Rare Discusses Future Plans for Sea of Thieves Following Layoffs and Project Cancellation

Sea of Thieves developer Rare recently held an hour-long discussion outlining their future plans for the long-running live-service pirate game. This broadcast followed a week after the studio experienced significant layoffs and the cancellation of their next project, Everwild.

Notably, the layoffs were not mentioned during the Sea of Thieves Community Direct broadcast, which focused solely on Rare's commitment to and plans for the game. These plans include a revamped seasonal structure, subscription-based custom servers, and a focus on improving overall game health and performance. Rare reaffirmed their dedication to Sea of Thieves for the foreseeable future, with a roadmap stretching over the next five years.

Challenges with Game Health and Performance

Production Director Drew Stevens shared candid reflections on the studio's past difficulties in maintaining quality with new features. He admitted that Rare has often been "on the back foot" when addressing issues like quality control, game performance, and security.

"We've felt like we're always on the back foot," Stevens said. "In many cases, we felt we were a bit slow to respond. We don't always have the right resources or team structure to immediately tackle some of the issues we see, whether that's quality control and shipping features at a level we’re not entirely satisfied with, game performance where new features have gradually led to degradation, or game security."

He further acknowledged delays in addressing problems like PC cheating and long-standing bugs, emphasizing the need for a more proactive approach. Rare's goal, according to Stevens, is to establish teams and structures that allow both reactive and proactive solutions, ensuring confidence in future updates' performance.

Consistency and Growth in Content Development

Creative Director Mike Chapman reiterated Rare’s commitment to balancing the introduction of new content with improvements to existing features. He revealed that the team focusing on game health is expanding, with specialized groups working on both new features and long-term issues.

Season 17: A New Three-Month Model

The upcoming Season 17 will introduce a redesigned three-month content release model:

1. Month 1: Refreshing the game’s sandbox with new content, including smuggling hideouts, Smugglers’ Runs shipping routes, and new smuggler cargo. The Reaper's Rowboat will also return.
2. Month 2: Focused on live events, players will participate in a heist at Royal Crest Fortress.
3. Month 3: A climactic world event at Skeleton Forts, featuring Reaper-centric gameplay with the return of Captain Flameheart, where players must attack and defend key locations.

Rare stated that this model ensures content remains fresh throughout the season rather than frontloading updates at the start.

Looking Ahead: Season 18 and Beyond

Rare teased Season 18, which will feature updates to the Devil’s Roar region and further explore the story of the enigmatic Dark Ancients. Players can expect encounters with this faction, including hidden shrines and new threats.

Custom Seas: Tailored Player Experiences

The most significant announcement was Custom Seas, a feature allowing players to create bespoke servers with extensive customization options, such as:

• Spawning ships
• Overriding crew limits
• Adjusting weather conditions
• Toggling encounters with the kraken
• Utilizing a cinematic camera for content creation

Custom Seas is planned for release in early 2026 and will require a subscription to support its ongoing development.

Other Announcements

• The NDA for the Sea of Thieves early access Insider Program will be lifted, allowing members to openly discuss and stream work-in-progress features.
• Rare has established a specialized sub-team focused on long-term opportunities for the game, with a "multi-year vision" aimed at expanding its scope beyond seasonal updates. More details will be shared in the next Community Direct, scheduled for early 2026.

Tom Phillips is IGN's News Editor. You can reach Tom at tom_phillips@ign.com or find him on Bluesky @tomphillipseg.bsky.social