Sea of Thieves News

[p]Summer is finally here! The sun is blazing bright over the Sea of Thieves, which means it’s time to bid a fond farewell to the darling buds of May – but not before we’ve gotten you up to speed on everything you might have missed. So settle down on your favourite pirate beach and lose yourself for a while in this latest round-up…[/p][h3]Content Update[/h3][p]The seas were teeming with activity throughout May, from the very first day when we kicked things off with a hotfix for some of the additions in late April. From there it was straight into the latest Festival of Fishing Event, celebrating the recent expansion of The Hunter’s Call and setting up some tasty rewards to be reeled in along the way![/p][p]All of which left us in a great position to unleash Season 16 a few days later, revolving around the Reapers and all that they and their master Flameheart have been working towards since his resurrection. The Reaper’s Bones revealed their very first Voyage, while the devastating portable Cannon of Rage started appearing on island shores. At the same time, the seas welcomed in a new wave of players from Battle.net® with a unique set of sails offered for free to anyone who sets sail this Season![/p][p][/p][h3]News and Features[/h3][p]With updates and events happening left and right, a quick summary was needed at the beginning of the month in the form of May’s This Month in SoT article, as well as a couple of State of Play Forum posts from Production Director Drew to explain what all those updates were about. But there was also time to unveil our latest Community Spotlight, peering into the world of twin creative crafters, ChloeSaurasCrafts![/p][p]It was a big month for book lovers too: in celebration of a new Reaper-themed Season, Sea of Thieves novel Heart of Fire was temporarily available for free from all of the places you can expect to find ebooks, while artistic souls were well served by the arrival of Sea of Thieves: The Art of Piracy! The second art book we’ve released, this tome highlights more work from the phenomenal artists who’ve helped to craft the visual style of our shared pirate paradise.[/p][p][/p][h3]Videos and Streams[/h3][p]With The Reaper’s Bones preparing to make their move in Season 16, we wanted to ensure everyone had a chance to get up to speed on the story so far. To that end, some of the Rare crew gathered in the Tavern for a special lore-centric podcast, while Sea of Thieves Partner Captain Falcore relayed the history of Captain Flameheart. And, while we were all in the Reaper spirit, we just couldn’t wait to release the ominous music behind the Season 16 title screen, ‘Reaper’s Requiem’.[/p][p]That left a tiny amount of time to squeeze in May’s episode of Sea of Thieves News, before diving right into the business of the content update, launch, Emporium overview and unlockable cosmetics videos that come with the arrival of every new Season. There was even a new Developer Update in the same week with more behind-the-scenes details![/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p][/p][h3]Social Channels[/h3][p]May was no slouch in the community competition department, with not only a new Community Hub update and a #SoTShot round on Wild Things, but the Season 15 Style of Thieves contest that sashayed in just before the Season ended. Fashion-focused pirates could strut their stuff in the categories of Hunter, Duvet Day, Regal and Monstrous, with the winning ensembles well deserving of a hearty round of applause.[/p][p]It wasn’t all competitions though; we started the month by asking the Big Questions, and closed the month in much the same way, albeit with some Crewmates hijinks, skeleton friends and a bit of light thievery along the way. Really now, what did you expect from pirates?[/p][previewyoutube][/previewyoutube][p]And on that altogether unsurprising bombshell, we must depart. We’ll be back again as always next month with new delights to round up for you all, but until then, why not drop by and see us on the social channel of your choice? You can find us on Twitter/X, Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Twitch, the official Forums and Discord, so feel free to come and say hello. But with that we’ll have to leave you – The Reaper’s Bones have been making quite the mess and you wouldn’t believe how hard it can be to scrub paint off sea rocks. At least the Megalodon plush is here to help. [/p][hr][/hr][h3]Previously in 2025:[/h3][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: April 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: March 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: February 2025[/p][p]Sea of Thieves Round-Up: January 2025[/p]

Welcome to a brand new month of Sea of Thieves fun! There are a quite a few bits and bobs for buccaneers to get their teeth into over these next few weeks, so grab your map and let us help you plot a course for all the Events, features and bonuses that June has to offer.

