Sea of Thieves News

The fourth Spotlight Showcase instalment is here! It’s been a while, dear readers, so we’ve got three whole months of Spotlights to catch you up on. There’s a brilliant cast of seafaring characters ahead (including our fourth ever Legend Spotlight), so settle in and enjoy this trip down community lane.




First, cast your minds back to August, when we caught up with artist and meme queen Nomezilla for a Community Spotlight. We asked about the development process for her wacky designs, such as the stylish Strawberrybeard, and the story behind her ‘Infernal Galop’ music video. She also shared her love of motorcycles and tales of taking her – frankly adorable – trio of dogs on hikes.




For a Creator Spotlight in August we had none other than NateaCuiki. She discussed how her nocturnal habits allowed her to engage with people on both sides of the Atlantic, including the passionate Spanish-speaking community of Sea of Thieves players. On the subject of streaming, she shared some of her struggles and her best advice for anyone else also thinking of creating content.




Then caught up with a Legend who’s been sailing since the Closed Beta back in 2018: Sir Lotus. Lotus is a Boatswain and a true veteran of the seas, so we sat down with him to find out about challenges faced in the last four years, his journey to Legend and some considerations for other up-and-coming Pirate Legends. He was also keen to set the record straight on a certain incident…




Moving into September, we had another Community Spotlight for you, this time with renowned artist Crewgles! Known for his fine work as part of the ever-friendly Arrt Club, Crewgles also spoke about how his passion for architecture has led to another level of appreciation for the wild and varied structures of Sea of Thieves. Do you know how many bricks you can find in-game?




Next we headed to Australia to speak with another wildly talented Arrt Club participant for our next Community Spotlight: Zookie. She shared the first piece of Sea of Thieves art she did and the touching story behind it, as well as dropping a few hints about what she might be working on next. If you’re a Flameheart fan, Zookie’s definitely one creator to keep an eye on!




We kicked off October by returning to the green-tinged world of Creator Spotlights in the company of streamer Kaidawrath, to hear all about her treasure-hoarding shenanigans. Alongside her record of burning more than 4000 innocent pineapples, she spoke about the responsibility of having an audience and why it’s important not to get discouraged when you’re first starting out.




And finally we come to the last Community Spotlight of October, where we caught up with TheCloudBee to hear how she’s bringing together her passion for gaming and her work as a charity ambassador. As she’s also a formidable helmswoman with experience in countless contests, we of course had to get all her best tips for manoeuvring across the Sea of Thieves.

And thus concludes the latest Showcase! The last three months saw some fabulous members of the community sharing their thoughts, so be sure to check out the full versions of all of these interviews at the links. If you’re looking for more, then don’t forget you can find the full archive of Community, Creator and Legend Spotlights on the Sea of Thieves website. Or if you’re interested in a more abridged collection, there’s always the previous Showcase instalment!

That’s all for now, but we’ll have plenty more Spotlights in the weeks and months ahead, so keep a weather eye on the horizon. Until then!

We’ve done it. We’ve finally arrived at the spookiest of seasons! October brought all the ghouls, goblins and ghosts that any self-respecting pirate could ever want. After all, who doesn’t love the spiderweb/pumpkin aesthetic?

Taking its lead from the shifting seasons, Sea of Thieves also had an eventful month. You might have noticed that there was a brand new Adventure – or perhaps you were too busy getting ready for the later Tricksters and Treaters Event? What we do know is that with so much going on, trying to keep track of it all would test any pirate, so settle in and let’s review everything that went down in October 2022.

[h3]Content Update
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The big news in October was of course the arrival of ‘The Herald of the Flame’, Sea of Thieves’ eighth time-limited adventure. Players were treated to the return of the wily Stitcher Jim, finally emerging from his self-imposed exile with a menacing new look. Together with the Pirate Lord’s allies, players from across the sea came together to strike back against the Reapers and bring down their plans.

Putting down an undead and on fire pirate from an old prophecy feels like it should have been more than enough excitement for the month, but we weren’t done! Towards the end of October, we embraced the spooky spirit with an all-new Tricksters and Treaters Event. The task was simple: either act as a Treater, burying treasure for other players to find, or embrace the pranking as a Trickster and steal everything not nailed down on other people’s ships – all with exclusive cosmetics and Titles on the line.

