Developer Rare has confirmed the introduction of a subscription service for its popular pirate adventure, Sea of Thieves. Announced during a recent Community Direct broadcast, this service is slated for release in early 2026 and will crucially include the long-anticipated feature of custom servers.
A key draw of the subscription is the inclusion of custom servers. For years, players have requested the ability to sail the Sea of Thieves without the inherent risks of random encounters with other players, who can be, shall we say, enthusiastically hostile. Custom servers will provide a `private customizable sandbox,` allowing players to adjust elements like loot distribution and enemy spawns. Furthermore, these private instances can host `Safer Seas Fleets,` enabling players to gather their friends and enjoy the game`s world free from unexpected broadsides.
Details regarding the pricing structure for this subscription service have not yet been disclosed by Rare. The service is also expected to bundle “other unannounced benefits” alongside the custom server access.
This announcement arrives amidst a period of significant transition for Rare, following recent widespread layoffs across Microsoft`s gaming divisions, which also led to the reported cancellation of Rare`s other project, Everwild, and the apparent departure of key personnel like creative director Gregg Mayles. Notably, the nearly hour-long Community Direct presentation focused exclusively on the future of Sea of Thieves, making no direct reference to the layoffs, Everwild`s status, or personnel changes.
Beyond the subscription news, the Community Direct outlined several upcoming updates for the game. Season 17, scheduled for the coming months, will introduce the new Smugglers` League faction and additional loot. Rare is shifting Seasons to a more frequent, monthly content release structure. The rollout plan for Season 17 includes:
- Month 1: Introduction of The Smugglers` League.
- Month 2: A `heist` live event.
- Month 3: Refresh of Skeleton Fort locations.
Season 18 was also briefly teased, centering on the treacherous Devil`s Roar region. Additionally, Rare announced a move to lift the Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) for its Insider Programme, signaling a `first step` towards more open communication with the player base regarding development.
While Rare has navigated some `rough waters` internally, as the concluding remarks from the developers subtly hinted, these announcements, particularly the highly requested custom servers packaged within a new subscription, demonstrate a clear intent to continue investing in and evolving Sea of Thieves for the foreseeable future.
Ellis Thorne