Summary of Upcoming Features, Changes and Additions

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    Ahoy me hearties!

    This thread will reference all the upcoming features, changes and additions that have been discussed, confirmed and teased by Rare as I know how it can be very difficult sometimes to find the original source and their development's state.

    I would greatly appreciate anyone's help to keep this summary up to date, so don't hesitate to tag me here when new informations are revealed, if I forgot some features or things need to be updated (no datamined or NDA stuff please).

    For some clarity over their development's state, I'll use the following tags:

    • TEASER: this means that Joe leaked something about an upcoming feature Rare is working on.
    • WORK IN PROGRESS: this means that it has been confirmed they are working on it but its release date is unknown.
    • NO CONCRETE PLAN: this means that it's not part of the roadmap for the foreseeable future as they don't have a concrete plan but it doesn't mean they never want to do it. There are a lot of things they want to add but they will come accordingly with how they are changing their roadmap to meet players feedbacks and what they think it's important to that time.
    • COMING SOON: this means that the feature will be introduced into the game in a next update.

    Also, if you want to check out the summary of things that have changed or been introduced since the release of the game, I advise you to look here: What’s changed since you last played Sea of Thieves?

    Cheers!

    snake

    × Arena (coming soon)

    The Arena will be a competitive mode showing a condensed Sea of Thieves experience. This is NOT a Battle Royale mode. The first iteration will be about treasure hunting where players will have to fight for their treasures. It will also introduce the Sea Dogs, the 4th Trading Company with a ranking and progression system and unique items to unlock. The Arena Update will be included in the Mega Update.

    × Bigger Ships/Crews (no concrete plan)

    They always said that four players was the optimal crew size that allows you to work together and split up the roles effectively on a ship. It doesn't mean that they couldn't support larger crew sizes if the current ships had an increased challenge in sailing them but it would require something built from the ground up for more than 4 players in mind. They would love to do it for crews of 5 or 6 players but it's not for any immediate releases.

    Source: Stream: The Six Tavern Challenge.

    × Captaincy Update (no concrete plan)

    [...] Captaincy is something we definitely still want to do, but isn't being prioritised yet.

    Source: Reddit.

    × Celestial Navigation? (teaser)

    Hush tales speak of ancient tools, allowing only the most observant pirates to navigate the waves using patterns seen high above the clouds ✨.

    Source: Reddit.

    × Change characters (no concrete plan)

    They are aware that players would like to be able to change their character without losing their progression and everything earned. It's something they are going to look at, not by providing different slots but they want to give to the players the ability to change their character in a very Sea of Thieves way.

    Source: Stream: The Winner Takes it All.

    × Change ships mid-game (no concrete plan)

    They are aware it's something mentioned quite a lot but it's quite a large undertaking and it would require a lot of investment in migrating players onto the new ship. Not something they are prioritising right now.

    Source: Greenskull stream.

    × Colour variants (work in progress)

    Don't worry - we heard the feedback of just dropping colour variants out into shop, hence us focusing more on the primary colour for the sets since then. We have a plan for how we bring these other variants back in that isn't just dropping them in the shop - players clearly want the variety and choice, but how we deliver it to players is key here.

    Source: Reddit.

    I know what you are asking (Dying/Tinting a clothing piece to different shades) we arent working on this no. However we actually have a number of colour variants of each set, we have only shipped the preffered primary set colour so far. Looking forward to giving players access to all the other colours in the near future!

    Source: Reddit.

    × Cooking (teaser)

    The Shipwrights have fitted new stoves and roasting pans to Sloops, Brigantines and Galleons. More food barrels have also been added.

    Sources: Patch Notes 1.4.3, Patch Notes 1.4.4.

    × Crossplay opt-out (coming soon)

    Xbox players using a controller will be able to opt-out of crossplay. This should be coming around the Mega Update.

    × Fishing (teaser)

    It's a staple of the pirate life 😉

    Source: Greenskull stream.

