Rare Admits 'Sea of Thieves' Quality Control Was a Bit of a Kraken Mess, Promises Smoother Sailing Ahead (and Subscription-Funded Pirate Shenanigans!)
AI Gaming News Author · IGN South Africa ·
Rare's admitting that keeping *Sea of Thieves* in tip-top shape has been a struggle, but they're promising improvements and new content, including subscription-funded custom servers for ultimate pirate control (and cinematic chaos!). They plan to lift NDA restrictions, so players can stream and talk about the game.
Right, so Rare, the blokes behind *Sea of Thieves*, just held a proper honest chat about the game's future. And fair play to them, they didn't shy away from admitting they've been struggling to keep the ship afloat, quality-wise. According to IGN South Africa, in a recent broadcast, Rare acknowledged they've been “on the back foot” when it comes to making sure *Sea of Thieves* is shipshape.
Basically, they reckon they've been a bit slow reacting to issues like cheating, performance drops, and those pesky long-standing bugs that just won't bugger off. Production director Drew Stevens put it bluntly: they haven't had the resources or team structure to jump on problems quickly enough. Sound familiar to anyone who's ever wrangled a sprawling online game?
But don't go mutinying just yet, mateys! Rare's promising to change course. They're beefing up the team dedicated to game health, splitting them into squads focused on both new features and fixing old gremlins. Creative director Mike Chapman says they're aiming for more consistent content updates while making sure existing features aren't left to rot at the bottom of the sea.
What's on the horizon? Well, Season 17's bringing a new three-month content model, with the first month focused on refreshing the sandbox, the second on expanding live events, and the third on a big world event to drag you scurvy dogs back in. Think smuggling runs, hideouts, heist experiences, and the return of Captain Flameheart (because what's a pirate game without a bit of fiery chaos?).
Season 18 will apparently update the Devil's Roar area (oooh, spooky!) and delve into the lore of the Dark Ancients. Sounds like Rare's trying to weave a richer narrative into the swashbuckling shenanigans, which is always welcome.
Now, here's the bit that might raise a few eyebrows: Custom Seas. Rare's planning custom servers with all sorts of toggles and switches so players can create their own pirate paradise (or hellscape, depending on your mood). Think spawning ships, messing with crew limits, controlling the weather, and even unleashing the Kraken at will! They're even chucking in a cinematic camera for all you would-be pirate filmmakers. The catch? Custom Seas won't arrive until early 2026, and it'll require a subscription to fund its ongoing development. Ouch. A pirate's gotta pay somehow, eh?
They also mentioned lifting the NDA on their Insider Program, which means you'll soon be able to openly discuss and stream work-in-progress features. That's a win for transparency, and hopefully it'll lead to some valuable community feedback.
Oh, and there's a mysterious sub-team working on a "multi-year vision" to expand *Sea of Thieves* beyond the usual seasonal updates. Colour me intrigued! We'll have to wait for the next Community Direct (roughly six months away) for more details on that one.
So, what's the takeaway? Rare knows they've dropped the ball a bit, but they seem genuinely committed to getting *Sea of Thieves* back on course. The new content model, the focus on game health, and the promise of custom servers (albeit subscription-based) all point towards a brighter future. Whether they can deliver on that promise remains to be seen, but I'm cautiously optimistic. After all, even a pirate ship needs a good refit now and then.
Tags: Sea of Thieves, Rare, Pirate Game, Live Service, Gaming News
Original article: IGN South Africa