Sea of Thieves News

We’re delighted to announce that our ever-evolving pirate adventure Sea of Thieves will be launching on Steam on June 3, 2020. For over two years the members of our community have been sailing freely into fantastical adventure with Xbox Game Pass and on Xbox One and Windows 10, but as we go full steam ahead we look forward to onboarding a whole new community of PC players. We can’t wait to welcome these eager new pirates into the fold and watch them discover Sea of Thieves’ wide open world for themselves.

With a player base of 10 million pirates and counting and a host of exciting plans for the future, the wind is now in Sea of Thieves’ sails. Since launching on Xbox One and Windows 10 in March 2018, the game has been on a hugely eventful journey. From the arrival of its first free new adventures in The Hungering Deep to the enormous Anniversary Update that introduced Tall Tales and The Arena, and then on to the introduction of more regular monthly content releases in 2019 – most recently with Ships of Fortune in April – it’s evolved into the definitive pirate adventure – growing stronger with each slew of additions and ways to play.

With this in mind and to celebrate everything it means to be sailing our seas in 2020, we’ve created a brand new Sea of Thieves showcase trailer:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Set to the track ‘New Legends’ by rock band Gold Coin, this new trailer is designed to take you on a tour of some of Sea of Thieves’ most unique and awe-inspiring moments. Anything can happen in a session on the seas: you can fight immense Megalodon battles, tangle with a Kraken, raid a Skeleton Fort, chase down other unsuspecting player ships to steal their loot (or fall prey to another crew with the same idea), or change gears to take on fast-paced PvP gameplay at its purest in The Arena. If you’ve got the skill and the mettle to overcome these challenges, you might even reach the heights of Pirate Legend – unlocking exclusive cosmetics, locations and quests reserved for only the best of buccaneers.

When it launches on Steam with a price tag of $39.99 USD/£34.99 GBP/€39.99 EUR, Sea of Thieves will be opening up the virtual pirate life to more players than ever before by sailing into brand new territories. Sea of Thieves is the biggest new Xbox IP of this generation, and we’re proud to be forging on through uncharted territory with a wave of new Steam players incoming and even more feature-packed updates on the horizon!

New to Sea of Thieves? Join the fun with our Maiden Voyage, a narrative-driven tutorial experience separate from Adventure and Arena modes. New Sea of Thieves players will begin their travels within this scenario, which provides guidance and information to fledgling sailors. 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!

Ahoy, Steam users! We wanted to address some questions that we have seen asked since we announced in April that Sea of Thieves will soon be coming to Steam. While we don’t have a locked-down release date to announce just yet, we hope you’ll find this useful in answering some of your other burning questions in the meantime!

[h3]Do I need an Xbox Live account to play?[/h3]
To be able to play this game, users will need to sign in when prompted with an Xbox Live account. If you already play on Xbox Live or Windows 10, simply sign in with the account linked to your Xbox gamertag! If you need to set up an Xbox Live account, head over to https://www.xbox.com/live, click ‘Create an Account’ and follow the instructions. Please note that it is free to create an Xbox Live account, and playing Sea of Thieves on Steam will not require an Xbox Live Gold subscription.

[h3]Do I have to be running Windows 10 to play?[/h3]
Yes. For this game to work, users must be running the Windows 10 operating system.

[h3]Is the Steam version included in cross play?[/h3]
Yes! Players will be able to crew up and play together regardless of which platform they’re on, so those already playing on Xbox One and Windows 10 will be able to play with friends on Steam.

[h3]Will game progress carry over to Steam?[/h3]
Yes! Your ranks, cosmetics and currency will all be there after you sign into your Xbox Live account, meaning you’ll be able to pick up exactly where you left off. Previously earned achievements will automatically unlock on Steam too.

[h3]Will this game be locked to 30 frames per second? [/h3]
No. FPS will be uncapped.

[h3]Do I get the game for free on Steam if I already own it?[/h3]
No. Players on Xbox One and Windows 10 will not receive an entitlement to a free Steam copy. However, cross play breaks down barriers by enabling new Steam players to crew up easily with existing players on Xbox One and Windows 10.

[h3]Where do I activate in-game cosmetic/item codes?[/h3]
To enter a code for an in-game cosmetic or other reward, go to https://redeem.microsoft.com, log in with your Microsoft account and type in the 25-digit code as instructed. Note that it’ll be unlocked on this account only, so make sure this is the same account you use to sign in to Sea of Thieves!

[h3]Will Sea of Thieves be available in my country/region?[/h3]
This game will be purchasable in all countries where the Steam store is available, and the list of supported languages is being expanded for the Steam release. However, if your language is not supported, the game will default to English.

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]
Ahoy Steam! Ships of Fortune is the latest Sea of Thieves monthly update, and adds an entirely new element to Trading Companies whilst allowing pirates to serve as Emissaries, collect bonus loot and receive exclusive rewards. This update also introduces The Reaper's Bones, a mysterious yet alluring company who promise spoils to those brave enough to target other Company Emissaries and steal the loot from under their noses…

All the core features introduced in this update will persist when Sea of Thieves launches on Steam, so give this a read to get up to speed on content you can look forward to!

