Sea of Thieves: 2026 Edition

The nights are drawing in and it’s been a little while since we last scanned what’s on the horizon, so it’s time for a fresh This Month in Sea of Thieves article! If you’ve already taken a glance at how long this article is, you’ll know…

Have you ever looked at your ship’s sails and thought “those would be 100% better with a reference to our crew’s inside joke about Flameheart having a puppy called Hot Dog”? Of course you have, and now’s your chance to prove it!Our first…

Looking for your next adventure? You won’t need to look far in Sea of Thieves Season 21! With a breathless schedule of Live Events and enhancements to Custom Seas each month, it’s a Season full of things to catch your attention and keep the…

Custom SeasThe free customisation toolset introduced in Season 20 expands with new options and additions! For more info on everything else taking place this Season, head over to our dedicated Season 21 page.Saving LayoutsCustom Seas now…

It’s been quite a while since we last invited you to follow along as a new cosmetic makes the leap from an idea to a fully realised in-game item. The last time we were here, we had some lantern secrets to share, following on from our prior…

The final summer bank holiday in the UK has just passed by, which surely means that September has begun and, more importantly, you’re owed a new list of everything that’s going to be happening in the coming month. September’s schedule is…

How are your Custom Seas creations going? Made any fun game modes? We’ve had a good time seeing Sea of Thieves versions of Dodgeball, admiring some Arena-inspired modes and marvelling at the cinematic masterpieces you’re producing. However…

Update August 28th: Following the original publication of this article, we’ve heard your feedback and are making some adjustments to what was previously announced with regards to #SoTShot rewards. While we were well-intentioned in trying to…

Custom SeasBuild new game modes to challenge your friends, record unrivalled cinematics and experience the Sea of Thieves like never before! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season 20…

The sweltering heat of August has had a few days to settle in now, and even though we’re already acclimatised thanks to the last few weeks of sweltering heat, it still seems like a good time to browse the upcoming Sea of Thieves schedule…

Custom SeasBuild new game modes to challenge your friends, record unrivalled cinematics and experience the Sea of Thieves like never before! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season 20…

UpdatesChest of Fortune BalancingThe issues preventing some emergent World Events from awarding the Chest of Fortune upon completion have been addressed, and the Chest of Fortune is now being awarded where intended.When tackling any of…

Once July’s calendar of activities kicks off, there’s barely a day going spare that doesn’t have something to divert your attention – and maybe help you earn a few rewards along the way. So, in the interests of keeping this intro brief when…

UpdatesEmergent World EventsThe Fleet of Fortune should no longer appear as one of the emergent World Events taking place on the seas during Season 20. Fixed IssuesGameplayPlayers below deck on the Sloop can no longer jump to reach through…

So soon! The gate is still swinging on its hinges from the escape of Season 20, pirates are busy testing the waters of Custom Seas and already we’re here dangling the carrot of another Community Weekend. What can we say? It’s never too…

Do you want to play a game? Don’t worry, no creepy phone calls or tricycle puppets here, just the long-awaited introduction of Custom Seas – Sea of Thieves’ headline feature for Season 20, an expansive creative toolset designed to help all…

Custom SeasBuild new game modes to challenge your friends, record unrivalled cinematics and experience the Sea of Thieves like never before! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season 20…

Though the weather may be sweltering and the air stifling, a new month has begun and that means there’s work to be done. A This Month article to be written, more specifically. So sit down, settle in as best you can amidst the summer heat…

Last Ship StandingShrinking Battle BoundsWhile the Battle Bounds will continue to shrink at the same stages early in the battle, during the endgame the area will now remain at a larger size to provide more space for crews to battle.While…

We thought our calendar must be broken, but it turns out that it really is already time for another #StyleOfThieves contest! Where do the months go? Admittedly we did lose quite a few days to just staring out at sea waiting to see a big…

Last Ship StandingJoin a mass battle between up to six Sloops in the strange surroundings of the Sea of the Damned! Last Ship Standing's debut appearance will be live for the duration of Season 19: Act 3.Solo and Duo Sloop BattlesSloop…

Update May 12th: Following the news that Last Ship Standing will be given a little more development time to reach its full potential, Act 3 of Season 19 has been moved back by one week to launch on May 21st. The accompanying Twitch Drops…

The tradition of Act 2 focusing on in-game Events continues in Season 19 with the introduction of the Bilge Rats Weekender! While this Event is active, you'll be able to complete challenges to earn fresh Doubloons, following the currency…

Bilge Rats WeekenderUndertake special Voyages and Challenges to win Doubloons in this recurring pirate celebration! The extended debut of the Bilge Rats Weekender is live from April 16th to April 20th, 2026.The Celebrations Begin!With the…

A hectic March has come to an end, but the Sea of Thieves never rests and so neither shall we. April is set to be a slightly quieter month, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty to be getting on with. From refreshed editions of the game…

