Sea of Thieves News

[p]What’s that? Another month of shenanigans on the horizon, is it? Why yes, it is! As we step into the run of -ber months, kicking off with a pumpkin-spiced September, a feast of delights await you on our shores. Let’s get into what you can expect…[/p][p][/p][p]Rare’s 40th Anniversary – until Saturday, October 4th[/p][p]Although all the in-game fun has now finished for our big 40th milestone, some Rare Ruby remnants remain available until the first week of October. Players with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate can swipe the ravishing Rare Ruby Emote until this date via the Perks programme, while the roguish Rare Ruby Hat remains obtainable via Microsoft Rewards in participating territories, either by completing a punch card or as a bundled bonus when redeeming against Ancient Coin packs.
[/p][p] ‘The Fine Art of Theft’ Release – Friday, September 12th[/p][p]To whet your whistles for the Smugglers’ Heist Event (more on that later), we’re releasing the music that soundtracks the final part of the experience. Stream this rousing, epic track via Spotify or other streaming service of your choice from September 12th, to get yourself in the mood for pulling off a serious art heist.[/p][p][/p][p]Sea of Thieves Season 17: Act 2 – Thursday, September 18th[/p][p]The second update of Season 17 drops on September 18th, bringing with it a Voyage of Luck for players for logging in to enjoy the new experiences on offer, and a generous gold bonus for those who dive in during the first week. The update also features a hotly discussed update for Field of View: from September 18th, the FOV cap will increase from 90 to 110, providing players more choice in how they play Sea of Thieves.[/p][p]Russet Resolute ship items hit the Outpost shops this month, as do Lucky Rover instruments and equipment, while Pirate Legends can head to the Hideout to find new weapons in the Legendary Fortune set. Over in the Emporium, fans of fisticuffs will be able to exchange their Ancient Coins for the Pirate Pugilist set, with the complementary One-Two Punch Emote is available as this month’s freebie. Inner Sanctum items are also up for purchase, originally part of Season 14’s Plunder Pass!
[/p][p] Smugglers’ Heist Event – Thursday, September 18th – Thursday, October 16th[/p][p]The headline of Act 2 is, of course, the Smuggler’s Heist Event. The Smugglers’ League are asking pirates to procure one of Flameheart’s prized paintings, and brave buccaneers up to the challenge will need to sneak into Royal Crest Fortress and take it from under the bony noses of the Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons charged with its defence. The target painting is worth a stonking 175,000 gold – so it’s a high-stakes heist that promises a plentiful payout for crews participating.[/p][p][/p][p]Pirate Emporium Talk Like a Pirate Day Sale – Friday, September 19th – Wednesday, September 24th[/p][p]To celebrate this key moment on the pirate calendar, you can enjoy Pirate Emporium discounts on some premium piratey wares! The anarchic Stone Islehopper Outlaw set is on offer, as is the Labyrinth Looter set, along with bundles of parrots, weapons and perfectly piratical emotes. The Pretty Polly Sails will also make their traditional time-limited return, so swing by and see what takes your fancy.[/p][p][/p][p]Twitch Drops – Friday, September 19th – Friday, September 26th[/p][p]If you like your cosmetics free instead of deliciously discounted, make sure you tune in to any Sea of Thieves Partner during this week to grab a glorious hoard of items. Watch for six hours total to unlock 75,000 gold, a level of Seasonal Renown, a Voyage of Luck, the Eastern Winds Ruby Blunderbuss, a Gilded Voyage of the Ancient Isles, the Gilded Phoenix Shovel, Amethyst Mercenary Boots and the Mandrake Figurehead.


October is shaping up to be a similarly spicy experience to September, with Act 3’s Sea Fort refresh offering an overhauled take on a well-loved experience. There’ll also be a timely sprinkle of autumnal spookiness on the horizon – but more on that in the next edition of our This Month article. Farewell for now, and we’ll see you on the seas![/p]