[h2]Represent for Greater Rewards… and Risks![/h2]
To find out about becoming an Emissary for one of the Outpost Trading Companies, speak to their representatives at the Outposts and inspect the nearby table. Emissary roles are highly prized, so you’ll need to make a significant donation to prove you appreciate the privilege!



Hoist the Emissary Flag as you serve in this prestigious role, and advance through five Grades by exemplifying your chosen Company – for example, by finding and unearthing chests as a Gold Hoarder. The higher your Grade, the bigger the multiplier you’ll get when cashing in your haul! Beware, as other pirates will know that an Emissary’s ship is likely to be laden with loot.

You’ll soon be able to dress your pirate and ship to suit your current Company of choice, heading out as a true ambassador to earn big rewards and prove your skills against other players in the competitive Emissary Ledger. Earn Titles for increasing your standing and compare your progress to that of your friends. Remember, however, that while sailing as an Emissary you will get noticed – especially by the rival Emissaries of a new, glory-hungry Trading Company…

[h2]The Reaping Begins![/h2]
A new and mysterious Company known as The Reaper’s Bones, teased throughout our previous monthly updates, has emerged! Keeping your fancy Emissary status with the Reaper’s Bones around won’t be so easy, as their own Emissaries have but one duty – to lay their rivals low and take their Emissary Flags as trophies! Of course, taking their loot is a close-running second priority.

The new Company can be found at The Reaper’s Hideout, where they seem to encourage their ideals of ‘true piracy’ without the need for honour among thieves. For the Reapers, following your passion and having the will to come out on top is what being ‘a pirate for all eternity’ really means. If you choose to become an Emissary for a Company other than theirs, expect no quarter from these merciless miscreants.



[h2]Frantic Fighting, Rapid Recovery[/h2]
Players excited at the thought of some competitive action should also check out overhauled matches in our dedicated Arena mode. Old treasure maps have been replaced by a single chest marked by a Sea Dog Beacon, with just one cash-in location to ensure a furious battle for victory! Contest times have also been slashed to 15 minutes, guaranteeing a frantic pace in each match.

Whether your battles take place in Adventure or Arena, we’re also adding a new way for crews to look out for each other on the seas. Now, when pirates are defeated, there will be a brief window during which their crewmates can revive them before their soul drifts to the Ferry of the Damned. This should allow for quicker gameplay loops as well as some new tactical choices for co-operative crews.

[h2]Did We Mention Cats?[/h2]
But enough about this free update’s new Emissary system, Trading Company, rewards, cosmetics and mechanics – we need to talk cats! No longer satisfied with just parrots and monkeys, the Pirate Emporium will now have three breeds of feline friend for your pirate: the scruffy Wildcat, fluffy Ragamuffin and slinky Mau. Each breed comes in a variety of colour options, so you can hand-pick the kitty that best suits your pirate and ship.

You’ll also be able to dress up your cat, of course. We’re starting out with very regal Sovereign outfits and special Legendary outfits – check out the bundle offers in the Emporium for the quickest way to get yourself a new cat companion in cute clobber. Elsewhere in the Emporium you can pick up the Night Wulf Ship Collection inspired by tales of heroism from the (very) olden days, or perhaps a range of crabby new emotes – all valid ways of attracting attention to your new cat.



Whether you’re most excited about a grand new calling as a Trading Company Emissary, taking on other players for trophies and plunder or simply getting to pet a cat dressed as a pirate, we're looking forward to seeing Steam users on the seas!

For more information on the Ships of Fortune 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 Xbox One, Windows 10 PC, or players who have access to it with Xbox Game Pass, and will be free to users who purchase the game on Steam.

For two years, pirates across the globe have set out in their droves to uncover the mysteries of the Sea of Thieves. Brave buccaneers have taken on Megalodons, repelled the killer Kraken and looted skeleton-filled Forts, forging their names into legend. More than 10 million unique players have already embarked upon this search for adventure, treasure and glory, and soon we’ll be opening the gilded gates to welcome in Steam users!

If you’re seeking the full, glorious sweep of the pirate life, you can dive head-first into Adventure mode where you’re sure to find a wealth of secrets and plunder, guarded by more enemies than you can shake a blunderbuss at. For those looking for a more PvP (Pirate versus Pirate) experience, the Sea Dogs are waiting in The Arena, where you can test your skill against other aspiring champions.

So be a bold solo sailor in a Sloop, grab your full Galleon crew or set sail with anything in between, with a range of ships and crew sizes sure to suit your voyaging needs. Keen to find your sea legs first? The Maiden Voyage will get you ship-shape with a tutorial led by the Pirate Lord himself. With all these options open to you, there’s never been a better time to dive in!



Sea of Thieves has always been about incredible pirate adventures where you never know who or what is just over the horizon, and we’ve continued to evolve Sea of Thieves since launch by adding more variety and content so that every new voyage feels rich and fulfilling as you make friends and foes on the seas. We’re genuinely thrilled to bring Sea of Thieves to Steam, and look forward to welcoming the Steam community to our game so we can share a grog and a shanty together and hear the tales of their adventures!

We’re happy to confirm that cross play will allow Xbox One, Windows 10 and Steam users to adventure together when Sea of Thieves launches on Steam, letting you assemble your perfect pirating crew, whatever their preferred platform.

You can wishlist Sea of Thieves on Steam from today, with a launch date to be announced soon. We’ll see you on the seas!