    × Gamble and play games (no concrete plan)

    It makes absolute sense in Sea of Thieves!

    Source: Greenskull stream.

    × Hunting (no concrete plan)

    Picking meat from animals is something they are looking at.

    Source: SDCC.

    × Islands life (teaser)

    Joe revealed they are working on some "Land things to spice up the islands life".

    Source: Stream: The More the Merrier.

    × Jagged Rocks Sighted in Devil's Shroud (teaser)

    Tavern tales told by weary venturers talk of fleeting glimpses of jagged rocks sighted deep within the Shroud 🌊

    Source: Reddit.

    × Keyboard and mouse support for Xbox (coming soon)

    Keyboard and mouse support coming soon to extend accessibility for Xbox players.

    × Mega Update (coming soon)

    Trailer and release date will be announced on March 20th.

    × Migration for spawn camping (work in progress)

    We are investing some time to investigate some potential mitigations for spawn camping currently. Nothing to share just yet but we have a few paths to investigate which look promising to improve the experience for the camped player/crew.

    Source: Reddit.

    × Molten Sands Fortress (coming soon)

    Skeletons have been constructing a new Fort inside The Devil's Roar but due to challenging conditions this Molten Sands Fortress is still under construction and isn't active yet...

    Source: Patch Notes 1.4.3.

    × More Variety for Female Pirates Clothing (coming soon)

    Rare is currently working on more variety for female pirates clothing.

    Source: Stream: Ask the Chat

    × Naming your ship (no concrete plan)

    It's something that comes with the concept of ship ownership and stuff they talked about in the past. It's currently on the back burner while they are focusing on a bunch of other things but it's something they want to bring in the game. The plaque of the Galleon has been deliberately left above the Captain's cabin door because they intend to add it in the future. They didn't want to remove it because it's part of their vision for Sea of Thieves.

    Source: Greenskull stream.

    × New Perilous Seas like Devil's Roar (no concrete plan)

    Devil's Roar started the general concept of perilous seas with an opt-in difficulty world region where players can find special rewards that justified the extra danger. The idea was players don't start in the perilous seas but could purposely decide to sail in there. Lots of content plans in place throughout the rest of the year and they definitely think about how they could add another perilous sea following the same Devil's Roar model (new mechanics, new threats and corresponding rewards).

    Source: Stream: The Playground

    × New way of interacting with Megs (teaser)

    Joe revealed that one of his favourite upcoming features was this new way of interacting with Megs.

    Source: Stream: The Winner Takes it All

    × Pets (coming soon)

    Pets can be pickep up, interacted with, shot out of cannons. As they will be buyable with the microtransactions they are deisgned to only be a fun and social addition to the game. They will be included in the Mega Update.

    × Private Servers/Friends joining same server (no concrete plan)

    They are aware there are a lot of reasons players want private servers like holding events and pirate games, it's not in their immediate plans but they're discussing it and it's something that will come later.

    Source: Stream: The Playground

    × Shanties (work in progress)

    They are facing a memory issue that prevent them to add more shanties at the moment but they are working on it.

    × Tall Tales (Fall Snails) (coming soon)

    This update will include the quests overhaul with more tools and mechanics, lore and story, discovery, team working and puzzle solving. It was previously planned for the end of 2018 but has been postponned to bring more features into this high-potential update. It is now coming as part of the Mega Update.

    SoT

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  • NunoAzuldimeter
    Champion
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    Summary of No Concrete Planned things to add to game. Eheheh

    That's one of the things that bugs me most about Devs talking about Requested features.
    The answer is always the same, they sound pretty excited to hear about and to talk about but then time passes and the answer remains the same, that they don't have concrete plans to include those due to technical challenges/issues/I don't know. . .