Hello, and welcome to this handy summary of March 2026’s Community Direct! The team sat down earlier this month to reflect on everything that’s happened since the last Direct, while also discussing the next few months of Sea of Thieves…

If the sound of distant – and not-so-distant – cannon fire hadn’t tipped you off, Season 19 has begun! That means a few things, including a host of improvements to Faction Battles, but most importantly of all: it’s nearly time for our next…

The fires of battle are being stoked once again in Season 19 of Sea of Thieves, even as a brand new recurring Event promises fresh ways of earning Doubloons. Yes, in this latest free Season, players engaging in the exhilarating action of…

Improved Faction BattlesSeason 19 kicks off by overhauling the Hourglass of Fate, later promising a festival-themed Event and a new battle mode for Sloop crews! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated…

Fixed IssuesGameplayPlayers dying while wearing a Disguise or mimicking another player should no longer appear invisible to others when returning from the Ferry of the Damned.Crews with rival ships nearby are once again blocked from server…

Another month, another This Month in Sea of Thieves article! There’s absolutely loads going on this March, including game updates, charity drives, anniversary celebrations, Community Weekend and more, so let’s skip the preamble and just get…

Secrets of the Banished: Act 3Take on the Eternal Guard, raid Sanctuaries of the Banished and generally risk life and limb returning to The Devil's Roar! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season…

Welcome once again, pirates of costuming culture, to the latest instalment of #StyleOfThieves! The most chic community contest that strives to rinse every last drop from your pirate’s extra-dimensional storage spaces they’ve chosen to fill…

As we committed to in last year’s inaugural Community Direct, we’re surveying players every Season to find out how you found its features, and where you’d like to see us do more. Season 17 was no exception, so we’re here to share with you…

As promised, we’re back with another Showcase to recap all the remaining Spotlights from 2025, tying everything up in a neat bow for now. To date, we’ve brought you 64 Spotlights across nine Showcase articles stretching back to 2022 (with…

Update February 13th: Following the announcement that Ashen Garrisons aren’t quite ready to be stormed by pirate crews just yet, Act 3 of Season 18 has been pushed back two weeks to launch on March 5th. The accompanying Twitch Drops will…

Season 18 Community Weekend is now live on High Seas until February 2nd (11am UTC)! Set sail for the free flag and Rising Wave Emote, hand in a Chest of Fortune for an exclusive Title, boost the Community Emissary Grade multiplier by…

Back at the end of 2025, the extra month for Season 17 meant that the following Season’s Community Weekend got shuffled out of the end-of-year running order. But! We didn’t forget and we’re ready to get back to it: Season 18 Community…

Secrets of the Banished: Act 2Take on the Eternal Guard, raid Sanctuaries of the Banished and generally risk life and limb returning to The Devil's Roar! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated Season…

A new year is upon us! After the frenetic end-of-year rush to make sure all the pieces of the Festival of Giving were running smoothly, it feels like almost no time at all since we were last here, giving you the rundown. Nonetheless, it is…

Another year on the seas is upon us, and it’s all set to be a busy one. January offers Fortress-based threats and discounted pets, Twitch Drops and mic drops, contests and cosmetics and of course 2026’s first Community Weekend, so read on…

It’s been over a year since we last delivered a Showcase, if you can believe it! We hardly can, but the relentless wheel of time has been spinning ever on regardless, and we’re long overdue in sharing another for your reading pleasure. In…

Season 18 has begun in Sea of Thieves, and the Dark Brethren have been working hard in The Devil’s Roar, detonating their recently acquired Black Powder Barrels to uncover lost Sanctuaries of the Banished. Now pirates across the seas are…

Secrets of the BanishedGet ready to take on the Eternal Guard, raid Sanctuaries of the Banished and generally risk life and limb returning to The Devil's Roar! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated…

Secrets of the BanishedGet ready to take on the Eternal Guard, raid Sanctuaries of the Banished and generally risk life and limb returning to The Devil's Roar! To learn more about this Season’s headline features, head over to our dedicated…

It’s been quite a year. The adventures of 2026 are just starting to crest the horizon, but there are still two more round-ups to deliver first! November ended up being a quieter month than initially planned as a result of Season 18 moving…

The Festival of Giving is back, with all kinds of ways to get involved throughout December! Of course it's not all that’s happening – there’s a whole new Season launch coming your way this side of the holidays too – so pull up a log, brush…

Gameplay ImprovementsImproved Weapon SwitchingWhen players switch between ranged weapons, the animation and switching times have been reduced, providing a snappier and more responsive experience when firing two shots. The time between…

If you listen very carefully, you can just about hear the sound of carols floating on the wind, which must mean we’re officially out of spooky season! Before we roll right into the Festival of Giving, however, we have one final order of…

What do you mean, it’s a week into November already? Not to worry – we may be running a little behind, but we wouldn’t miss out on letting you know what’s coming up on the Sea of Thieves calendar this month. So settle in somewhere warm…