Gold & Glory Weekend – Friday, June 6th – Monday, June 9th

The pirate life isn’t just about the gold, it’s also about the glory – except for when we have an Event on, and it’s actually about both. Hit the High Seas from June 6th–9th to get boosted gold, reputation, Renown and Allegiance in return for your hard work.

Pirate Emporium Gone Fishin’ Sale – Wednesday, June 11th – Monday, June 16th

While Season 15 is now in the rear view mirror, our love of The Hunter’s Call and their fishy friends remains. This month’s Emporium sale discounts some of the more marine life-related designs, including items from the Wrecker Wrangler, Stormfish Chaser, Lionfish and Ruby Splashtail sets. With discounts as deep as 50%, it’s an excellent time to snag yourself a bargain.

‘The Ancient Pillars’ Release – Friday, June 13th

Our latest Sea of Thieves soundtrack addition is the dramatic, driving anthem ‘The Ancient Pillars’, which will be available to stream on Spotify or the alternative streaming service of your choice from June 13th. Guaranteed to make the completion of any task feel grander!

June Monthly Update – Thursday, June 19th

Season 16’s second content update releases on June 19th, bringing with it revamped Reaper’s Chests! As Flameheart’s power and influence grows, these once mysteriously locked chests can now be unsealed – unleashing Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons to protect your crew and attack any foes nearby.

Of course, a new monthly update also brings fancy new wares to the Pirate Emporium and a Voyage of Luck to all players for free, so there’ll be plenty to set sail for when June’s update drops.

Fight Nights Event – Thursday, June 19th – Thursday, June 26th

After making their debut late last year, Fight Nights return! Seek out combat with your Hourglass of Fate and earn double the usual Allegiance and gold for every Faction battle fought during this Event. These boosts will fast-forward your progress towards both the Blessing of Athena’s Fortune and the Skeleton Curse, so put your best foot forward and get ready for some solid seafaring scrapping.

Twitch Drops – Friday, June 20th – Friday, June 27th

Twitch Drops return to accompany June’s content update, kicking off the following day. This set of swag will be available to unlock and claim for seven days, with gold, Seasonal Renown, Voyages and cosmetics all part of the package. There’ll be more information on the specific goodies included later in the month.

Drops are available by linking your accounts and watching any Sea of Thieves Partner on Twitch for the required amount of time. If you’re not sure who to watch, check our Partner Directory to see who’s online and available to tune in to once those Drops go live!

Sails of Bonded Brawlers – throughout Season 16

Players who have yet to set sail in Season 16 are still able to bag the beautiful blue Sails of Bonded Brawlers. Released in celebration of Sea of Thieves’ launch on Battle.net®, these snazzy sheets remain available to claim for free over the course of Season 16. Just head to the Ship Customisation Chest to find and equip them.

Pride Month – throughout June
Of course, June is also Pride Month, which gives us a wonderful opportunity to celebrate all our sailors’ differences and reaffirm our commitment to Sea of Thieves’ Pirate Code. If you’re unfamiliar with the Pirate Code or just need a refresher, you can take a look here.

This year, we’re thrilled to announce that players can pick up the Progress Pride Flag from the ever-reliable Larinna outside the tavern, for the noteworthy total of 1969 gold. Proud pirates in participating territories will now be able to attach this fabulous fabric to their flagpole forevermore – as while it’s introduced as part of our Pride Month 2025 activities, it’ll stay in Sea of Thieves permanently and be available from the shipwright at any Outpost after June has passed.

We also have other celebratory events planned throughout the month, including a special stream from the studio. So stay tuned for more on what to expect as we honour our queer creators and communities! The sea calls to, and will always welcome, all pirates who wish to sail on it – and from this month onwards, you’ll be able to proudly represent the community with a beautiful banner too.

