PlayStation, ahoy! Rare’s popular pirate adventure game, Sea of Thieves, is making its way to a new platform after six years since its initial launch. The game, known for its cooperative gameplay, is set to land on the PS5, and the team behind it is eager to introduce the game to a whole new community of players.
Mike Chapman, the creative director, and producer Joe Neate recently sat down to play Sea of Thieves with a crew from Sony Interactive Entertainment, as part of the plan to bring the Xbox exclusive to the PS5. The team was excited to educate the new players about the game and discuss its unique features. Chapman described the experience as surreal, highlighting the novelty of collaborating with players from a different platform.
The PS5 launch of Sea of Thieves is scheduled for 30 April, with pre-orders currently open. However, this marks just the latest stage in the game’s evolution. Initially launched in 2018, Sea of Thieves represented a significant project for the veteran British studio Rare. The game offered players a vast multiplayer world of oceanic exploration, buried treasure, and ship-to-ship battles, with a design philosophy centered on ‘tools not rules.’ This approach meant that players were equipped with everything they needed for their pirate adventures, without the constraints of a predefined narrative, skill trees, or complex character progression systems. Instead, the focus was on allowing players to create their own stories as they formed crews and engaged in battles for fame and fortune.
Despite a rocky start due to technical issues, Sea of Thieves eventually found its footing and flourished. Over the years, the game has seen approximately 100 updates and expansions, including adventures inspired by popular franchises such as Pirates of the Caribbean and Monkey Island. Additionally, new mechanics, like commodities and fishing, have been introduced to enhance the gaming experience.