Sea of Thieves is a uniquely co-operative multiplayer experience1 set in a shared world that combines the thrill of adventuring together with friends with the unpredictability of emergent play and unexpected threats – both from other players and the world itself.

Be the pirates you want to be, share adventures with friends and set your own rules, roles and goals in a world where every sail on the horizon is another crew of players with unknown intent.

Explore, fight and live the pirate life together in this uniquely fresh and fun multiplayer game. Choose your voyage and decide how you’ll approach adventures in a world where every sail on the horizon is another crew of players with unknown intent.

July’s time-limited Adventure, ‘The Forsaken Hunter’, tasked pirates with sleuthing their way across the Sea Of Thieves in pursuit of the missing Merrick, and the true culprits have now been revealed. The Dark Brethren – a collection of renegades who once tried to seize control of the Sea of the Damned – have returned to plague the waves. Now Merrick is locked away in their latest base of operations, glimpsed in all its foreboding glory during our recent cinematic trailer.

That means it’s time to swap clues for cannonballs, travel through the nearest archway (with a little help from the Pirate Lord) and take the fight to the Dark Brethren in the Sea of the Damned. But pirates will be on the back foot in such strange territory, and Merrick’s captors certainly won’t surrender him without a fight...

Recap of the Damned

Currently, the forlorn fisherman is being held atop a twisted recreation of the Glorious Sea Dog Tavern, a reflection of one of the most mountainous landmarks on the Sea Of Thieves. Reaching him will be no easy task. Pirates will need to fend off attacks from a spectral fleet while working to seize control of three lighthouses around the tavern’s perimeter, illuminating a path to the top where the Dark Brethren and their prisoner await!

If all this talk of supernatural seas and transformed taverns has left you staring at your ship's map and wondering where to start, help is at hand. Our latest Adventures Ahead article is ready to educate pirates old and new about the outcasts that make up the Dark Brethren, and how recent events have seen Merrick fall from triumphant community leader to defiant captive.

Social Climbers

Knowing that the doors to the Sea of the Damned must not remain open indefinitely, the Pirate Lord encourages crews to join forces during this battle, facing the Brethren together and making the task of scaling the tavern that much simpler. While a single crew with enough courage and skill might prevail, those willing to rally support through their speaking trumpets will stand the best chance of reaching Merrick in time. With no treasure to tussle over, co-operation could prove the key to success.

Supplies will likewise improve the odds, so be sure to stock up around the Outpost before heading into the fray. When you decide the time is right, speak to Larinna outside the tavern to get started and then seek the Pirate Lord, who’ll be waiting down at the docks to set Merrick’s rescue parties on the right path. Bring the Hunter home, and earn an exclusive Memento of your Adventure, when you take part in ‘A Hunter’s Cry’ between now and September 1st. Just remember to watch your step...

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 Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PC or via Steam, or players who have access to it with Xbox Game Pass. 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.

Key Features:

• A unique co-op experience that combines the thrill of adventuring together with friends with the unpredictability of a shared landscape and its threats, both from other players and the world itself.
• Designed around players working together with shared goals and rewards, where you’ll go on epic voyages in search of legendary artefacts and buried treasure, but in a world where every sail on the horizon is another crew. What flag are they flying, and what do they want?
• Crew up with your friends and be the pirates you want, choosing your own roles and goals. Explore the world, take on quests, or seek out conflict. It’s your crew against the world, and how you deal with other crews is entirely up to you.
• Invites players into a beautiful world with a distinctive art style, ripe for exploration and with mythical creatures lurking on islands and under the inviting surface of the sea…
• Offers an experience that will evolve over time, landing in players’ hands early and growing thanks to community insights and feedback. New ways to play will be unveiled as the world expands and evolves.

Sea Of Thieves is now available for Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC (Microsoft Store/Steam) as an Xbox Play Anywhere title, and also supports cross-play.