And, lest we forget, the most important part of any spooky season: the costumes. The Pirate Emporium was flooded with new seasonal cosmetics, including the ultra-slimming Spinal Costume. After all, why fight with the skellies when you can become one? For any players partial to a bit more coverage – or, you know, skin – the Graveyard Gladiator set offered a nice, fleshy alternative. Wait, that came out wrong. Look, free pumpkin juggling!

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[h3]News and Features
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With ‘The Herald of the Flame’ Adventure to explore, we of course dropped a new Adventures Ahead article to remind you of the tale of Stitcher Jim. We weren’t about to let the seasonal spirit go unsung either, so the latter half of the month saw both an eerie Emporium sale and the release of the new ‘Spooky Selects’ soundtrack entry. Remember, drifting through the cold moonlit waves, accompanied only by ghostly shanties of long-gone pirates, can absolutely be self-care and you shouldn’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

The Community Hub got no less than three sets of updates on what our crafty community have been creating, and as always, we had fortnightly Spotlights throughout the month. We started with a Creator Spotlight on renowned Twitch privateer Kaidawrath, speaking about how her platform grew from humble origins. Then for our Community Spotlight we turned to TheCloudBee to discuss her charity work and what it takes to become a fearsome helmswoman.

Continuing the charity theme, Sea of Thieves teamed up with SpecialEffect on October 7th to help level the playing field for gamers with physical disabilities. For #OneSpecialDay, we donated 100% of Sea of Thieves’ net proceeds on Steam to support their incredible work. Thank you to everyone who got involved and helped to raise money for the cause!




[h3]Videos and Streams
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We couldn’t kick off a new Adventure without giving you some trailers, could we? ‘The Herald of the Flame’ cinematic trailer landed early in the month, with the launch trailer just a few days later. Before you had a chance to rejoice and/or dread the return of dear Jim, episode 9 of the official podcast also dropped to answer some of your burning questions and offer up hints about what’s in store for Sea of Thieves’ future.

With the Tricksters and Treaters Event rapidly approaching, John couldn’t resist giving us a spine-tingling edition of Sea of Thieves News. Then once the Event landed, we turned our attention to Twitch and the Tavern of Terror stream to watch as our assembled crew scrambled to uncover a traitor in their midst. There was… mixed success. (Seriously though, is that horizon advancing too quickly for anyone else?)

Twitch Drops once again made their mark in the middle of the month, and on October’s very last day we casually dropped the first trailer for the Adventure awaiting in November…

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[h3]Social Channels
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Way back in September we got fashionable with the first ever #StyleOfThieves competition, and October brought things to a generous conclusion for its debut Season. Piracy has never looked so good. Elsewhere, we raised a toast to Age of Empires as it celebrated its 25th anniversary, building the team their very own ship with a unique colour scheme and inspirational name.

Now, deep breath. Lots more to cram in. Okay? Go. At the start of the month, we invited you to get into the spirit and it took off from there. For the artistically minded, there were two seasonally themed #SoTShot challenges: Striking Skeletons and Frightening Photos. Arrt Club prompt attempts were made in-house, while over on TikTok, our sound designers tried out something a little different for our Megalodon friends.

Our #TriviaTuesday bursts helped to fill in some background on the ‘The Herald of the Flame’ Adventure, while an impromptu geography challenge ended with a surprisingly in-depth discussion about apostrophes. Players’ treasure-burying alignment was called into question, and of course the other side of the Tricksters and Treaters Event coin was the opportunity to send us a tweet and get tricked or treated by the Jack O’ Looter!




So that was October. Phew. What a month. Did we miss anything? If any of this passed you by, don’t forget you can keep up to date with all Sea of Thieves news as it happens by following us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube or Twitch, or joining the official Forums or Discord. This month’s already shaping up to be packed with goodies of its own, so stay tuned, stay spooky and have a great November!

