Possible Solution to Map Expansion Issue?

Server stability issues would still be a thing, because now you're creating an entire new map from the ground up, with brand-new islands, enemies, and a whole system to merge pirates from "normal" servers onto "Damned" servers and vice-versa.

Just because you go trough a portal doesn't mean you merge into a different server. Just like with the PL hideout (the PL hideout exists on the same server as the map itself, just like the fairy - not a new server), the maps would have to co-exist on the same server, which would overload it even more.

If you'd make it so you actually merge into a new server there'd have to be a direct connection between the two, since coming back to the current map should merge you back into the previous server which like the other commenter said, would overload the server even more. Imagine someone going in and out with the whole ship having to load - the lag spikes and frame drops would be insane. The loot would also have to transfer on the ship, the server would have to make sure noone is in the place you'd spawn etc.

To my knowledge it doesn't necessarily have to be a direct connection between the 2 server. My thought process would suggest that it would work the same way as it does when you load into the game or get merged into a new server during gameplay. When traveling between the 2 worlds the algorithm would look for server that has free space and then drop you into that server. I don't know though. It was just a thought I had. It may or may not work

I don't think you'd need it to be a random server hop but a dedicated server for each so two servers for the two maps as a child on a parent server much like world and instance servers on other mmorpgs. It's not like they would hop or server swap each time they transitioned.

I think this idea is underappreciated honestly. I'm not an expert to comment on how feasible it is, but I don't think anyone in this forum is.

Instancing content has been around since video games were first created, showing up most memorably as long windy hallways between bigger rooms in a lot of PS1 single player games so that assets had time to load in, and of course, frequent load screens.

So I think those leveling criticisms that server stability would still be an issue aren't giving credit to the main advantage, which is this is a proven method that works in terms of mitigating hardware demand, which let's be honest is the real bottleneck for the older xbox console.

Yes, servers are pretty poor, so people have a right to be hesitant, but there is no alternative while maintaining the current open world structure of the game. If new map area is really a culprit, people should be more upset that the shores of gold wasn't instanced.

Instancing might not be perfect, it could create issues, but so does every ambitious idea. You don't claim it to be perfect, but the idea is solid honestly.

Besides, who says the new instanced regions need to be large map areas or even connected to the main adventure mode? They could very easily be small "dungeons," in which loot can't be moved between (to keep things simple). Your point is that the game needs to go in a different direction to add new map & content, and instancing is the likely solution. Whether Rare would do it is another thing, but the alternative is no new "real" areas to explore.

@d3adst1ck

Image for a moment that the fort of the damned was HUGE, like shores of gold huge.

But, it is instanced content with a load screen that looks the same from the outside (you sail through the fog), load in, and idk a symbol pops up over the fort to indicate that someone is there.

That last part is really important because without an indication that a ship is there, you would be right that the server would go "dead" from ships not being able to find one another.

Now if you were going to ignore the ships who are instanced anyway, the ship density on the server is still the same, even if they are actually now an additional 5 minutes of sailing time away from you. It's like sailing past a ship that is doing the fort now. Sure, the difference is they can't see you but you can see them, but that's not all that different to one ship running reapers.

If you were going to attack them, you would choose to load in and spawn on that "instanced" map out in the distance and would sail toward the island at them so that they still have time to react.

If the technicalities can be worked out which are very valid (how to handle loot etc.), this is a superior way to create new more detailed islands without bogging down the main game for old hardware.
Personally, I don't think the game should have any more larger regions for the reason you mentioned, but instancing is still a valid way to budget for more detailed and better content in general.

Ghost fleets are a perfect example. They are fun and well done already, but if you think about it, it is no coincidence they are "ghosts" with no collision because of lag on xbox one. Frames already drop if a lot of ships with collision are near each other at one time.
Could you get away with more ships with collision if the fleet was instanced, or accomplish better visuals / more game mechanics? Maybe. Certainly a better chance than having it on the main map.