On January 28, 2021, the first season of Sea of Thieves begins. This introduces a new progression system with over 100 items and ancient coins. In an interview with MeinMMO author Florian Franck, Executive Producer Joe Neate and Creative Director Mike Chapman spoke about the past and future of the pirate adventure.
The launch of Sea of Thieves was rocky and received a lot of criticism from developer Rare. Especially endgame content and varied mechanics were lacking from the perspective of many players and experts.
Just before its third birthday, Sea of Thieves now receives a major content update and promises players a variety of rewards with the introduction of the first season:
- Each season in Sea of Thieves will last about three months.
- The focus will be on quality of life changes, such as bug fixes to provide a more enjoyable gaming experience, and new items for the Pirate Emporium.
- Additionally, there will be new features, events, and missions.
In a conversation with Joe Neate and Mike Chapman, we learn more about the new content, the progression system, and what the changes mean for the game and how players can benefit from them.
“January could be our biggest month ever”
Almost three years after the release of the pirate adventure, player numbers are continuously rising. With the release on Steam in June 2020 and the integration into the Xbox Game Pass, Sea of Thieves is close to breaking its player count record again.
MeinMMO: After the release, the sea was a bit rough and there was criticism of the content. What are your plans to remain successful?
Joe Neate: From my perspective, I can tell you that we are already in our third year and have grown every year. You are right, the sea may have been a bit rough at launch, but the launch was still a big moment for us.
Many talked about the game and said: “Hey this game is cool, but we want to see more. We want to see how it will evolve.” And I think that was fair. Fortunately, it was our plan to continue evolving Sea of Thieves. We listened to the feedback and were very interested in what other things players were interested in.
Since then, we have grown year after year, and we had more players each year since launch. Either in total numbers or in terms of our monthly active users, which have grown quite steadily. And actually, last December was our second highest month in terms of monthly active users. January is on track to become our biggest month ever. It is a great moment to introduce the new season.
We learned a lot and have tried to deliver new content regularly with monthly updates. This has made us a bit more predictable for our players. Fairly speaking, we have not been completely successful in providing players with an understanding of what they can expect every month. It has not been predictable for them when new content would appear.
And definitely, the shift to working from home last year has affected our ability to deliver things on time and in the way we would like. But actually, I believe it is really good to have a predictable plan for how you want to spend your time in Sea of Thieves.
We respect players’ time, but players also want these big, exciting things that evolve the game and move Sea of Thieves forward.
When we look at the seasons and the rhythm in which they are spaced throughout the year, players know from the start what new content is coming. They see what rewards will be available, what live events are upcoming, and get new tasks to pursue. With the start of the first season, it will be the Merchant Alliance. Additionally, there will also be “quality of life” improvements.
We are in a kind of transitional phase; you could say we will be walking a bit at the start of the season and then running later on as we introduce our team into this new way of working. And all this while it is live for all players, which is a fascinating challenge. But we have very big plans as we look ahead. We have had some very exciting discussions about what will come to Sea of Thieves and how the seasons will introduce players to this world. The seasons should give us a really good starting point.
Mike Chapman: I think looking back at the launch and thinking about where we are today, some of the criticisms were justified, such as the lack of content and quests in the world. One thing we are still proud of is that we provided a really solid foundation for social play. Together, you experience different aspects of gameplay that have always been present in the sandbox.
I think one of the big things we have done on our journey to the third anniversary is that we have done a lot of things that our players wished for.
But also a lot of things that were unexpected. To pick up on Joe’s point: we have done unexpected things to surprise our players. The “Tall Tales” as a completely new quest system, the Arena, and Envoys are features that the community did not necessarily ask for. But we really tried to surprise them with that.
And even if we added a type of mechanic to our game, we implemented it in a thoroughly Sea of Thieves way. It feels like Sea of Thieves. The heart of Sea of Thieves was released in 2018, and we have ensured that everything we have added to the game remains true to that. The original heart of the game. It reflects the spirit of Sea of Thieves.
MMOs are an opportunity to escape into a world full of adventure, and I believe that is more important than ever today. Sea of Thieves is a pirate sandbox, a pirate world with its own laws, adventures, and gameplay possibilities. That was the case in 2019 and more so today than ever. We are really proud of that. But the work is never done. There is so much potential to keep expanding this game and make it more accessible to more players. And the seasons are a big part of that.