[h3]Fixed Issues[/h3]
Cannon of Rage

• Players being fired from a Cannon of Rage deployed on a moving ship will no longer find their trajectory is affected by the ship’s movement while travelling through the air.
  
• Cannons deployed on the lift at The Reaper’s Hideout will no longer appear flattened.
  
• Cannons of Rage can now be consistently interacted with once deployed. (Released previously as part of an interim update.)

Search for Ancient Secrets

• The Skull of the Banished can no longer be placed inside a Treasure Chest and have its marker hidden from the ship’s map.
  
• Players will now be rewarded with Caskets of Verdant Bones when progressing through the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage, allowing them to work towards the Reaper of Servant’s Offerings Commendations.
  
• Crews will no longer be directed to Plunder Valley when starting the Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage.

Performance and Stability

• Further security improvements have been made to protect against players attempting to bypass game integrity checks.
  
• Improvements have been made to game stability to reduce scenarios where players unexpectedly become disconnected from their session. (Released previously as part of an interim update.)

[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]Full Release Notes[/h3]
These release notes cover a hotfix. For full details on recently added game features, see the release notes on our latest content update.

Season 16 has arrived in Sea of Thieves! It’s been a little while since the fearsome Captain Flameheart regained his physical form, but the time has now come for him to expand the reach of his loyal followers and strengthen the standing of The Reaper’s Bones.

In this latest free Seasonal update, pirates will be able to set out on their first ever Voyages for The Reaper’s Bones and work together with the legendary skeletons of the Order of Bone and Blade to uncover Ancient secrets – and that’s just the beginning…

[h3]Stronger Bones[/h3]
With their leader Captain Flameheart returned to full strength and armed with forbidden knowledge thieved from Ancient Temples, The Reaper’s Bones are making their move on the Sea of Thieves! This Season, for the first time, they’ll be offering Voyages for pirates to undertake, beginning with the Search for Ancient Secrets.

In this Voyage, players will need to work with a lost crew of skeletons from the fabled Order of Bone and Blade to unearth long-buried Ancient Sarcophagi. Along the way, Ancient Phantoms will emerge to defend their hidden secrets. You’ll need to fight them off to finish activating the mechanisms and uncover a Skull of the Banished to take back to the Servant of the Flame.

Voyaging for The Reaper’s Bones isn’t quite so simple, however: Flameheart values strength and dominance above all else, so if you want to sail in his name, you’ll have to fly a Reaper’s Mark Flag! The flag will be raised automatically whenever you undertake a Voyage for The Reaper’s Bones, revealing the location of your ship to all other nearby crews and inviting them to come and claim your loot for themselves, if they have what it takes…

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[h3]Emergent Excitements[/h3]
The growing influence of The Reaper’s Bones is having an impact on emergent activities too. Their cunning weaponsmiths have devised a way of tapping the raw power of the Chest of Rage to construct a new, devastating weapon: the Cannon of Rage.

This portable armament grants pirates who find it the freedom to fire cannonballs from almost anywhere, then pack up the cannon and carry it on to a new location for redeployment. There’s a risk, however: whenever the Cannon of Rage fires or takes damage, it starts to overheat. Fail to give it time to cool down (or speed up the cooling process with water), and it’ll live up to its name with a violent explosion that’s liable to sink the ship you’re standing on!

Meanwhile, skeletal members of the long-lost Order of Bone and Blade have started clawing their way up towards the sandy surfaces of islands, waiting to be fully unearthed by curious passers-by. Rescue them and you’ll be friends for life – or at least until they fall in battle, as they’ll happily throw in their lot with the next pirate to revive them. You’ll find they’re also unable to leave the island to which their bones are bound! Until then, though, they can lend a hand with whatever needs doing, whether it’s demystifying tricky treasure maps, digging up treasure or helping to carry your haul to safety.