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[h3]Previously in 2022: [/h3]
Sea of Thieves Round-Up: September 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: August 2022
Sea of Thieves Round-Up: July 2022
Sea of Thieves Round-Up: June 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: May 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: April 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: March 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: February 2022 Sea of Thieves Round-Up: January 2022

The Time of Resurrection has arrived, and the infamous Skeleton Lord Captain Flameheart is about to return to the seas – as long as his loyal followers within The Reaper’s Bones are able to complete their long-awaited ritual! Elsewhere, the Pirate Lord’s allies have concocted a rival scheme in an attempt to banish Flameheart for good, placing Captain Pendragon’s life on the line to do so.

Now players must decide whether to ally themselves with Belle or the Servant of the Flame, supporting their chosen side in a battle that spans the Sea of Thieves. It will be pirates, not prophecies, that determine whether Flameheart or Pendragon stands triumphant when the dust settles, with the other consigned to exile. Either way, the future of the Sea of Thieves hangs in the balance...

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[h3]Fight for the Forts
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Both sides require the energy of Dark Relics to successfully compete their rituals, specifically Bewitching Dolls. These hotly contested items can be found sequestered around six Sea Forts scattered across the Sea of Thieves, and must be delivered directly to either Belle or the Servant of the Flame, depending on your allegiance. But there’s a catch...

The Bewitching Dolls draw their power from the Sea Forts that house them, and their effectiveness is greatly increased when your chosen side is in command of the Fort – something you can establish by flying their banner from its flagpole, fighting your way through Phantoms to get there if necessary.

Handing in a Doll at a time when all six Sea Forts are under your side’s control is the most efficient way of assisting in the ritual, while leaving Forts unclaimed will diminish the relic’s effectiveness. Beacons above each Fort will indicate which side, if any, currently holds them.

Forts actively held by the enemy will limit the Dolls’ power, so crews will need to think carefully about their actions – is It better to attack and claim another Fort, defend those you already control or make a dash to hand in your Bewitching Dolls? The choice is yours.




[h3]All Dolled Up
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Crews will need to undertake the Adventure to receive a fresh flag from their chosen side and claim a Sea Fort, but existing flags can be taken down by any passing pirate, allowing crews to sabotage their opponents’ efforts at any time while the Adventure is live.

Similarly, players can scour the Sea Forts for Bewitching Dolls (or seek to steal them from other unwary players) at any time, whether or not they’re actively pursuing the Adventure, so there’s plenty of space for sailing skulduggery and tricky tactics. And keep an eye out for Soulflame Captains within the Forts: should you find and defeat one, its remains can be used to enchant a Bewitching Doll, greatly increasing its worth to Belle or the Servant of the Flame.

However you decide to approach this fateful fight, everyone will have an opportunity to sway the final outcome. For a primer on the forces at play and the circumstances that led to this tipping point, be sure to read our latest Adventures Ahead article. ‘Return of the Damned’ is now underway, and following its conclusion, the results of this cliffhanger community choice will be revealed in a special livestream event! The Adventure itself concludes on November 17th.




[h3]Find Out More
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For more information on the latest Sea of Thieves update, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieves website. This 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? 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. Learn more about Sea of Thieves here, 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!

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As Season Seven continues, the team have been working on the next time-limited Adventure along with additional fixes based on feedback from the community. We’re introducing more of this content to the game in today’s release, update 2.6.3.1.

For a rundown of the most recent Pirate Emporium additions and October’s set of improvements and fixes, see the previous release notes. For more information on all the new content that arrived in Season Seven, check out the launch release notes!

[h3]Adventures
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Although the Herald of the Flame was vanquished by the efforts of pirate crews, the Time of Resurrection has not yet been averted. With the future of the Sea of Thieves on the line, where will those who sail upon it place their allegiance in our ninth time-limited Adventure?

‘Return of the Damned’ (November 3rd – November 17th)

• Speak to Larinna to begin this Adventure and join the fray, with the souls of two powerful pirates hanging in the balance! Will you be #TeamFlameheart or #TeamPendragon?
  
• Either choose to save Pendragon from his noble sacrifice by allying with Belle at Shipwreck Bay as they subvert the Reapers’ ritual, seeking to banish Flameheart’s spirit to the Sea of the Damned for good...
  
• Or choose loyalty to the The Reaper's Bones and protect their ritual at all costs! The Servant of the Flame is channelling dark powers to resurrect his infamous father, summoning those loyal to the cause to join him at The Reaper’s Hideout.
  
