ferryman aboard the Ferry of the Damned will also offer advice on how pirates might best defend themselves.

[h3]Slay Hordes for Rewards[/h3]

Players who choose to help turn the tide against this invading enemy, or who gather Flames of Fate to celebrate the Sea of Thieves’ traditional Festival of the Damned at this time of year, will find their efforts rewarded in the Fate of the Damned Event that forms part of this update. New Challenges will be unveiled as the Event progresses, each containing a number of varied Goals for pirates to tackle.



As more Goals are completed, new rewards will be made available, including the striking Soulflame weapons and lantern. Pirate Legends who go the extra mile and complete all Challenges will find they have access to the envy-inducing Soulflame Crew Set, available to them and anyone who’s currently sailing aboard their ship!

[h3]The Dead Pets Society
[/h3]
Last year’s spooky Fort of the Damned update saw a Skeleton Parrot and Monkey find their way into the Pirate Emporium – and not to be outdone, a Skeleton Cat and Dog have just arrived in search of loving owners who don’t mind their pets being a bit on the skinny side. They’re just as loyal as their flesh-and-blood friends, and guaranteed not to leave hair all over the furniture.



Elsewhere in the Emporium, the Soulflame Ship Set is ready to light up the seas with an eerie glow that captures the ethereal essence of the Well of Fates. If you prefer to travel by firelight, you can also acquire the free, irreverent Lantern Dance Emote that helps lighten even the gloomiest moments. Speaking of emotes, there’s a new set that allows your pirate to play the fool courtesy of a skeleton arm that’s a lot less dead than it should be, plus fear-inducing facepaints and plenty more.

[h3]Find Out More[/h3]

For more information on the Fate of the Damned update, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieves website. The 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? Join the fun with our Maiden Voyage, a narrative-driven tutorial experience. New players will begin their travels within this scenario – and more tips can be picked up from our online Pirate Academy, which provides invaluable information on topics ranging from sailing to swordplay. Learn more about Sea of Thieves at www.xbox.com/seaofthieves, 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 Gold Hoarders will pay their Emissaries extra gold for any loot, but beware - the Reaper's Bones will also be offering their Emissaries much more for any Gold Hoarders' Emissary flags, and their reward will get more generous with each passing week…

[This event takes place every Friday, 00:00–23:59 UTC]