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @nunoazuldimeter

    I don't think it's because it's too challenging or they don't want to do it, every features will require a technical challenge to be implemented. I believe it's more of what need to be prioritised for that time and what can come a bit later. They probably don't want to promise something that is not being currently worked on even if they are excited about the idea of having it in the game.

    Let's remember that Rare have many things prototyped but it will take time to develop all their ideas while meeting players feedbacks.

  • Hynieth
    Master
    Insider

    Great collection my good man. Here have a little bump to the post ^_^

  • GhosstWalker
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Founder

    @skulliah Thanks for this post, I'm sure many of the new pirates on the forums will find this useful!

  • Qui3tCool
    Master
    Insider

    Good summary mate. Sad thing is some of the most popular, requested features are “no concrete plans”. So far more of what the community wants appears to not be on the table. Maybe some are and Rare is just acknowledging that. We do not know because Rare does not communicate very well or is often very reluctant to.

    What is on the table appears to be more of the same thing we got over the last year. The Arena thus far looks like a smaller Sea of Thieves with a few minor twists to do more PvP. Hopefully Tall Tales will give more than just present the same content in just a little different way than a little story threading it all together.

    The game absolutely looks better and has more content a year later. However, it is basically the same content renamed, reskinned, and recolored. Volcanoes and higher priced rewards were just a hook for exactly the same thing. A rowboat was new. Shrouded Spoils was a nice update. It basically just repackaged the same game in a better looking way with more options to do the same content.

    The only Pirate Legend content in a year has been commendations for content many completed before and Rare did not save data on. Nothing has been done with the very poorly implemented toxic open crew party and brig system. The game has become even more buggy recently.

    They have a big team and say they are busy. Cooking, fishing, and pets will be truly new things over a year later. So, there needs to be way more than doing things like a lazy rehash of a guilded voyage which was a condensed version of all the same voyages for the past year. Rare really needs to start providing more to the game than the exact same thing over and over. They need to clean up the bugs again. They need to provide more maintenance to fix issues while waiting on new content.

    I am not hating the game. I love the game. Playing with family and friends has brought a lot fun beyond the lack of content at launch and the endless same voyages since. It is past the time to breathe better life and new things into the sea. Your list is a good start, but many things need to be firmly cemented in.

  • Lt Swag Johnson
    Master
    Insider

    Well done, lad! This is some fine information we can drop onto players that keep asking the same questions.

  • Stundorn
    Castaway
    Insider
    Founder

    Agree @x-Crowheart-x , but not PL exclusive content.
    The horizontal progression and all you can get while ingame should stay flat, never give an advantage or extra content over new players and therefore should be "meaningless".
    Except for cosmetics and these of course mean something to these wearing them.
    It also means something to me to have the shark figurhead for example, but content and gamemechanically wise it should stay "meaningless".

    What we all would profit from is more sandbox mechanics that help us creating stories.
    Like collect 500 or 1000 of each Ressource, open a temporary store to sell them for gold for example.
    One can if he want go and collect ressources and sell them at a temporary (only this Session) self build Hut at specific islands with build spots highlighted on the Map if playerdriven.
    Maybe nobody comes, well that's sad then, but i think if you sell collected ressources they will come to safe time and sink money.
    Spontaneous idea, maybe not thought through well, but stuff like this what encourages Multiplayer interactions and are sandboxish.

  • KnifeLife
    Commander
    Insider
    Founder

    Will you ever give us a concise answer to our questions regarding content?

    ”No concrete plans” 😂😂😂

    O.T: Great post always good to have something to reference people toward, especially with the added sources! :)

  • Qui3tCool
    Master
    Insider

    @bugaboo-bill

    Do you not think there should be more to being a Pirate Legend than doing more of the same voyages to get one different chest? I believe there needs to be more life and meaning to being a legend. There can be things a crew can do with a legend, but there needs to be a purpose and more meaning to be one.

  • dyfrin
    Master
    Insider
    Founder

    Memory is an enemy.

    So much more could come, if that limitation was removed.

