Sea of Thieves to Undergo Changes in 2026

Enhanced Sea of Thieves in 2026: Introducing Custom Servers for Tailored Gameplay

Rare recently announced significant changes for Sea of Thieves during its first community livestream, outlining the future direction of the multiplayer pirate game. The updates aim to enhance the game’s sandbox features, offer players greater control, and address ongoing cheating concerns, particularly on PC, to ensure a fair experience for all. A major addition arriving in early 2026 is Custom Servers, also referred to as Custom Seas. These will be available through a new subscription plan, a decision Rare attributes to the high production and maintenance costs involved. Progression on Custom Servers will adjust as usual. Custom Servers will allow players to extensively tailor their gameplay experience by: Supporting multiple ships, extending the existing Safer Seas mode to enable friends to gather on private servers. Adjusting various parameters, such as disabling random events like Kraken attacks or storms. Modifying crew limits. Manually generating chests or spawning/disabling enemy AI. Providing access to internal tools, including the cinematic camera used in official trailers.

Rare also revealed a significant refresh for its Insider program, scheduled for 2026. This initiative, which allows players to test new features before release, will undergo a remodeling process. The Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) has been lifted, enabling participants to freely share production content and fostering more open conversations and feedback. The refreshed program will also introduce additional rewards and systems designed to keep active community members engaged. Furthermore, Rare acknowledged past difficulties in maintaining a consistent narrative and technical pace for the game. To address this, a new, more structured model for quarterly seasons will be implemented, beginning with Season 17. Each three-month season will follow a fixed structure: Month One: Dedicated to introducing new in-game mechanics and sandbox elements. Month Two: Focuses on complex live events and expanding the game’s lore. Month Three: Concludes with community initiatives, challenges, and rewards. Specifics for upcoming seasons were also shared:

Season 17, titled “Smugglers Tide,” will introduce the Smugglers faction, new hideouts, and contraband missions involving dangerous cargoes in its first month. The second month will launch a cooperative event centered on raids against heavily fortified bases. In the third month, Skeleton Forts will receive a thematic update with the addition of ghost ships and the Dark Brethren faction. Season 18 will shift its focus to the forgotten region of Devil’s Roar, bringing a new enemy group called the Dark Ancients, secret sanctuaries, and alterations to the Emissary system. The next Community Direct livestream is scheduled for six months from now, where Rare plans to share more details about its long-term vision for Sea of Thieves.

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