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[h3]More to Come[/h3]
The Season 16 additions don’t end with May’s update. Over the next few months, new features will be arriving as part of our staggered Season delivery, including a second Voyage for The Reaper’s Bones and the introduction of breakable seals on Reaper’s Chests! If a crew decides to take the plunge and investigate what’s actually inside these strange glowing boxes, they might just find themselves with a sturdy crew of skeletons ready to defend their new companions to the death.

The Followers of the Flame Voyage also focuses on these mysterious treasures favoured by The Reaper’s Bones. Pirates will be tasked with using an enchanted lantern known as the Follower’s Flame to search for a new kind of Reaper’s Chest in need of recovery, helped along the way by some of Flameheart’s loyal forces.

These further additions will be arriving throughout Season 16, so be sure to keep an eye on our social channels for more news on each update as it approaches!

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[h3]Flaming Fashions[/h3]
Any expansion to The Reaper’s Bones wouldn’t be complete without a fresh round of Commendations to work towards and the rewards unlocked by doing so. Season 16 introduces a wealth of new Reaper-inspired cosmetics to personalise your pirate, ensuring you can always show your allegiance via your wardrobe. Pirate Captains will also find that they have new Captaincy Milestones awaiting them to keep track of their contributions to Flameheart’s plans.

Beyond Commendations, Season 16 promises everything you’d expect from a new Sea of Thieves Season, including another 100 levels of Renown to climb through with daring deeds and a rich bounty of cosmetics, gold, Doubloons and Ancient Coins to earn along the way. For pirates who already have some Ancient Coins ready to spend, the Pirate Emporium is ready to light up the night with its latest array of offerings, while the Season 16 Plunder Pass includes the luxurious Oyster’s Prize ship set (including Collector’s items) and matching Oyster’s Prize Eyepatch, Jacket and Belt!

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The seas will be abuzz with activity during Season 16 as the Reapers roll out their plans, so keep your eye on the horizon for everything that’s coming. For a full breakdown of the features included and improvements made in this month’s update, check out the latest release notes. More information about the features coming later in the Season will be revealed in the weeks ahead, so follow Sea of Thieves on the social media platform of your choice to get all the latest updates. Good luck out there, and may the Flame burn!

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[h3]Reapers Rising[/h3]
Set sail on Voyages for The Reaper’s Bones, roll out the Cannon of Rage and enlist Captain Flameheart’s Order of Bone and Blade! To learn more about this new Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season 16 page.

Search for Ancient Secrets Voyage

• The Reaper’s Bones now offer an on-demand Voyage from the Quest Table: the Search for Ancient Secrets.
  
• This Voyage tasks crews with uncovering long-lost skeletons from the fabled Order of Bone and Blade and working with them to unearth Ancient Sarcophagi, while fighting back against Ancient Phantoms dead set on defending their secrets.
  
• Embarking on a Voyage for The Reaper’s Bones will automatically raise a Reaper’s Mark Flag on the ship, announcing your location to other crews via their Map Table.

Cannon of Rage

• The Cannon of Rage is a powerful portable cannon that can be positioned and redeployed for a wide range of tactical uses.
  
• Once deployed, it can be loaded and fired like a regular cannon, but with each shot fired the cannon generates heat and will need cooling down to prevent overheating. Players can delay their shots to allow the cannon to cool naturally, or douse it with water to speed up the process.
  
• The cannon will also overheat when taking damage, becoming a potential target for rival crews. Should the cannon reach critical heat levels, either through overuse or damage, it will result in a devastating explosion that damages anything nearby.
  
• These cannons can be found as a guaranteed reward within the Vaults of emergent Skeleton Forts, the Fort of Fortune and the Fort of the Damned. Crews may also find themselves lucky and discover them hidden in Sea Forts or washed up on beaches. Raid Voyages won’t award these volatile contraptions, so keep an eye on the horizon for those events!