[p]The ruby-hued Season 17 Community Weekend is now live until Sep 1st (11am UTC)! Set sail for a free flag and emote, unlock the Ruby Legend Figurehead as a community, boost the Community Emissary Grade multiplier by watching Sea of Thieves on Twitch, earning you boosted gold, reputation, Seasonal Renown, Allegiance and Guild Reputation, and more![/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]As always, please note that Gold Rush windows are not active during Community Weekends, so you don't need to hoard! As the Community Emissary Grade rises, you'll always be earning the maximum multiplier available whenever you decide to deliver.[/p][p][/p][p]Pop-Up Plunder returns, with a twist! Below are the times these loot roulettes will appear, alongside a starting island. These locations will be key to the puzzle, but won't necessarily be the island containing the spot, so we hope you're ready for a race! Good luck...[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Want to do something more co-operative? Well, if players complete at least 100,000 World Events over the Weekend, all participants will earn the extra-special Ruby Legend Figurehead! So spot that cloud on the horizon and set your course...[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And that's not all: beating those World Events will also unlock two bonus Twitch Drops, the Obsidian Captain’s Table and Obsidian Captain’s Logbook! If unlocked, they'll be available from participating streamers between Sep 5th and 12th (10am UTC), at 90 minutes' watch time each.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Need some Twitch Drops now? Eight rewards are available during this Event, including two suitably ruby cosmetics for Rare Ltd's 40th anniversary! Tune in to any participating Sea of Thieves stream from now until Sep 5th (10am UTC) and earn everything you see below over six hours.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Spot the Deckhand or Quartermaster Sails on the horizon and you could secure spoils! Crews flying these sheets will have Celestial Steed ship items, Obsidian Capstans, Gilded Phoenix Ship's Crests and Six Item Packs to gift to playful pirates throughout the Event.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And that's the line-up for this Event! Time to pose at a Picture Wall, set some goals, get your hands on a haul and make it another Community Weekend to remember. If you need a refresher on anything, it's all here: https://www.seaofthieves.com/community-weekend[/p]

[p]As August draws to a close, we’re delighted to share with you a more in-depth look at the shenanigans scheduled to land for Season 17 Community Weekend, taking place from Saturday, August 30th to Monday, September 1st (11am UTC). This Event comes delightfully themed to our studio’s 40th anniversary; the good ship Rare has been sailing for four whole decades, so this particular Community Weekend commemorates our history, as well as offering a couple of cute cosmetics that reflect the ruby-red shine to our celebrations.[/p][p]For those of you confused about where Season 16’s Community Weekend went, here’s your reminder that as we wrangled the transition to a more predictable Seasonal rhythm of content releases and Events, we had to sadly skip that one to get this Weekend into your hands so early in Season 17. The good news is, this one is here with some extra lovely stuff to make up for the missing Event![/p][p][/p][h3]Log In to Win[/h3][p]It wouldn’t be a Community Weekend without a suite of goodies shuffled into your inventory, all for the pleasure of popping in for a sail. Log in after 11am UTC on Saturday, August 30th and you’ll bag yourself a beautiful white, red and gold Community Weekend Flag, plus the glorious Rare-themed Paper Cutout Emote. That’s not all on offer, though: if players complete at least 100,000 World Events over the Weekend, all participants will earn the extra-special Ruby Legend Figurehead. Completion of that Community Spirit Goal will also unlock a couple of additional Twitch Drops – but more on that later!

[/p][h3]Streams Can Come True[/h3][p]Hopefully most of you know the drill by now, but just in case: to raise the Community Emissary Grade and influence the in-game generosity, pirates just need to watch Sea of Thieves streamers on Twitch, with the total watch time powering Grade progress. So all you need to do is watch any of your favourite content creators within the Sea of Thieves category during the Event period. You can tune into Sea of Thieves Partners, wave hello to our Stream Team, watch a friend or even find a random creator. It doesn’t matter where you watch, as long as you’re watching Sea of Thieves![/p][p]Every time the Community Emissary Grade increases, so does the boost to gold, reputation, Seasonal Renown, Allegiance and Guild Reputation for everyone – with the top Grade offering two-and-a-half times the rewards for your work. These multipliers affect High Seas sailors only, so make sure you plan accordingly and prepare to defend your loot from potential pirates looking to steal the fruits of your labour.[/p][p][/p][h3]Twitch Perfect[/h3][p]Although the real reward from watching our wonderful streamers is the fun you have along the way, you can also swipe a stunning set of Twitch Drops just for tuning in! On offer during the Event will be the Eastern Winds Ruby Pistol and Cutlass, Gilded Phoenix Pocket Watch, Mandrake Sails, a Voyage of Luck, A Legendary Search for Cursed Treasure Voyage, bonus Renown and 75,000 gold.[/p][p]And going back to that Community Spirit Goal: if a total of 100,000 World Events can be smashed during Community Weekend, then for the following week, the Obsidian Captain’s Table and Obsidian Captain’s Logbook will be made available as bonus Twitch Drops to be unlocked! That’s a serious hoard of lovely, shiny free stuff for players prepared to tune in and watch their fellow pirates sail the seas.
[/p][p][/p][h3]Pop-Up Plunder Evolves[/h3][p]We’ve been crunching some numbers here, and we’re thrilled to see that Pop-Up Plunder remains one of the most popular features introduced in recent times! However, we do like to keep you on your toes, so we’re ready to mix it up a bit and see how you all rise to the challenge. Enter this Community Weekend’s fresh take on Pop-Up Plunder, now featuring – drumroll please – starting islands.[/p][p]That’s right: for Season 17 Community Weekend, we’re taking the unprecedented step of publishing the Pop-Up Plunder times and accompanying starting locations ahead of the day to support your crews getting closer to the shenanigans once a new dig spot drops. Just scroll down right now to see for yourself![/p][p]We will of course still be dropping clues on social media channels at these scheduled times to ensure you've all got a way to work out the specific spot you need to stick your shovel in, although the actual dig may not be on the island mentioned below (it'll make sense on the day). Think of the islands more like the starting grid of a race. Our hope is that more fun will follow if we can push you all a little bit closer together.[/p][p]The loot’s absolutely worth fighting for too, with a pool of high-value goodies on offer to those who brave the challenge – so start your Pop-Up Plunder strategising now, because things are about to get a little more chaotic!

