We’re coming as much as a 12 months since Sea of Thieves launched its long-requested non-public servers, and with that first anniversary looming, Uncommon has introduced it is making some welcome modifications, lastly permitting gamers to earn full rewards whereas crusing in Safer Seas mode.
Safer Seas, in case you’re unfamiliar, offers a way for a single crew of as much as 4 pirates to sail Sea of Thieves’ total open-world map with out the ever-looming PvP menace of Excessive Seas mode. Whereas the absence of different crews means chunk of PvP focussed content material is unavailable in Safer Seas, gamers can nonetheless deal with emergent PvE occasions, full Buying and selling Firm voyages, and embark on narrative-driven Tall Tales.
Crucially too, it is potential to earn gold to spend on cosmetics and to extend Buying and selling Firm standing by incomes popularity in Safer Seas – however each of those have been capped at 30 p.c of the quantity you’d ordinarily earn in Excessive Seas till now, making issues a little bit of a drag for pirates who simply wish to, say, have a chill time elevating funds for a shiny new figurehead away from the hubbub of Sea of Thieves’ most important mode.
In a brand new developer replace, nevertheless, Uncommon has acknowledged Safer Seas’ “punishingly restrictive rewards”, admitting they’re working in opposition to its intention of offering an “onboarding ramp for brand new gamers”. As such, it will be rising the present gold and popularity payout charge all the way in which as much as one hundred pc, matching the rewards earned in Excessive Seas. There is a trade-off, although; the studio is dropping Safer Seas’ degree cap down from 40 to 25.
Basically, which means gamers eager to work their manner as much as Pirate Legend standing and acquire entry to the assorted Buying and selling Firm cosmetics unlocked alongside the way in which will now must jump over to Excessive Seas a lot sooner. On the flip aspect, gamers in search of a protected atmosphere to be taught the ropes, or for a extra relaxed area to amass gold or Seasonal Renown (which continues to be awarded at a one hundred pc charge in Safer Seas) can now achieve this utterly unhindered. It’s, admittedly, a disgrace the Hunter’s Name faction has been slapped with a decrease degree cap given how excellent Safer Seas mode is for a night of quietly contemplative fishing (and given the Buying and selling Firm’s already glacial reward payouts), however maybe that’ll be one thing – alongside using Captaincy ships, fairly please Uncommon – revisted as a Christmas deal with subsequent 12 months.
In different Sea of Thieves information, gamers will quickly get their arms on a lot of options initially promised for the beginning of the present stealth-focused Season 14, however which have been pulled en masse as a part of “drastic steps” following a disastrous launch in October. As soon as Uncommon releases its subsequent patch this Thursday, 14th November, gamers can lastly lay traps, grasp from ledges whereas sneaking, and put on disguises. Uncommon can be promising a lot of “excessive impression” fixes, placing a cease to gamers utilizing crouch to achieve a firing velocity benefit, and stopping pirates grabbing provides from barrels after transferring out of vary. Moreover, measures have been launched to cease gamers swiping treasure from the Fort of the Damned’s vault by swimming beneath.
The studio notes this week’s replace has gained “extra [testing] time internally and with insiders”, and that the workforce has additionally been trialling a brand new course of enabling it to deal with crucial expertise points because it locks down every construct. “There’s been a concerted effort throughout the workforce to enhance on high quality management”, says Uncommon, and plans are additionally now in movement for “broader enhancements for high quality on the studio”, with extra particulars to return.
And eventually, gamers crusing the Sea of Thieves inside the first week of tomorrow’s replace will earn bonus gold and doubloons, alongside a Profitable Voyage of Luck or Legendary Voyage of Luck for Pirate Legends. These bonuses will now be supplied with each month-to-month replace.
