The popular multiplayer pirate game Sea of Thieves, developed by Xbox Game Studios and Rare, is preparing for further expansion as a highly anticipated feature requested by many players will be added next year.
In early 2026, Sea of Thieves is set to introduce custom server support. During a Direct presentation on Thursday, Rare unveiled this feature along with other future plans. The custom servers will be incorporated into a new subscription model; further specifics about the cost will be shared later on.
By using custom servers, players can easily adjust various settings tailored to their specific gaming group. This includes the ability to turn off enemy AI or summon enemies to battle and loot at will.
On custom servers, you’ll find support for Safer Seas Fleets, enabling teams of friends to enjoy gameplay together, with advancement following the standard pace of Safer Seas. Additionally, owners of custom servers will be granted a toolset for cinematic cameras, empowering players to create extraordinary videos that can’t be made otherwise.
Beyond the exclusive server realm, Rare is removing the Non-Disclosure Agreement from the Sea of Thieves Insider program. This move encourages greater conversation and constructive criticism, as Insiders can now freely broadcast and publicly discourse about whatever they’re testing.
In 2026, a broader refresh or revamp of the Insider program is intended, offering enhanced rewards and tailored systems to encourage active participation from our most dedicated community members.
The initial month will introduce fresh sandbox features, the second month will expand on the narrative and incorporate a fresh event, while the third month will culminate with a significant “call to action” instance.
A tough time for Rare, but huge potential for Sea of Thieves
At this juncture, Rare finds itself in an unusual position, given that they have been affected by the recent round of layoffs within Microsoft’s Xbox team. This wave of redundancies led to several projects being shelved, among them being the long-awaited Everwild from Rare.
On a personal note, I find custom servers intriguing and they seem perfect for organizing community gaming sessions with friends. The features that Rare mentions appear to be extensive, offering much more than just the basic “let us play together privately” option that I’ve heard from numerous players.
The success of this largely hinges on the design of the pricing plan and the additional benefits offered within the subscription. If all goes well, the rewards for the game could be enormous, so I’ll be monitoring the situation closely.
Sea of Thieves is now playable on the Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC (through Battle.net, Steam, and Xbox PC), as well as PlayStation 5. Given that it’s an Xbox first-party game, it also comes with the perk of being part of the Xbox Game Pass subscription service.
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2025-07-11 00:09