• Whatever their allegiance, crews will clash at the Sea Forts spread around the Sea of Thieves during this Adventure. Forts can be claimed for either side by raising the appropriate flag.
  
• When as many Forts as possible are under the control of their chosen side, pirates should seek to recover the Dark Relics known as Bewitching Dolls found within the Forts, returning them to either Belle or the Servant of the Flame.
  
• If enchanted by the energy of a defeated Soulflame Captain, these Relics will carry even greater power!
  
• Join in the global community effort to determine which side amasses the greatest strength for its ritual, determining the fates of Pendragon, Captain Flameheart and the world as we know it.
  
• Participating players can earn rewards as Mementos of the time they helped decide the fate of the Sea of Thieves. An exclusive Title can also be earned for completing all Deeds in this Adventure.

[h3]Fixed Issues
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Gameplay

• Players exploring The Devil’s Roar should no longer experience continual volcanic eruptions and earthquakes while traversing islands.
  
• Players should no longer encounter multiple active World Events at the same time.

Pirate Emporium

• The Collector’s Lodestar Figurehead is now purchasable at the correct price in all locations within the Emporium.

Environment

• Players exploring the Shrine of Tribute will no longer discover a placeholder environment asset.

Visual and Audio

• Players wielding weapons and equipment will now hear the intended audio effects.
  
• Players should now hear the appropriate waterfall sounds when exploring various islands.

[h3]Known Issues
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‘Return of the Damned’ Early Completion

• Crews who are skilled enough to return an enchanted Bewitching Doll to Belle or the Servant of Flame while all Sea Forts are claimed for their chosen side will find the Adventure completes abruptly, removing their Quest Items and showing the final sequence. They are then offered the chance to repeat the Adventure to amass further strength for their chosen side.

Reduced Server Performance

• Players may experience scenarios where they encounter ping spikes at random while playing, resulting in rubberbanding or client stutters. While improvements were most recently released in update 2.5.3, the team continue to work on further improvements for future updates.

Ranged and Melee Weapon Hit Detection

• In areas of intense action, players may find themselves firing shots or landing strikes that do not cause damage to their targets. While small improvements continue to be delivered during our regular updates, we are continuing to investigate and identify further improvements to the player combat experience.
  
  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
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Download size:

• Steam: 4.81 GB

The clock is counting down towards the Festival of the Damned, but there are those on the waves who have no time to indulge in revelry. After all, thanks to the Servant of the Flame and his loyal Reapers, the return of Captain Flameheart is imminent – so long as their plan succeeds, that is. Belle and her allies, meanwhile, are risking everything to ensure that Flameheart’s resurrection is thwarted and the notorious Skeleton Lord never reclaims his physical form.

Battle lines are being drawn and it’s almost certain that pirates will find themselves caught up in the brewing conflict. But before you pick a side, here’s a seaworthy summary of how all this came to pass…

[h3]Damned if You Do
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When it comes to reviving their infamous leader, Captain Flameheart’s followers have clearly been playing the long game. Even before The Reaper’s Hideout was completed, Dark Relics were being gathered and the island known as Old Boot Fort repurposed as a ritual site – one intended to perfect the practice of summoning spirits back from the Sea of the Damned.

Once his soul had been unleashed by an unwitting Captain Pendragon, Flameheart wasted little time in deploying dangerous Ashen Lords and marshalling Ghost Ship armadas to menace the Sea of Thieves, but he himself was little more than a spectral onlooker in these encounters. Trapped beyond the veil, there was only so much influence Captain Flameheart could exert.

Now, though, the pieces are in place to empower a ritual that will restore Flameheart to physical form. This would potentially allow him to take charge of The Reaper’s Bones, although the devious warmonger may well have other ambitions in mind of which not even the Servant of the Flame is aware…

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[h3]How to Get a Head in Business
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Said physical form, as it turned out, was being meticulously restored by Stitcher Jim, having returned to the Reapers to fulfil his role as the Herald of the Flame. Once Jim’s involvement was confirmed and his work forced him out of hiding, it was these preternatural preparations that gave the Pirate Lord’s allies their opportunity to strike.

