While gaming solo is enjoyable, nothing builds or maintains friendships more than playing together. If you’re in the same room??, co-op play is simple?, but things get a little more complicated with added distance and platform differences. 

Wit?h so many different platforms on the market, it’s understandable if you and your besties don’t all have the same console or device. Consoles are eye-wateringly expensive these days, and purchasing more than one just so you can play a game with someone else can sometimes be out of the question entirely. But that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying the gaming experience together. 

Thankfully, there is a long list of cross-platform games to experience with friends or loved ones, and there truly is som?ething to appeal to everyone. Whether you’re looking for something that will make you laugh or something that will provoke thought and discussion, here are 11 of my favorite cro?ss-platform games to play with friends. 

Of course, all the following games can also b?e enjoyed entirely solo if you choose, but the choice to play with friends is always nice.

Fall Guys: Ultimate Knockout

Supported platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

Fall Guys is utterly chaotic fun. It doesn’t matter if you fly off the edge of the track or if you get slapped in the? face by a particularly challenging obstacle time and time again, nobody is judging you for it because everyone has done exactly the same thing at least once. What could be more fun with friends than a bonding, embarrassing gaming experience?

Final Fantasy XIV

Supported platforms: Mac, PC, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Not only is Final Fantasy XIV a great game to drag your friends into, if you don’t mind losing them to the appeal of Eorzea, but it’s also a way that millions of people around the world have met and connected. There are hundred??s of hours of main story to play through together, duties that will challenge your skills, and even the RP scene if you’re into that kind of thing. Truly something for everyone. 

Borderlands 3

Supported platforms: Mac, PC PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

If you’re looking for more chaos driven fun, then the Borderlands series is always a good way to go, and with Borderlands 3 you can play with friends regardless of what platform they opt for. Up to four of you can explore Pandora, track down the Vaults, and get to know the beloved characters introduced by the series.? 

Minecraft: Bedrock Edition

Supported platforms: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

Minecraft can either be incredibly relaxing, or a test of both your patience and ability, depending on what settings you choose to go with. Do you want to build a shining metropolis filled with endless cats and glorious houses? Or do you want to start with nothing and build your way up from a mud hut, taking ??on the various spawns that want to kill you? It’s your choice, but you don’t have to do it alone. 

Among Us

Supported platforms: GOG, PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbos Series X|S, Switch

What’s better among friends than a little bit of healthy suspicion and treachery? Among Us allows one player or a group of players to sabotage critical equipment, causing problems for everyone else playing. It’s up to the non-traitors to figure out who is the saboteur, but it’s not al??ways as obvious as it seems. Like I said, treachery, but in? a healthy way.

Genshin Impact

Supported platforms: PC, iOS, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5

Although it’s a gacha game at heart, it’s entirely possible to enjoy Genshin Impact without worrying about rolling for additional characters or other items. If you want an adventure to bond with friends over, you can play Genshin Impact co-op style in parties of up to four p??layers, allowing you to experience the story and world of Teyvat together. 

Ultimate Chicken Horse

Supported platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

As I’m sure you’ve probably guessed by now, I have a soft spot for games featuring a fair amount of chaos, and they don’t come much better than Ultimate Chicken Horse. Pick your animal, then race to select obstacles to stop fellow players from reaching the end of each course. Bombs? Sure. Platforms with spikes that will impale whoever lands on them? Absolutely. Paper Airplanes that are a little m??ore stabby than you might expect? That’s there too. 

Dead by Daylight

Supported platforms: PC, Playstation 4, Playstation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

If you want something scary to get you on the edge of your seat, then Dead by Daylight might be just the thing for you, and you don’t need to suffer through the horror alone. The worst pa??rt about playing with friends is finding out you’re the killer and having to kill them, but on the plus side, at least you’ll all have fun in the process. Hopefully. 

Sea of Thieves

Supported platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

Ever wanted to be part of a pirate crew, sailing the seven seas and plundering treasure from other ships and islands? Well, Sea of Thieves is your?? ticket to that particular adventure, and you can do it with a crew made entirely out of your friends, regardless of their chosen pl??atform. Set sail for adventure, discover secrets, and even play through the multiple Tall Tales series together. 