  • Sgt Paloogoo
    Commander
    Insider

    Thanks for this list @skulliah!
    I'm sure uninformed pirates will find this very useful.
    (I know I found it informative)

    Sure am looking forward to the stuff that spices up the island life... maybe Lord Pinch the giant crab?
    One can hope!

  • Knurrr
    Lord
    Insider
    Founder

    Just thought i would share a little update on the Man o' War topic in terms of what they've said about it -

    "It's a case of when rather than if"

    Here is another clip of Mike talking about it more in depth from the first weekly stream - https://youtu.be/_g1zzB_ZYuk?t=5781

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @knurrr

    Awesome, thank you for finding back where it was discussed! Updating with what Mike said :D

  • SunBro95
    Legend
    Insider
    Founder

    We need more update for legends... Like capitancy :)

  • WarOnPants2664
    Master
    Insider

    @skulliah Great wright up. I'm sure it took a good amount of time. This post really gives me hope for this game. Things like ship changes, captaincy, naming ships, and hunting are things that I didn't know they are working on that will be huge improvements to the game if done right. Really glad to see they are gonna be adding these things to the future. Now if we can just get combat working well.

  • KattTruewalker
    Vanguard
    Insider
    Founder
    Deckhand

    @skulliah

    Awesome job there and hopefully will be added to as we get more details #teases, thanks for posting!

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @sunbro95

    I've just referenced the things that have been teased and revealed, it doesn't mean that they are not working on other things or something for Pirate Legends :)

    @BETSILL

    At the moment I think mostly everyone at Rare is focused on the Mega Update. Ship changes, captaincy, naming ships, and hunting are things that have been discussed and they would like to have them in the game at some point but these are not in their immediate roadmap, I don't think it means they are actively working on them right now. I think at the moment you should only see them as things they would like to add in the future and they might have already discussed internally and prototyped things around them. If my tag "no concrete plan" is not clear enough I'll try to find another solution :)

  • WarOnPants2664
    Master
    Insider

    @skulliah Compared to before where Rare didn't address anything or put out any statements on they were working/plan to work on things that the community wants and this game needs, this is a breath of fresh air. Just the acknowledgement is a big deal. They need to be more official about it though. The fact that all this info has be found in the deep reaches of the internet rather than in an official video/post leads to much frustration. If you hadn't made this post then I would probably never known, and most people will never see this post/know it exists.

  • JE0RGIE P0RGIE
    Lord
    Insider
    Founder

    @skulliah A very useful thread to have bookmarked, so I'm going to do just that. Thanks for taking the time to put this together Skulliah! Any time Rare mentions anything to do with ships my ears perk up. I'm really excited to see that Rare is just as excited about adding larger ships to the game.

    In the video @Knurrr shared with us Mike says, "we wouldn't want to just add a 5th player or a 6th player, I think we'd even wanna go bigger than that." That's insane to the think about. Does that mean at some point Rare intends to enlarge the server population? Perhaps after they add some more perilous seas? Can you imagine sailing with 8 players on a Man O' War style ship? It would certainly have that larger than life feeling!

    Thanks again for putting this all together Skulliah :D looking forward to hearing more!

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @je0rgie-p0rgie Cheers :)

    This is indeed really interesting and I'm eager to see how they are going to handle the cooperative aspect for these bigger crews while balancing them enough against the others. Promising future!

  • KING DEKA
    Legend
    Insider
    Founder

    Im waiting only for Skeleton Lords! But no mention since release, I’m sad

  • Stundorn
    Castaway
    Insider
    Founder

    @x-crowheart-x sagte in Summary of Upcoming Features, Changes and Additions:

    @bugaboo-bill

    Do you not think there should be more to being a Pirate Legend than doing more of the same voyages to get one different chest? I believe there needs to be more life and meaning to being a legend. There can be things a crew can do with a legend, but there needs to be a purpose and more meaning to be one.

