This article is part of a new initiative on IGN where we spend a whole month exploring topics we find interesting in the world of video games (and hope you will, too!). May isDevelopment Month,where we'll tell untold stories from behind the scenes of our favorite games.
Sea of Thieves is about the journey, not the destination. For a while, Rare had a difficult time seeing that. The studio imagined an experience where players were crusading their way to the top of the food chain, showing off their prowess to all of the envious buccaneers across the realm. But after release in 2018, the company scrapped those future content plans for a different experience. Maybe players weren't interested in pirate immortality, maybe they just wanted to fish from the dock.
"Going into launch, we had plans to expand the endgame, and what it meant to be a pirate legend. We completely changed that roadmap after we launched," says Mike Chapman, Design Director at Rare. "Players wanted much more immediate things to do in that world. The more mechanics we add, the more likely you're going to have a really memorable Sea of Thieves session. It reaches a critical mass. It's been so much easier for players to say, 'Oh, I get why this game is special.' I think that was there at launch, it was just a little bit harder to find."
Two years later, the company has delivered in spades. Here are just a few of the new features that add up to Chapman's critical mass. A collection of multi-step questlines called Tall Tales, which light up the world map with swashbuckling, genre-flick adventures. A Bermuda's Triangle-like region called the Devil's Roar, which is stocked with both plunder and dangerous volcanoes. A brand new game mode, the Arena, which pits rival brigantines against each other in instanced, player-vs-player battle. Rare initially promised an elaborate, fantastical pirates paradise -- and they got there, eventually. Two years after release, Sea of Thieves finally resembles the experience people dreamt about after its formal unveiling at E3 2015.
In retrospect, fixing Sea of Thieves was remarkably simple. Its first fans loved the weighty physics, the Pixar-esque art style, the thrills of days on a sailboat, and nights under a palm tree canopy. The only problem is there simply wasnt enough content. With no Destiny-like player level thresholds to chase, and a purely cosmetic gear grind, players were running out of things to do. That problem offered Rare some clarity; the devs needed to stock their world with toys. Fortunately, Sea of Thieves community stuck around, offering Rare time to make good on its loftiest goals.
"I think we built a lot of trust and positive sentiment that we were all-in on Sea of Thieves, says Chapman. We built up this community, and the communication with the community, like it was an existing franchise, but around a new IP. When all these new people came into the world, we already had a core community that understood the game and knew the developers. We've been very open with videos and insider posts. We had that trust and relationship from the get-go. We listened, we took feedback, and as that community grew massively, we always had a strong core."
Rare never deviated from the company's core design directives. Two years later, Sea of Thieves remains tethered to a fixed skill curve -- a brand new player is capable of the same amount of damage and speed as a veteran of the coasts. There has been no effort to retrofit the game into a progressive loot shooter; you will never be out-leveled, or out-geared, by a rival ship. The steps Rare has taken to mold the game into a more conventional format have been finely targeted. For instance, the most recent update, "Ships of Fortune," dramatically overhauls the PvP gameplay loop, introducing a brand new faction, the Reaper's Bones, which marks any crew under its banner globally on the in-game map for both predators and prey.
"A big part of Sea of Thieves is making players feel a wider degree of emotions the thrill of ship combat, the sense of loss when your ship sinks below the waves the emotional side of the design," says Chapman. "Emotionally, what is fishing? Fishing isn't a one-click mechanic to go harvest a resource. Fishing, in real life, is a way to spend some cool time, taking in your surroundings. It's about making sure [the mechanics] have that Sea of Thieves difference."
It's always a gamble to believe that players will respect a more methodical, more communal, more deliberate approach to gameplay, but Rares developers were convinced early on that their community would respect every step Sea of Thieves took in that direction. In fact, Chapman says the update he's most proud of is the very first one the team implemented into the game. "The Hungering Deep" added two primary features: A gargantuan, razor-toothed shark known as the Megalodon, and a long-range microphone amplifier called the Speaking Trumpet. This was one hell of a gambit. The hope was that players would use a tool that allows them to throw their voice across the waves for good, rather than griefing everyone in earshot, which is the kind of faith that many teams would never have.
"It was a risky mechanic, but one that we believed in. We were forcing players to cooperate, to go up against something together," says Chapman. "When I went out and played it, someone started using the speaking trumpet asking if I wanted to go on a hunt [for the Megalodon] with them. If you implemented a mechanic that allowed people to shout at others over long distances during a multiplayer game, you'd fear it'd be used for ill. But that didn't happen. That was the moment where I realized that we could do something unique."
Today, Sea of Thieves is a surprise hit on Twitch -- megastreamer Jaryd "Summit1g" Lazar has integrated it into his broadcast rotation -- and in total, the game has over 1.8 million followers on the platform. After almost two decades in the wilderness since Microsoft acquired Rare in 2002, the venerable company finally has a bona fide phenomenon on its hands. Sometimes, as Chapman explains, the team has even found Twitch to be an inspiration for upcoming additions in the patch notes. There was a trend called "tucking," where players used the "sleep" emote to stowaway on unsuspecting ships. Rare didn't consider it an exploit. Instead, they added "hide" emotes so players could take their infiltration to a whole new level.
The rebirth of Sea of Thieves is becoming an increasingly familiar story. Bioware is working away on a comprehensive reimagining of Anthem, the failure-to-launch mecha-RPG that fell on its face in early 2019. Fallout 76 has managed to turn the tide on its atrocious critical narrative, as Bethesda squashes the game-breaking bugs and fleshes out post-apocalyptic West Virginia with living NPCs in its Wastelanders update. Ubisofts Rainbow Six: Siege was off to a slow start before emerging as one of the most acclaimed multiplayer shooters of all time.