Fortnite

Supported platforms: PC, Android, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch

Love it or hate it, Fortnite is about as cross-platform as it’s possible to get, and players can join together for battle-royale style matches wherever they are or whatever platform they’re playing on. Not only that, but you can also join together to dive into LEGO Fortnite and other game modes, making the possibilities for fun almost endless. ??;

No Man’s Sky

Supported platforms: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S

No Man’s Sky got off to a rough start when it was first released back in 2016, but it has since come on in leaps and bounds, allowing players to join together and explore the universe together. It’s absolutely beautiful, there’s no denying that, and benefits from regular updates that provide endless expanses to ????explore with friends, or solo, however you choose to play. 

Tekken 8

Supported platforms: Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S

Call me cold-hearted, but the most fun I've ever had playing games with friends is when I get to endlessly beat them up, or attempt to. In real life I'd never do anything of the kind, but give me something like Tekken or Super Smash Bros., and it's just fun. Of course there is the danger or arguments ensuing over possible cheat?ing or frustration over repeated losses, but there's something enjoyable about button mashing together.

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Ready to set sail on a high seas adventure? These ten a?wesome board games let you take on the role of a pirate, explore an island or three, and gather up as ??much treasure as possible. Just make sure to watch out for ghost ships, deadly curses, and the cannons of your rivals. Hopefully, you’ll be the richest and most infamous of them all by the end of your next game night!  

10. Merchants & Marauders: Broadsides

The thrill of ship-to-ship combat is the core of Merchants & Marauders: Broadsides, an engaging pirate-themed card game for two players. You and your opponent are fighting over a particularly prosperous trade ?route, and can wrest control of the waves by either taking out key members of the opponents crew or sinking the?ir ship. To do either, you’ll need to carefully load, aim and fire your cannons with different types of ammo. In addition, you’ll have to sail your ship away from enemy broadsides and pay cards to repair any damage you take.

9. Sea of Thieve??s The Board Game: Voyage of Legends

The tabletop adaption of the hit open world video game Sea of Thieves does a solid job capturing the soul of the source material. Becoming a pirate and captaining your own ship is as enjoyable as eve??r, and there are plenty of epic adventures to embark upon. Beasts like the Megalodon and the Kraken also add suitable suspense on the seas. It would be nice if there were more unique locations to visit and a slightly easier to decipher rulebook, ?but for fans of the original video game it’s a must own.

8. Jamaica

The family-friendly pirating board game Jamaica pits players against each other in an epic race around the island organized by the local governor. The further ahead you are when you complete the circuit, the more money you earn. However, j??ust reaching the finish line first won’t necessarily win you the ??game. Along the route, there are many places to stop and pick up treasure. The player with the most gold is one who takes home the ultimate pirate crown. 

7. Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest

Libertalia: Winds of Galecrest is a quick competitive board game in which players attempt to gather as much treasure as possible by raiding an island for buried treasure. Each day the players will have to send one of the six crew members at their disposal down to the island to compete with their opponent captains for the loot. Keeping track of what cards the other players has already used is essential to victory, as is avoiding the cursed treasure. Game times are slightly shorter than the original Libertalia, which definitely isn’t a bad thing.

6. Skull King

Skull King is a perfect pirate-themed party game for up to eight players that leans on trick-taking gameplay. Each round, you’ll need to bet how many tricks you can make based on the cards in your hand. A correct prediction will net you valuable points once the round is over. However, it’s all too easy to fall into the tr?aps of the Skull King, who trumps everything except the mermaid. Whales, krakens, and escape cards also add interest??ing twists and ensure that the game’s tension continues to escalate each round.

5. Maracaibo

Maracaibo is a complex yet rewarding strategy board game in which you and your fellow players will all get to captain your own pirate ships and explore the Caribbean. The game’s project cards and career options set up unique paths to victory for each player. The ship upgrades system also offers sati??sfying ways to upgrade your sailing vessel. In addition, there is an optional campaign in which your choices from one game will roll into the next. The box includes a solo variant, but the game is in this case most enjoyable alongside a few other players.  

4. Plunder: A Pirate’s Life

If you’re looking for a pirate board game that’s a bit more on the easy-to-learn side of the scale, then Plunder might be the perfect choice. The goal of the game is simple; all you need to do is collect ten plunder points. However, there are many ways that you can achieve this goal, such as taking over islands, burying booty, and destroying your opponent’s fleet. Both combat and ship movement operate using dice rolls, which means you’ll need to choose the right moment to take ?some risks if you hope to claim victory.

