A highly anticipated feature is finally making its way to Sea of Thieves, though players will need to pay to access it. Custom servers, alongside other yet-to-be-announced perks, will be part of a new subscription service coming to Rare’s popular pirate game in early 2026. Rare developers shared this update during a Community Direct video on Wednesday.
Sea of Thieves thrives on dynamic encounters with both computer-controlled enemies and other real players, both of whom can pose a threat. With custom servers, players can set up their own “private customizable sandbox” with adjustable settings for loot availability and enemy presence. These private servers can also host `Safer Seas Fleets,` allowing players to invite friends for a game session free from aggressive random players. Rare has not yet disclosed the pricing for this subscription.
Rare was one of several studios impacted by significant layoffs at Microsoft, which also led to the cancellation of their project Everwild. Gregg Mayles, a long-time company veteran who served as creative director for both Sea of Thieves and Everwild, reportedly left Rare following Everwild`s cancellation.
The approximately hour-long Community Direct video did not mention the layoffs, the fate of Everwild, or Mayles` departure. Instead, it featured five members of the Sea of Thieves team discussing the health of their online game and detailing content updates planned for the coming months.
Rare also touched upon the previously announced Season 17, which introduces a new faction known as The Smugglers` League and adds more loot to the game`s world. Moving forward, seasons will adopt a more monthly structure, releasing new content and events throughout the month instead of launching everything at the start of the season.
Specifically for Season 17, the first month will introduce The Smugglers` League, the second month will feature a `heist` live event, and the third month will refresh the map`s Skeleton Forts. The developers also briefly teased Season 18, which will focus on the dangerous Devil`s Roar region of the game world.
In a move expected to please dedicated players, Rare is lifting the NDA for the game`s Insider Programme. This program provides preview builds showcasing upcoming Sea of Thieves updates. The developers described this decision as an initial step towards fostering more open dialogue with the game`s community.
Rare has faced challenging times recently, but the studio seems eager to assure Sea of Thieves players that the game remains a priority and is expected to continue sailing strong for years to come.