    Nope, i'm completely against any "meaning".
    PL should mean nothing, but to be PL and have the title or cosmetics if you want. Same for Athena.

    This is why i love the game and why i didnt feel any need to become PL and therefore didnt rush it, but played it like and how often i wanted it to play and only then when i really want to.
    Nothing more annoying to me to "have to play" to progress and dont fall behind or to have to play and grind to pay ingame tax or whatever.
    I really liked Legends of Aria, but i refuse playing games what ask me to do stuff mandatory.
    Personal preferences, couldnt believe a serious developer does a cool game, what is not super casual and dumb or easy and Match3 or whatever, but triple A and decent challenge and all that what doesnt have any form of mandatory progression and "meaning".
    A friend said, there is no levels, they call it horizontal progression.
    And i answered: whaaaaat never, i sometimes do not believe it until today.
    I i could i would rate Rare for the most legendary developer in all Halls of Fames of Gaming in the world, because of this move, this approach.
    I consider myself a player.
    I play computer games since 1985, but i was never a gamer. Never.
    When online things came up and became more popular i didnt get it. Didnt get they want me in their treadmills and often was in a treadmill, but of course never be able to compete with people sitting in front of theor Computers doing nothing else than gaming.
    And it's still the biggest issue imho in all communities i was part of.
    There are gamers, what make gaming their life and there are players who play casually or mid core for fun and not every day, rarely more than 5 hours in a row.
    Now if we talk about competition and vertical progression the one group spoils it for the other group.
    In SoT the hardcore gamers are upset, they didnt get there is just a horizontal treadmill and only optional progression.
    And Rare said, they do that to have people playing and creating stories and not working it off what distracting them from beeing creative.
    But as you can see, most are so called "dedicated" gamers who work it off.
    Not saying they didnt have fun or make Jokes and all that, but what they are in depth are seeking for is a meaning, a gratification other than to be able to play the game while having fun (hopefully). Something that makes them superior to these who havent put the effort in. Performance focussed society, meritocracy. I dont like it in general and especially if we talk about playing games.
    I for sure use cosmetics to shine, but i mostly run in cloth what need no PL or Athena rank. I dont care.
    I very much appreciate my Founder Sails and also my day one patch, even if i dont wear it, my reward is the fun playing and the meaning to me is also fun playing and relaxing.
    The moment they add something mandatory to do, i will loose interest and maybe quit or come back only for Nostalgia.
    Why?
    Not because i then cannot catch up anymore. I cannot.
    Not because i'm jealous or because i feel forced to do it and cannot withstand and let others do it.
    No, it's because i then feel locked off of content and gamemechanics who are only available if i put effort in, but i'm not at work, i just want to play a game, meaningless, senseless, dreaming, immersing, socializing, fighting, laughing, running, loosing, winning....
    not striving, owning, progressing, working...

    Therefore no meaning for me please.

    I'm very critic about performanced focussed society, i believe in human beeings are creative and can become conscious and all that.
    I do not believe in humans are class workers only to strive and live is a fight and all that.

  • Qui3tCool
    Master
    Insider

    @bugaboo-bill

    Sorry you feel that way mate. I did not rush through the game either. I absolutely did not rush to become a pirate legend.

    To be clear I said meaning and purpose. That does not necessarily equate anyone doing anything mandatory. Nor does it have to be the all feared levels of progression that some do not want in this game. It already exists in this game. You can called it horizontal, vertical, perpendicular, parallel, or whatever. It is still a progression. A progression that calls for you to spend time, play, and to progress if you so choose to do so. A progression that requires time. Anyone can choose to play through it or not. It is all about choice and allowing choices to everyone.

    There are "levels" in the game to unlock cosmetics, titles, voyages, commendations, achievements, etc.. So, time commitment progression exists. Players are locked out of the things in game that you mentioned unless they play and "grind", or anything other word you want to substitute for a task or requirement to be achieved to a determined, desired outcome. Which you say you are against.