3. Dominion + Dominion Seaside

The acclaimed deck building board game Dominion offers players an outstanding chance to build an empire on the high seas with its Seaside expansion. Merchant ships, smugglers, treasure maps, and lookouts offer exciting new ways to claim the last province and end the game with the most victory points. If you don’t already have Dominion, you can pick up the Seaside expansion alongside the small Dominion Base Cards box to skip the original game and set sail on the perfect pirating adventure right from ??the start.

2. Dead Men Tell No Tales

Dead Men Tell No Tales is a cooperative board game in which you and your fellow group of sailors are trying to capture a treasure onboard a ghostly pirate ship. You’ll have to battle?? the undead crew, avoid hazards around the ship, and face off again?st the infamous Captain Fromm to succeed. Unlike the other tabletop titles on this list, the game focuses on a single raid rather than a series of journeys, which makes for a nice change of pace. Will you make it off the ship before the flames rise too high? It's tougher than you might think.

1. Forgotten Waters

Forgotten Waters offers three to seven players an exciting open world of ?pirating shenanigans that’s full to the brim with memorable quests and locations. Gameplay is fully immersive and easy to manage, with the game’s free app assisting players with everything from setup to encounter narration. Creating your character is also fun, since there are plenty of enjoyable skill combos to sample and role play alongside. Timed worker placement and roll-based skill checks add plenty of tension to each of the five lengthy scenarios included in the box.

The post The 10 Best Pirate-Themed Board Gam??es Of All Time, Ranked appeared first on Destructoid.

Sea of Thieves, the popular free-to-play pirate game, is currently undergoing maintenance as developers Rare are currently working behind the scenes to introduce Season 13. The new Sea of Thieves Season 13 is set to arrive today, and fans can expect the Sea of Thieves servers to be offline for a few hours.

The developers made the downtime announcement online at 2:11 a.m. PT, saying that they will inform fans when the Sea of Thieves servers will be back up, and?? that “Captain Flameheart will be waiting�for them when they return.

As for exactly how long will Sea of Thieves be down, that's difficult to say but it should not be longer than 3-4 hours. We will update you once the servers are back up, so you can get back to sailing o??nce again.

The wait, however, will be fruitful in the end as Season 13 will commence, bringing in new content for players to experience. Captain Flameheart makes his return to the game alongside his ship called The Burning Blade, a??s part of a new World Event. The players have the choice to either be part of Captain Flameheart’s crew or stand against him. Sea of Thieves players have to defeat Flameheart’s crew which includes Obsidian Skeletons and take on the ship itself, which has 10 cannons, is ?immune to fire-based weapons, and its Ashen Roar attack launches a massive ball of fire upon opponents. Good luck.

If you choose the option to side with Flameheart instead, you’ll get the command over the Burning Blade but will then be an open target for other players who will look to take down your new ship as part of the World Event objectives. Moreover, signing up with Flameheart also means that you have to sacrifice your old ship, bu??t you can still transfer your inventory items to the new ship before it sinks.

There’s a lot more to Season 13 than simply sinking or protecting The Burning Blade. Players? will get to go treasure hunting beneath ancient temples, solve puzzles in mysterious crypts, and complete the rituals to unlock the rewards.

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Developer Rare today announced that this month, all Sea of Thieves? players will get a chance to head out on Gilded Voyages that should boost their standing with all Trading Companies and net them some ??big rewards.

Following on from this week's successful launch of Sea of Thieves on PS5, Rare has confirmed we're all about to get a lot richer in-game. In a couple of weeks, all players will be given the chance to embark on up to four Gilded Voyages and earn some of the most lucrative rewards in the game along??side what can end up being the longest adventures y??ou can dive into.

Sea of Thieves players can loot a ridiculous amount of Gold from Gilded Voyages from mid-May

Between May 16 and 23, 2024, Sea of Thieves players will have the opportunity to claim up to four Gilded Voyages. These are usually free and send players on quests for more loot than they'll know what to do with. In a Twitter post announcing this, Rare explained how? these Gilded Voyages would take players to the Ancient Isles, which makes them even more intriguing.

Gilded Voyages of the Ancient Isles award standing with all the game's Trading Companies, the various factions you can work for. Not only that, though, these Gilded Voyages are ?going to award you with the Seamark Tribute Tattoo, but you'll likely have to complete at least one Voyage to get it.