Skeleton Mercenaries

• Order of Bone and Blade Skeletons can now be found partially buried on islands across the Sea of Thieves, and will assist pirates who revive them. Crews can recover multiple allies as they explore, and may even uncover an Order of Bone and Blade Captain, a more formidable defender.
  
• As allies, the Order of Bone and Blade will join the fray to protect their adopted crew. While they can fall during a fight, they can also be revived to rejoin the battle. But be warned that these mercenaries will side with whoever revives them, even if that's a rival crew!
  
• These mercenaries will follow and assist the adopted crew on their island adventures. However, their bones are bound to the island where they’re found, so they’re unable to accompany pirates on their onward journey!

Reaper’s Chest Value

• The Reaper’s Bones are seeking the power held within the Reaper’s Chest and Reaper’s Bounty to fulfil their needs, and now award increased gold and reputation to crews delivering these to The Reaper’s Hideout.

Reapers Rising Commendations and Rewards

• A range of new Reapers Rising Commendations have been added within the Reputation tab to challenge pirates. Explore the challenges under the Reaper’s Bones and Bilge Rat Commendation tabs in the Pirate Log.
  
• The Reaper’s Bones representatives now offer access to Reaper’s Bones weapons, clothing and equipment unlocked through their Commendations. These items will arrive over the course of the Season.
  
• Servants of the Flame can earn access to new Skeleton Curse cosmetics through the Bonesmith, unlocking the Skull, Upper and Lower Body parts for the Order of Bone and Blade and Captain variants along with the Rusted Raw Bones.
  
• The Outpost shipwrights offer two new items for Captains, in the form of the ‘Essence of Red Death’ and ‘Resurrection of Secrets’ Ornaments.
  
• Reapers tackling the new Pirate Milestone within the Voyager alignment can unlock access to the new ‘Digging for Victory’ Painting.

[h3]Season 16[/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 16 Rewards and Plunder Pass

• Progressing through the 100 levels of Renown in Season 16 will reward players with Boneward Blade clothing items and unique Season 16 rewards, alongside time-limited Bone and Blade 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 Oyster’s Prize collection, 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 16 Emissary Ledger Rewards

• This Season, the Guild Emissary Ledgers offer the ‘Forbidden Knowledge’ Painting, ‘Blade to the Bone’ Ornament and Guild of Elevated Evil Title to Guilds who represent them well and perform proudly in the Ledgers.

Chest of Fortune

• The Chest of Fortune remains within the Vault of the Fort of Fortune for this season.
  
• Crews who retrieve Chests of Fortune can now earn the next Grade of the Fortune’s Favour Commendation, unlocking access to the Regal Fortune Cannons, Capstan, Wheel and Flag.

Reaper’s Chests

• Crews chasing down the tell-tale 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 Blunderbuss, Eye of Reach and Throwing Knives.

[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!

• Lamplighter Ship Collection and Ship’s Crest
  
• Lamplighter Weapon Bundle
  
• Lamplighter Costume
  
• Lamplighter Lantern
  
• Reaper’s Heart Toucan
  
• Dark Warsmith Cabin Bundle
  
• Sting Tide Eye of Reach (free!)

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

• The Outpost weaponsmiths now stock the Party Boat Throwing Knives, Double Barrel Pistol, Grapple Gun and Blowpipe.

Season Nine Legacy Cosmetics

• Cosmetics previously available during Season Nine have arrived in Outpost shops and can now be yours in exchange for Doubloons!
  
• Players can now purchase the Prosperous Privateer clothing set, along with a range of unique one-off items first available during this Season. Pirate Legends can also pick up the Legendary Bone Hunter Jacket and Spyglass.
  
• The time-limited Gilded Age items, however, remain exclusive to players who participated in Season Nine.

[h3]Gameplay Improvements[/h3]
Performance Improvements

• This update includes a range of smaller system-level optimisations to game performance, networking and memory, providing improvements across the broader experience.