“Sea of Thieves will always be a mix of PvE and PvP”
In Sea of Thieves, you are constantly at risk of being robbed by another crew. The game places a certain focus on PvP. Despite calls for pure PvE servers, the developers currently rule this out. For them, PvP is a core element.
MeinMMO: You talked about the spirit of Sea of Thieves and that new content must fit that. In the community, there is a strong desire for a PvE mode. Do you have plans for such a mode?
Mike Chapman: The core idea of Sea of Thieves has always been the notion of never knowing what appears on the horizon. We have talked about what gameplay might look like in a kind of PvE. PvP makes the difference, and it is what makes us unique.
During the adventure, you never know what will happen. There are Creative-Mode servers for partners, where they can experience their own adventures with their communities. And that is just the beginning; the possibilities will expand. But I believe that the heart of Sea of Thieves will always be a mix of PvE and PvP in a shared world. That is what makes Sea of Thieves so special.
MeinMMO: Since the release in 2018, you have brought a lot of new content to the game, like the companies. Through these, Sea of Thieves also gained more story and depth. Are there plans for new companies in the future?
Mike Chapman: The companies essentially represent their own playstyles. Treasure hunters, bounty hunters, and trading companies give players a face. The companies expand the world and make it more accessible. The world is thus further established. As we look to the future, we want to expand the possibilities in Sea of Thieves even further, for example through different quests and experiences that everyone can have. So yes, that is definitely a possibility.
Joe Neate: In his role as Executive Producer for Sea of Thieves, he has been responsible for bringing the multiplayer adventure to life and is now continuously developing the growing game. Joe has been in the gaming industry for 20 years and has worked for various well-known developers.
Mike Chapman: The Creative Director’s first steps in game design were 3D platformers for Nickelodeon. He gained experience with third-person shooters at Namco and creatively led the DiRT series. Before joining Sea of Thieves, he worked on the Kinect Sports series for Rare.
Sea of Thieves rewards players even when they fail
Before the introduction of the new progression system, a mistake could mean losing all the loot. You would stand empty-handed before your new ship and start from scratch. With the challenges in the first season of Sea of Thieves, players receive rewards for every conceivable activity.
MeinMMO: How does the new progression system work in detail and what makes it so special?
Mike Chapman: Before the start of the new season, players could only improve their reputation with the Trading Company by completing various quests for them. The new system is a universal one, sitting above all activities in Sea of Thieves. Players are already rewarded for covering nautical miles. Killing skeletons, landing on islands, destroying ghost ships, and other previously unrewarded activities will also grant rewards. It felt good to complete these tasks, but we didn’t provide players with any rewards for them. The season fills this gap and ensures that we provide you with a steady progression.
If things don’t go as planned, you still feel a sense of progression. The new system is free for all players, and everyone has access to it.
The progression is stored in the Pirate Logbook. It is as if you were writing it in the ship’s logbook itself. These are moments of your adventure. In each of the three-month seasons, there are one hundred levels of pirate fame. At each level, you receive unique rewards that are free for all.
The rewards can be something simple like a sack of gold, but for the first time, there are also ancient coins. Additionally, there are new cosmetic items for the ship, as well as tattoos, scars, and titles. And this is free for all players. There is also the Plunder Pass, which costs 999 ancient coins. At certain levels in progression, there are additional rewards with the Plunder Pass. If you buy the pass later, for example at level 50, you will receive the rewards retroactively.
MeinMMO: What options do players have to make progress and receive rewards?
Mike Chapman: Most will be achieved through familiar activities. It is another feature in Sea of Thieves. Players realize that they are making progress and are rewarded when they reach an island, find treasure, and it changes their perspective. These activities are now rewarded and also complement the progress with the companies. It is still important to bring the treasure back to the Gold Hoarders to advance there. But your pirate reputation is above all. That is the most exciting aspect for me.
However, there are also a number of pirate trials. These are optional challenges that allow players to engage in specific challenges. They showcase our existing content, encourage you to see things you may not have seen yet, or haven’t seen in a long time.