With title updates, hotfixes, and a ceaseless development cycle, every franchise earns at least one second chance in the open-world, always-online era. But Rare never betrayed their faith. The studio charted a comeback with a remarkably steadfast commitment to its vision of Sea of Thieves, betting it all on a single unassailable fact: that we all wish we could live the pirate's life. That core trust has informed every design decision they've made, and as a result, its shores will be awash in gold for a long, long time.
More:
How Rare Successfully Reinvented Sea of Thieves - IGN Africa
- Messages of Hope from a 2,800 Year Old Man [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 4th, 2010]
- Kumbh Mela 2010 - the Festival of Immortals [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: April 18th, 2010]
- Census Finds 157 Year Old Woman in Indonesia [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: June 13th, 2010]
- Happy 130th Birthday Antisa Khvichava ! [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 9th, 2010]
- Anyone Have Any Samples of These Ancient Symbols / Letters? [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 21st, 2010]
- Is this a 2,500 Year Old Coin? [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: July 26th, 2010]
- Knights Templar Benediction [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2010]
- My Interview on the Mysterious Universe has Been Posted. Where is the Evidence? [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2010]
- Time Traveler in Charlie Chaplin Film [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2010]
- Time Traveler in Charlie Chaplin Film - Last Update [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 28th, 2010]
- Remote Viewing - Remote Sending Update [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 11th, 2010]
- Eating Out vs Eating In [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2010]
- Better Ways to Answer “How are You?” [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2010]
- She’s in Fashion [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 13th, 2010]
- Major Book Status Update [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: September 18th, 2011]
- Celine Dion - Immortality [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Pearl Jam - Immortality [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2011]
- Immortality [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 12th, 2011]
- DJ Fresh 'The Immortal' - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 13th, 2011]
- "Highlander (1986)" Theatrical Trailer #1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- DJERV ~ IMMORTAL - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- Solitary Experiments - Immortal (Single Edit) (Video) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 14th, 2011]
- MyGrain - Of Immortal Aeons music video HD - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Pearl Jam - Immortality (London '09) HD - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Blade of the Immortal - Criminal - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- My Immortal, a very dramatic reading of chapter 17. - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2011]
- Can a blood test really tell you when you'll die? [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Seeking immortality - Doctor Who - BBC classic sci-fi - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Blade of the Immortal - Conquest - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Harry Potter -Immortal - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2011]
- Michael Jackson THE IMMORTAL World Tour by Cirque du Soleil - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- Immortal (2004) Part 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 17th, 2011]
- [New]Thomas J. Bergersen - Immortal - Two Steps From Hell (2011) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2011]
- StarCraft 2 - Immortal Quotes - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 20th, 2011]
- Immortal (Adema) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 21st, 2011]
- City Of The Fallen - Immortality (From Volume 2 - Exsilium) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Freddy Krueger's Immortality - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: October 27th, 2011]
- Immortal Technique - the prophecy - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2011]
- The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot - Official Trailer - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- Immortal Serpent - Morgana (2006) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 8th, 2011]
- ATMA - IMMORTAL BRILLIANCE - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 13th, 2011]
- Immortal - The Rise of Darkness - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]
- 18. The badness of death, Part III; Immortality, Part I - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]
- 7. Plato, Part II: Arguments for the immortality of the soul - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2011]
- Immortal Technique - Death March *Lyrics - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 1st, 2011]
- My Immortal; The Series Part 1! - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2011]
- DDM - Immortal - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 7th, 2011]
- Pearl Jam - Immortality (SBD) - 4.12.94 Orpheum Theater, Boston, MA - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 23rd, 2011]
- Happy Rhodes - Bee Gees' Immortality (New Haven house gig) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: December 28th, 2011]
- Justin Beener COH vs Landa ARB @ Battles for Immortality 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- 'Immortality' by Coca Brew - High Risk [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Minecraft - "The Fountain of Immortality" Episode 1 - YU No Lever? - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Minecraft: The Fountain Of Immortality Part 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- jlhe's IMMORTALITY AND UTOPIA DELUSIONS - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Let's Play - Fountain of Immortality - Ep.1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- My Immortal - Chapter Thirty Seven - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Immortal Antichrist - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- The GUNN Shop - EpicMealHat | Immortal | Pool Sex | The Last of Us - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- IMMORTALITY AND THE PROGRAM OF AGING - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Immortality - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Immortal HD Plays Facade - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Two Steps From Hell - Immortal Avenger (Nero) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Two Steps From Hell - Immortal Avenger (Archangel) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Physical immortality conquering death - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- The (R)evolution of Immortal Technique (Trailer #1) [2011] Official Documentary - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Evanescence - My Immortal lyrics - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 9th, 2012]
- Alfredo EEK vs Juan HyE @ Battle for Immortality 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- Dannyy vs Alex @ Battle for Immortality 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- Oscar COH vs Vampiro @ Battle for Immortality 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- Troll Science IRL 1 - Immortality in 3 simple steps - Troll physics/logic/science - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- Kurl-e LK vs Alexisz MTUSA @ Battle for Immortality 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- [Battlescape]Immortality | Saturday Trip 07/01/12 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- Lord Vadermort is Immortal - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- [110709] Immortal Song 2 Hongki , Heechul ( no edit) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 10th, 2012]
- The Spektrum - Diatharna Thoron (The Seeds of Immortality) - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2012]
- Johnny EDU vs Rango @ Battle for Immortality 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2012]
- Lil Rex LK vs Pato @ Battle for Immortality 1 - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 11th, 2012]
- Troy - Achilles Speech - Video [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 14th, 2012]
- Djokovic closes in on sporting immortality [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 29th, 2012]
- Belichick and Brady playing for Super Bowl immortality [Last Updated On: August 17th, 2024] [Originally Added On: January 30th, 2012]