The first-person view is generally uncommon when it comes to MMOs. Nevertheless, the developers of the upcoming pirate online game Sea of Thieves are betting on this perspective.
The reason for choosing this perspective is explained by the developers in a blog post: An important reason for this is “immersion.” It simply feels entirely different to play from a first-person perspective. You can immerse yourself much more into the character and proceed more thoughtfully, as you can only see what is happening in front of you.
Since you cannot see what is happening behind you – unless you turn around – this leads to a different style of play. You are more cautious, look around more, and thus get a different feel for the game and the environment.
Enjoy the immersion
This “brief pause,” looking around, examining the environment more closely, or simply stopping to enjoy the scenery makes the game a little slower than other MMOs. In a game played from a third-person perspective, you know what is happening within a certain radius around you.
However, this makes third-person games feel less “realistic.” Moreover, the game from the first-person perspective is much more about the environment and not about observing a character.
Another important point is that cooperative gameplay between crew members is strengthened. You cover each other during fights or when exploring islands. Or you stand closely together to look at a treasure map. You then hold it up to show where the treasure might be hidden. Everything is closer to the player, and the player themselves is also closer to the action in the game.
Third-person is only available in exceptional cases
However, the developers are considering whether there should also be a limited option to switch to a third-person perspective in certain situations. They are aware that many players want to see their character and what they are currently wearing.
For example, you could switch to a follower view when the hero sits down on a chair in a tavern or when they sit with the crew around a campfire. However, the core of the game will always take place in the first-person view.
Sea of Thieves is currently in a technical alpha and is set to be released in Q1 2017 for Windows 10 PCs and Xbox One.
