Sea of Thieves gets serious on how the game's progression system works

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How to become a pirate fable

Sea of Thieves gets serious on how the game's progression organisation works

We've been post-obit Sea of Thieves for what feels like eons, only a huge question mark still hung over the game's progression mechanics. Until now.

How exactly do players progress in Sea of Thieves? What does information technology mean to get a "Pirate Legend"? Is in that location more to do beyond the relentless pursuit of buried treasure?

Today on Mixer, Microsoft and Rare revealed the answers to some of these burning questions, with more to come every bit nosotros canvass towards Ocean of Thieves' planned March 2022 launch window.

And so far, we know that Sea of Thieves will comprise quests for buried treasure, riddles to solve, and gorgeous oceans to sail, showcasing some of the best h2o physics ever seen in a game. In Sea of Thieves' permanently-connected world, you will run across other players, and yes, they can impale you.

Pirate crews of up to four players volition be able to sheet large vessels, or go it solitary in a smaller, speedier ship should they and then choose. But beyond the sailing, skeleton shooting, and treasure chest hunting, what is the "goal" of Ocean of Thieves?

Microsoft has been rather quiet about some of Sea of Thieves' effectively nuances, and the playtest demos we've experienced at E3 and Gamescom were slimmed-down experiences, hiding some of the games' richer systems and mechanics. Finally, Rare has offered usa a glimpse into how Sea of Thieves pirates volition find fortune and celebrity in its vast oceanic world.

Becoming a Pirate Legend

Sea of Thieves' core gameplay mechanics volition revolve effectually earning reputation with various in-game trading companies, which offering various quests and activities for players to consummate either in groups, or solo.

Equally yous complete more hard objectives, new adventures will begin to unlock, granting various cosmetic rewards including role player titles, ranks, pirate habiliment, and across. We've spoken to Rare previously about the advantage mechanics in Sea of Thieves, and it will likewise include things similar ship customization, such as adding unique flags and sails to celebrate and stand for your pirate crew.

And so far, Rare has unveiled three trading companies, each with a different playstyle.

The Gilded Hoarders are all virtually amassing huge wealth, seeking treasure for profit. These voyages focus on hunting treasure in all of its myriad forms.

The Merchant Alliance are setting up to control trade and goods in the Bounding main of Thieves. Merchant Alliance voyages revolve around trade, capturing wildlife or other goods, for instance, and then delivering them for turn a profit (keeping them safe from thieving players or crazy storms in the process). Fans of Elite Unsafe volition probably bask this one.

The Order of Souls are seeking ancient, mystical artifacts, and will pay handsomely for them. These voyages are combat oriented, revolving around taking down priority targets and "bosses" to collect their souls.

Quests in Bounding main of Thieves are known as voyages, and they are represented in-game by concrete objects, printed on parchment. Players tin place their voyages on the table in their ship, so that other crew members tin vote on which voyage to undertake next. The voyages themselves will look more prestigious to reflect the difficulty and "level" of the quest, moving from objectives printed on scruffy paper bound in leather, moving up to jewelled maps sealed with gold.

Regardless of a player'due south rank or progress with whatever particular trading company, all pirates will be able to vote on quests and progress together regardless of personal electric current continuing.

Our goal has ever been to allow players to play together, not putting barriers upwardly between new and sometime players, just to create an experience that rewards players for the fourth dimension and effort they put in.

Rare wants multiplayer to be completely seamless in Sea of Thieves, which is why the studio has included not-verbal chat functionality, in addition to vocalization and text-based solutions.

While your personal progression will remain split, any rewards earned during shared quests will be achieved by anybody in the crew while playing together. You lot volition likewise be able to vote on what objectives and activities to accept on next, should you choose to party up. Otherwise, you can stick it out solo, if you then choose (or queue upwardly with random players). It sounds as though all of Sea of Thieves' progression won't be stat-based or level-based, meaning you won't encounter dreadfully overpowered players like in The Division's Nighttime Zone or Globe of Warcraft open up world player vs. player gainsay. Instead, Bounding main of Thieves will revolve effectually personal corrective progression, unlocking more increasingly epic quests, and skill-based combat. I'm told that Kraken from the original concept trailer is still a thing too...

Nosotros talked to Game Director Joe Neate from Rare about Sea of Thieves' progression organization, and how cosmetics and quest unlocking will grade the basis of play, allowing players to focus on branch fun over stats and grinding.

Players will earn cosmetics, allowing them to testify upwardly how they want to other players, but will also earn access to new voyages and adventures they tin can share with their friends. This is what we feel is special about "Sea of Thieves'" progression, and it just feels right for the experience nosotros're creating. Our goal has always been to allow players to play together, not putting barriers upwards between new and old players, only to create an experience that rewards players for the time and effort they put in.

It'southward all coming together

For a while, Sea of Thieves remained a chip of an enigma, despite the fact I've played it for several hours at this point across various game events and shows. As we speed towards the game's March 20, 2022 planned launch appointment, however, it seems every bit though Rare is preparing a solid feature ready for budding pirates on launch solar day. Do non take your eyes off this game.

You tin pre-gild Sea of Thieves now for both Xbox I and Windows 10 for $59.99.

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