Tightrope Improvements

• Players traversing a harpoon tightrope are now free to look up and down while balancing.

[h3]Updates[/h3]
Game Integrity Improvements

• Improvements to game integrity on PC now detect and prevent players from manipulating game files to modify the game experience.

Network Connection Indicator

• Players experiencing an unstable network connection will now be shown an indicator within the game HUD. While this is enabled by default, it can be disabled within the HUD settings.

Improved GPU Crash Reporting

• Players on PC will find a new option in the game settings allowing extra information to be gathered when experiencing a GPU-related game crash. While this is disabled by default, it can be enabled through the Video Options settings.

[h3]Fixed Issues[/h3]
Gameplay

• Captains restoring their ship at a shipwright will now consistently find the ship is returned to pristine condition.
  
• During Faction Battles, ships that are beached in shallow waters around islands can now be consistently sunk by rival crews. Once sufficient damage has been dealt to a ship, it will be considered sunk and moved to the wreckage tunnel.
  
• Players firing themselves from cannons into island shallows should no longer find they are sometimes pushed through the geometry and underneath the island.
  
• The Barnacled Dread no longer flees from an encounter when struck by a Lure Dart.
  
• Players will no longer find their ship sometimes takes damage from sea rocks when surfacing from a dive in certain world locations.
  
• Detonating a Gunpowder Barrel held by a skeleton should now consistently cause nearby Gunpowder Barrels to explode.
  
• Damage from a firebomb now consistently forces players out of a sitting spot.
  
• Storage Crates dug up from Skeletons’ Orders can now be sold at Outposts.
  
• ‘Revenge of the Morningstar’ – Starting this Tall Tale from a checkpoint and choosing to dive to the location now consistently places the required Tale items on the Quest Table.

Hunting Spear

• Hunting spears can now be sold to The Reaper’s Bones.
  
• Players are now prevented from placing a hunting spear in a Merfolk Statue while charging a throw.
  
• Hunting spears that float to the ocean’s surface after being thrown can now consistently be picked up.
  
• Hunting spears should no longer be destroyed when thrown or carried while inside the Tunnels of the Damned or when diving.
  
• Players using ‘Reduce Hold to Use item’ will find it now supports charging a hunting spear’s throw.

Megalodon Hunting Voyage

• The enraged Megalodon encountered while on this Voyage should no longer attempt to attack the ship immediately after surfacing.
  
• Appropriate battle music should now be heard during the Voyage when the Megalodon surfaces.

Wild Boars

• Grand Boars found exploring the island should now leave behind fewer items of fruit when left undisturbed.
  
• The health of wild boars now dynamically scales with the crew size in proximity, providing a balanced encounter for all crew sizes.

Environment

• Players should no longer be able to trap themselves at the Dagger Tooth Outpost shipwright when using the Grapple Gun.
  
• Invisible objects found around the environment have been removed from The Reaper’s Hideout.
  
• Improvements have been made to various parts of the environment at Ancient Spire Outpost to address visual issues.
  
• Improvements have been made to the lighting within the Vault at Hidden Spring Keep.

Visual and Audio

• The Skin Scriber Pistol and Double Barrel Pistol have had their aiming improved to ensure shots now align with the tip of the barrel.
  
• Applying tattoos should no longer change the player’s skin tone.
  
• The Stormfish Chaser Blunderbuss now sits correctly in the player’s hands.
  
• The Silent Barnacle Sails no longer have visible floating parts when equipped.
  
• Players equipping a disguise while wearing the Lightbearer Costume should now remain fully hidden.
  
• The lantern near the Sloop’s wheel will now consistently cast a visible light when moving around the ship.

Text and Localisation

• The notification for unlocking the Wild Seas Curse now displays the correct message.
  
• The Pirate of Magnificent Mischief Title now appears with the correct name when equipped.
  
• Japanese translations for the Skin Scriber set have been corrected.

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.

[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: 3 GB