Sea of Thievesrecently showcased a big update coming to the pirate-focused sandbox adventure next year. Custom Seas, an in-development custom server system, will launch forSea of Thievesearly next year. Although developer Rare hasn’t revealed an official release date, Custom Seas is an exciting feature waiting on the horizon.
Custom Seas is an intriguing idea, but it’s not the first of its kind. For longtime sandbox fans, Custom Seas may sound an awful lot like Realms inMinecraft. Realms is a subscription-based system that can streamline the experience of hosting one’s own server. During the recentSea of ThievesCommunity Direct stream, developers ended the broadcast withthe announcement of Custom Seas. In addition to opening the door for exclusive servers, Custom Seas is really embracing player freedom, as the system will allow a variety of customization options. This is a great start, but it could take even more inspiration fromMinecraftRealms.
Minecraft Realms Can Influence Sea of Thieves' Custom Servers in More Ways Than One
Everything Confirmed for Custom Seas, So Far
Right now, the release date isn’t the only big mystery surrounding Custom Seas. Rare has yet to announce how much these servers will cost, which could really be the deciding factor in how excited players get.Sea of Thievesis all about exploration, and getting the chance to do so with friends on one’s own customizable server might prove to be a game-changer for a lot of players. However, if the subscription service is too expensive, it may take the wind out of Custom Seas' sails.
$3.99 USD per month (supports 2 other players)
$7.99 USD per month (supports 10 players at a time)
Realms Java Edition
$7.99 USD per month (only available for Windows, macOS, and Linux)
There’s no way to know what the payment system will be like yet, butSea ThievesusingMinecraftRealms as a blueprint for its pricing may be the best path forward. Two price tiers could be a good way to offer more variety to players. Not every fan is going to want a server that hosts players in the double digits, so those who prefer playing with just one or two friends will hopefully get a cheaper tier. SinceSea of ThievesandMinecraftare both under the Microsoft umbrella, it wouldn’t be surprising if the former featured a similar approach to the latter’s payment.
Sea of Thieves Hopefully Includes Some of Minecraft Realms' Community Features
Last year,Minecraftadded Realm Stories, which made community management and participation far easier. This allowed both players and the server host to get event updates and keep track of when players are usually on. This could be incrediblyuseful forSea of Thieves, if Rare wants to really make custom servers as strong of a community experience as possible.
Custom Seas is really embracing player freedom, as the system will allow a variety of customization options.
It’s Been a Big Year for Sea of Thieves
In addition to Custom Seas,Sea of Thieveshosted its first crossover in a long timeback in April. This hopefully gives the game a little bit of extra momentum, as major collaborations have become sparse since launching in 2018.
The world ofSea of Thievesallows players to live out their pirate fantasies, and Custom Seas can make adventure even more fun with friends. The privacy of one’s own custom server is bound to be a welcome update toSea of Thieves, and there will hopefully be more information revealed later this year.