    It is ok to be critical about how you feel about things in life. This is a video game and does not and should not be subjected to how anyone one individual feels philosophically about real life matters and issues. This is an online multiplayer video game. We share the game with lots of other players.

    What is inherently wrong in life as it is with a sector of the Sea of Thieves community, is the mentality that if one does not like something, that it must not be any other way, and no one may every have a choice other than what that particular individual wants. I hope you continue to find the happiness you want on the Sea of Thieves and in life. I prefer to allow everyone else have that chance as well in both worlds. Happy sailing to you mate!

  • Phantaxus
    Legend
    Insider
    Founder

    It's great that Cargo and Merchant are getting a 50% boost but I need something to spend my money on (currently sitting on 3.8 million)

    Lots more clothes please, I want to play pirate dress up games!

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    new additions to the summary

    • More Variety for Female Pirates Clothing,
    • a Gold and Glory Weekend
    • and two intriguing teasers from Drew on Reddit about a potential Celestial Navigation and some Jagged Rocks Sighted in Devil's Shroud.
      .
      Interesting...

    removed from the summary (has been added to the game)

    × Merchant Alliance Quests Rework (included in Patch 1.4.4)

    Shelly is reworking the Merchant Alliance Quests to make them more profitable. Cargo Runs will be a lot more tempting with their cargo value doubled, their distance shorter and the difficulty of handling crates will be easier. On the other side, Animals won't be neglected and will see a value boost of 50%.

    Source: Stream: The More the Merrier

  • KING DEKA
    Legend
    Insider
    Founder

    @skulliah sagte in Summary of Upcoming Features, Changes and Additions:

    new additions to the summary

    • More Variety for Female Pirates Clothing,
    • a Gold and Glory Weekend
    • and two intriguing teasers from Drew on Reddit about a potential Celestial Navigation and some Jagged Rocks Sighted in Devil's Shroud.
      .
      Interesting...

    removed from the summary (has been added to the game)

    × Merchant Alliance Quests Rework (included in Patch 1.4.4)

    Shelly is reworking the Merchant Alliance Quests to make them more profitable. Cargo Runs will be a lot more tempting with their cargo value doubled, their distance shorter and the difficulty of handling crates will be easier. On the other side, Animals won't be neglected and will see a value boost of 50%.

    Source: Stream: The More the Merrier

    Wow nice #seaoftease thanks matey

  • Sgt Paloogoo
    Commander
    Insider

    @skulliah what do ya think that "Gold & Glory Weekend" stuff is about?

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @sgt-palooggoo said in Summary of Upcoming Features, Changes and Additions:

    @skulliah what do ya think that "Gold & Glory Weekend" stuff is about?

    Mmm an event where we will win a lot of gold? :D

    It's definitely something to start the hype for their first anniversary, I guess we'll know more about it next week! 🎉

  • Blam320
    Legend
    Insider

    You may want to add "more food barrels" to the "cooking" teaser, since that was included in the latest patch.

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @blam320 said in Summary of Upcoming Features, Changes and Additions:

    You may want to add "more food barrels" to the "cooking" teaser, since that was included in the latest patch.

    Added! Thank you :D

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    new additions to the summary

    • Migration for spawn camping
    • and Colour variants for existing sets.

    removed from the summary (has been added to the game)

  • Sgt Paloogoo
    Commander
    Insider

    @skulliah Migration for spawn camping?
    What does that in tall?

  • Skulliah
    Legend
    Insider
    Boatswain
    Founder

    @sgt-palooggoo said in Summary of Upcoming Features, Changes and Additions:

    @skulliah Migration for spawn camping?
    What does that in tall?

    Everything we know so far is quoted in the summary list ;)

  • Bionictron
    Sailor

    More sea life! Turtles, octopus hiding in sunken ships, bigger fish, dolphins, whales, crabs, etc.

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