[/p][h3]Smells Like Community Spirit[/h3][p]Alongside Pop-Up Plunder, pirates who set sail over Community Weekend will find Picture Walls at every Outpost, with The Reaper’s Hideout Picture Wall returning too. We want to see all your lovely crew moments captured at these special posing points, so please share them on social and tag us in – not much makes us happier than seeing you and your crews in pride of place in front of our Picture Walls, so we’re counting on you to deliver the goods.[/p][p]Sailors can also expect to swipe a Community Spirit Firework Crate, free of charge, from their local Merchant Alliance representative over the Weekend. Nothing says “we’re friendly!!” quite like some of these beautiful community-themed fireworks, so make sure you have the box ready for when you bump into other crews. Or not, if you’re planning on sinking them.
[/p][p][/p][h3]Bonnet Blue[/h3][p]If you think you or one of your crewmates are deserving of fame and a particularly fetching blue hat, look no further as our usual #BeMorePirate giveaway gets amped up over Community Weekend! This is an occasion to celebrate amazing artists, players, creators and community MVPs – so as is customary, we’ll be scouring our channels and the #BeMorePirate hashtag for suitably special Sea of Thieves stories, from now until the end of the Event. Worthy winners will be awarded the Hat of Unfeasibly Glorious Fame, so get your submissions in ASAP to see if your antics warrant your pirate’s bonce being crowned with such a special bonnet.[/p][p][/p][h3]Beyond the Sail[/h3][p]While a lot of these celebratory activities centre around setting sail, at its heart this Event is designed to honour and excite you, our amazing players. So this Community Weekend, we would love for you to share your favourite clips, creators, screenshots and crewmates in celebration of the stories you’ve all experienced on our shores. Sea of Thieves has already accounted for a seven-year slice of Rare’s amazing 40-year history, and we’re proud to be here in 2025 feeling just as excited for its future as we were when it was just a glint in the studio’s eye.[/p][p]Whether you’re new to Sea of Thieves or thinking about diving in for the very first time, Community Weekend – with its gifts, goals and impeccable vibes – is the perfect opportunity not just to set sail, but to dip your toes in the lovely warm waters of our online community. So come on in! We’re a friendly bunch, promise. Alliance?
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[p]Season 17 has begun! And some unfamiliar faces have been spied on remote islands as The Smugglers’ League settle in and begin their hunt for high-value, dangerous prizes.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]While they show a surprising appreciation of Fine Art and fragile bottles of even finer rum, the League are also on the hunt for Black Powder Barrels. These devastating delights pack more of a punch than any other explosive on the seas, so you’ll want to be careful about bringing them aboard your own ship.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]And there is cargo to be found! A recent run of bad luck has seen several Smugglers’ Shipwrecks left to languish beneath the waves, hiding treasures that can be returned to the League for a comfortable payout.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]Season 17 wouldn’t be complete without a host of new Commendations to measure your success! Completing Voyages for the Smugglers and handing in their cargo will help you unlock a wealth of cosmetics to update your pirate’s style.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p]September and October will bring in Act 2 and Act 3 of Season 17, where there’ll be plenty more Smuggler activity to join in with including a daring Heist and newly fortified Reaper Fortresses. Get a preview of those in the Content Update trailer:[/p][p][/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]For the more complete rundown of what you can look forward to in the Season, head to the full Season 17 Launch Article. And for even more details in painfully diligent detail that the Merchant Alliance would surely give a small nod of approval, you can read the release notes right here.[/p][p][/p][h3]Set Sail and Get a Free Eyepatch![/h3][p]The free Rare Ruby Eyepatch is now on offer as a celebratory Sea of Thieves login bonus to mark Rare Ltd's 40th anniversary! Set sail between now and Sea of Thieves' September update to secure your celebratory patch.[/p][p][/p][p]There's plenty more to discover with today's update, from a new Plunder Pass and Pirate Profiles in the Emporium to a range of new Outpost cosmetics to splash your gold on, so all that's left is to wish you successful smuggling! We'll see you on the seas...[/p]