A desperate assault on Molten Sands Fortress led to the defeat of Stitcher Jim and, courtesy of a triumphant Pendragon and his Sword of Souls, destruction of the skull that would have completed Flameheart’s body. Belle was convinced that this victory had put paid to any chance of Flameheart’s revival – but even in death, the Herald of the Flame had one last part to play…

With Flameheart’s remains and Stitcher Jim’s skull recovered from the aftermath of Molten Sands, the Reapers have used every last trick at their disposal to ensure the prophesised Time of Resurrection proceeds as planned. Should they succeed, their ragtag assembly of bones and brimstone will be transformed into a fully formed Skeleton Lord: Captain Flameheart, just as he appeared in his prime.

[h3]Painted into a Corner
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There’s no longer any chance to prevent the Reapers’ ritual from taking place, but as the old pirate saying goes: “If you can’t beat ‘em…” At Shipwreck Bay, Belle and Pendragon are readying their own version of the ceremony and will attempt to summon Flameheart themselves, drawing him away from his waiting body so that his spirit can be cast into exile instead.

Unfortunately for Pendragon, participating in this desperate scheme has placed his own soul in jeopardy. If the Reapers succeed and Flameheart is reborn, it will be Sir Arthur who finds himself marooned in the furthest reaches of the Sea of the Damned, beyond even Belle’s ability to aid him.

Twin rituals. The fates of two powerful pirates hanging in the balance. Each side equally determined to secure their preferred future for the Sea of Thieves. Both Belle and the Servant of the Flame are calling for aid, and this is where pirates come in…




[h3]Pole to Pole with Maniacal Sailin’
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The key to success lies in controlling Flameheart’s Sea Forts, which now burn with the six Flames of Fate – effectively transforming the entire Sea of Thieves into one gigantic Fort of the Damned rite. Within these Forts lie a multitude of Bewitching Dolls: powerful Dark Relics that can aid both Belle and the Servant in their respective rituals, depending on who pirates choose to deliver them to.

There is a catch, however – the Dolls draw their power from the Forts that house them, which means that the more Sea Forts are under a side’s direct control, the more effective the Relics will be. To that end, both Belle and the Servant are preparing special flags for those who are willing to join their cause. Acquiring one is as simple as playing (or replaying) the Adventure and speaking to the representative of your chosen side.

These flags can then be flown at conquered Sea Forts, capturing them for that side and increasing the power of Bewitching Dolls handed in (and causing the Forts to be defended by loyal Ancient or Reaper Phantoms, depending on who’s currently in charge). Since flags can be lowered at any time by passing pirates looking to sabotage their enemies, even if they’re not undertaking the Adventure, the stage is set for a frantic battle of strength and cunning that will span every region of the sea.




[h3]Soul Survivor
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As if things weren’t deadly enough, vicious Soulflame Captains are being drawn to the Sea of Thieves in Flameheart’s wake. There’s no telling if and when they might make their presence known at a Sea Fort, but if one is encountered and defeated, its essence can be used to enchant a Bewitching Doll, further increasing the Dark Relic’s usefulness when handed in at Shipwreck Bay or The Reaper’s Hideout.

Whether it’s tearing across the map to claim several Sea Forts at once, viciously defending those bastions they’ve already conquered or lying in wait to snatch Bewitching Dolls from the clutches of pirates who let their guard down, different crews will approach the impending battle in different ways – and ultimately, their actions will determine whether it’s Flameheart or Pendragon who’ll be standing tall on the Sea of Thieves in the months ahead.

Which side will you stand with? You have until November 3rd to make your decision, for that’s when ‘Return of the Damned’ launches, with the two-week battle reaching its crescendo on November 17th and the winning side being declared shortly after. Choose carefully, pirates – the future of the Sea of Thieves lies with you…

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[h3]Previously:
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Adventures Ahead: ‘The Herald of the Flame’
Adventures Ahead: ‘The Sirens’ Prize’ Adventures Ahead: ‘A Hunter’s Cry’ Adventures Ahead: ‘The Forsaken Hunter’ Adventures Ahead: ‘Lost Sands’
Adventures Ahead: ‘The Shrouded Deep’ Adventures Ahead: ‘Forts of the Forgotten’
Adventures Ahead: ‘Shrouded Islands’