Completing the “Tall Tales,” finding skulls, and destroying mermaid statues enable a sort of “fast track” to level up your reputation more quickly.
For those who want to engage more or play in a group, certain challenges can also be selected to complete. For us, it was important to find a balance that appeals to various player types. Whether alone, with a friend, or in well-established teams.
To reach level one hundred, players will need about 40 to 50 hours on average, according to our calculations.
MeinMMO: What motivation is there for players to complete the other challenges? Or can you also just play and reach level 100?
Mike Chapman: The majority of challenges are reached almost automatically, like killing skeletons, covering nautical miles, catching chickens, searching for treasure chests, and other activities. I think the fact speaks for itself that Sea of Thieves as a sandbox is already so much richer in content and so many players play our game in different ways.
Some players exclusively complete missions for the traders. Some only want to reach the maximum rank in the companies and want to see what else Sea of Thieves has to offer. So regardless of the path you choose, there will always be a sense of progress.
Joe Neate: You can play however you like. To dive deeper, you can complete the trails or join special live events. This speeds up progress during the season, but it is not mandatory. If you want to engage more, you can do so at any time. It’s about balance for every player during the season.
We have learned over time that everyone plays Sea of Thieves differently. Everyone has different goals, and that is the beauty of our world and the freedom we give to players. Everyone has different goals at different times.
The season is meant to overlay all existing activities in Sea of Thieves. Every activity should be covered and rewarded by the season challenges. When logging out, players will feel as if they have achieved something.
“We respect players’ time”
In Sea of Thieves, different player types come together. Both casual gamers and hardcore pirates are on the seas. Developer Rare places great importance on balanced mechanics so that all players can tackle the challenges of a season.
MeinMMO: How many seasons will there be per year and how long will they last?
Joe Neate: There will be a display showing how long the season still runs. In other games with a battle pass, I have experienced that the number of remaining days can change because unexpected changes occurred. I think we will go this route as well to be a bit more flexible. But there will be a new season roughly every three months.
We want to keep the flexibility for the team to adjust things and also to look after the well-being of the team. If things change, we will skip live events to stay flexible.
MeinMMO: Will the rewards from the season later be purchasable through the shop? Or are they an exclusive part of the season?
Mike Chapman: In developing the game, we have learned a lot over the years. We have tried timed rewards to bring more dynamism to the game. But also a new approach that ensures that the rewards stay in the game. Most of the rewards will be added to the game at a later date. However, these will cost more gold and will only be available through appropriate accolades with the companies.
I would like to reiterate that players’ time must be respected. Some go on vacation or are unable to play in a month. We do not want to take away the added value of the seasons from these players. So we will provide players with the opportunity to acquire the items in-game.
In the Plunder Pass, there will also be rewards that for the first time make their way into the game. The rewards from the Plunder Pass will later be offered at standard prices in the Pirate Emporium.
In the Plunder Pass, there will continue to be some popular items from the Pirate Emporium, which are much cheaper through the Plunder Pass. The Plunder Pass will cost 999 ancient coins.
On the official Sea of Thieves channel, the new seasons will be further explained.
MeinMMO: What makes the live events exciting and varied from your perspective?
Mike Chapman: We introduced the live events in October for the first time, and since then, you can see your progress. The live events are a kind of “staple” for Sea of Thieves, and we refresh them regularly. The live events, where there are interactions between crews and players, are exciting because we see if players behave as we expect them to.
There are so many possibilities and potential to encourage players to play in new ways. Another advantage of a live event is that it feels like a celebration, where we introduce mechanics that players missed before or that they didn’t use in a particular way. It is a moment in time where everyone is somehow united to do the same thing.
I think live events are like the “greatest hits” and we use them to show you unique things. With the seasons, there is now the opportunity to receive unique rewards as part of these live events. And we plan to introduce much more of this content.
MeinMMO: Thank you very much for the interview!
The first season of Sea of Thieves begins on January 28, 2021. What do you think of the newly introduced seasons and the new content? Let us know in the comments.
Those looking for other pirate MMOs beside Sea of Thieves will find them here: The 5 best sailing MMOs for pirates and seafarers – as of 2021.