[p]Season 17 has begun! And some unfamiliar faces have been spied on remote islands as The Smugglers’ League settle in and begin their hunt for high-value, dangerous prizes. They’re open to letting pirate crews help them transport their cargo where it needs to go, and maybe recovering some choice items misplaced along the way. Their true goal, however, remains rather mysterious… but for now, let’s find out what you can expect from this new Season in Sea of Thieves!
[/p][h3]Introducing the League[/h3][p]These shadowy newcomers have set up shop in secret hideaways across the seas, and they’ve set their sights on some explosive new treasures. While they show a surprising appreciation of Fine Art and fragile bottles of even finer rum, the League are also on the hunt for Black Powder Barrels. These devastating delights pack more of a punch than any other explosive on the seas, so you’ll want to be careful about bringing them aboard your own ship.[/p][p]As The Smugglers’ League get accustomed to life on the Sea of Thieves, they’re recruiting pirates to ferry some of their precious cargo safely from pick-up point to destination. That means sending crews out on Smugglers’ Route Runs, perilous delivery Voyages along a highly contested route. If you want to make it through unscathed and with the cargo still in your possession, you’ll need to keep a keen eye on that horizon. Elsewhere, find a Message in a Bottle with the Smugglers’ mark and you can set out on other Smugglers’ Runs too, ranging far and wide with some of the most valuable contraband on the seas.[/p][h3][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Making Their Mark[/h3][p]You don’t last long in the smuggling trade by doing business out in the open, so The Smugglers’ League have sought secret spots on the Sea of Thieves to conduct their covert operations. Each of them has established a Smugglers’ Hideout, somewhere out of sight and protected by traps. You’ll have to pinpoint these Hideouts yourself if you want to get to know the League and deliver any cargo you discover on your travels.[/p][p]And there is cargo to be found! A recent run of bad luck has seen several Smugglers’ Shipwrecks left to languish beneath the waves, hiding treasures that can be returned to the League for a comfortable payout. Some of this wayward cargo has also washed up on beaches for passing ships to spot, while opportunistic Skeleton Ships have been seen to scoop up the rest. Hunt them down and sink them if you want to claim those spoils for yourself…
[/p][h3]The Season Continues[/h3][p]Surreptitious they may be, but those Smugglers don’t sit still for long. When September and October bring in Act 2 and Act 3 of Season 17, there’ll be plenty more Smuggler activity to join in, including a daring Heist that pits crew against crew to secure some very valuable loot. Those who take part will descend upon Royal Crest Fortress in search of a painting specially requested by an important patron of the League, but remember: you won’t be the only one after the prize! Surviving skirmishes with rival sailors will be crucial to claiming the payout.[/p][p]In the meantime, Captain Flameheart’s forces are using the distraction offered by the League’s arrival to strengthen their position at the Skeleton Forts. In Act 3 of Season 17, you’ll be able to find the newly fortified Reaper Fortresses under siege from a Phantom fleet. Fight off both sides, and you might just be able to escape with a cache of dangerous loot – provided none of the Fort’s new traps get you first…[/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink][/p][h3]Rewarding Work[/h3][p]With so many new additions to the seas, Season 17 wouldn’t be complete without a host of new Commendations to measure your success! Completing Voyages for the Smugglers and handing in their cargo will help you unlock a wealth of cosmetics to update your pirate’s style. For completionists, new achievements (and Trophies) present a tantalising challenge as the potential gamerscore on offer climbs towards a tremendous total…[/p][p]As always, there are new Pirate Emporium offerings including the dusty outlaw chic of the Riptide Rodeo set, plus of course a new Season means a new Plunder Pass packed with goodies to unlock – this time including the Rare Regalia ship set and clothing, as well as 750 Ancient Coins for spending in the Pirate Emporium.[/p][p]Whether you pick up the Pass or not, there’s a trove of rewards on offer for climbing 100 more levels of Renown this Season, including items from the Master of the High Seas, Fabled Fins and Faraway Shores sets. To help you earn these time-limited rewards, a new Deed system has been implemented to encourage arrangements with the Smugglers and earn increased Renown by doing so![/p][p][dynamiclink][/dynamiclink]Pirate Profiles also arrive this Season, offering a way to access an extra pirate persona without overwriting your existing one. Want to keep your current adventurer firmly on their own path, while embarking on a separate seafaring saga under another pirate identity? Adding a new Pirate Profile will let you do that, splitting your time between two (or three, or more) profiles as you see fit. Swing by the Pirate Emporium and purchase a Pirate Deed if this sounds like something for you![/p][p]There are a lot of changes coming to the seas this Season, spaced out to ensure you have something new to discover each month. For a full tour of everything arriving in August, be sure to read through the detailed Season launch release notes, and check out the dedicated Season 17 page – and for more about the features coming in September and October, follow Sea of Thieves on your social media channel of choice to stay in the loop. Until then, we wish you good luck and successful smuggling![/p]