The only downside to Gilded Voyages is that they must be completed in the High Seas, the open world where players can attack each other in Sea of Thieves. Those who stick to Safer Seas because they prefer the co-op experience or want to stick to solo play won't be able to get them unless they step up.

Given the High Seas restriction, some players aren't as pleased as they could be about the upcoming Gilded Voyages. Others have inadvertently discovered that this is thei?r chance to get the Seamark Tribute Tattoo back in their collection after it was removed by a past update.

As a new player who has joined with the PS5 launch, I'm excited to jump into my first event in the game. I play solo for the most part, but love going out of my way on High Seas mode with the added danger it presents. Of co??urse, I might come to regret that if I'm boarded and lose all my loot after digging up 40 Captain's Chests on a Gilded V??oyage. I can't resist a time-limited cosmetic, though.

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Seeing all the possible Voyages you can embark on in Sea of Thieves can be a little overwhelming. It gets? even worse when time-limited Gilded Voyages pop up, but they shouldn't be something you avoid.

Diving into Sea of Thieves as a newcomer isn't easy. While its tutorial does a great job of outlining the basic?s, there's still a lot of seafaring you've got to master by yourself or with the help of the community. Something you won't get to grips with until they pop up as part of in-game events is Gilded Voyages. When they do appear, they'll leave you with nothing but questions. But you needn't worry becau??se they're designed to be the most lucrative activity of all.

What are Gilded Voyages in Sea of Thieves?

Gilded Voyages are enhanced versions of standard Trading Company Voyages in Sea of Theives. They offer more loot for your efforts and ??generally task you with slightly more complicated tasks. Once you be?gin one, you'll need to complete it before logging off if you want to claim all of the available loot.

The reason th?ey're different from the Trading Company Voyages is that you can't tackle them whenever you want. They're time-limited events that offer better rewards, but only for a short period of time. You've got to drop everything else and complete them if you want to make the most of them.

There are a?? few different types of Gilded Voyage in the game. I've listed all of them below, along with an explanation of what you can expect to receive from them.

• Gilded Hoard Voyage: This pack contains 8 X Marks the Spot Maps across the game's main regions, which should total around 40 Captain's Chests.
• Gilded Duel Voyage: Contains 8 Bounty Maps with 4 Skeleton Captains, amounting to a total of 32 Villainous Bounty Skulls.
• Gilded Cargo Run Voyage: Contains 1 Cargo Run Map with 50 Cargo Crates.
• Gilded Voyage of Legends: Contains 2 chapters worth of loot to get through that should take you at least an hour and result in 8 Villainous Skulls, 10 Captain's Chests, 12 Pieces of Cargo, and 3 Chest of Legends.
• Gilded Voyage of Restitution: This item contains 8 X Marks the Spot Maps for a total of 40 Captain's Chests, but it is specifically given as a reward for technical issues.

How to get Gilded Voyages in Sea of Thieves

The only way to get Gilded Voyages in Sea of Thieves is by being awarded them as part of an event. This usually happens around the holiday season or big moments in the game's lifetime. For example, all players could claim up to 4 Gilded Voyages in the weeks following the PS5 version's launch.

This perfectly demonstrates how Gilded Voyages work, though. Over a number of days, players can claim them and set sail on lucrative adventures to claim as much gold and treas??ure as possible. However, the Voyages must be completed within the allotted timeframe.?? Otherwise, players miss out on their chance to claim the best loot.

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Following the successful launch of Season 12, Sea of Thieves developer Rare has pushed a n?ew hotfix that fixes Guild functionality for all players and outli?ned which bugs will be addressed in the May update.

The May 2 hotfix for Sea of Thieves is a follow-up to Season 12's launch. The new season adds a new Plunder Pass, two ad??ditional weapons, and the ability to walk along harpoon lines. However, it also added a few glitches that we??ren't caught before the update went live. The biggest news from this hotfix is the return of full Guild functionality, which has been limited for the past week or so, with players reporting crashes and the inability to access the ships they'd pledged.

Sea of Thieves May 2 hotfix patch notes explained

As I mentioned, the biggest news from this hotfix is that it brings back full Guild functionality. Players couldn't see the full suite of pledge?d ships for a guide when trying to jump into a session. This was temporarily mitigated in late April, but full functionality has now been returned for all players. If you?'ve been waiting for a fix to get back to your Guild, now is the time to hop in.

Game Heath fixes

When it launched on April 30, Season 12 created a few issues in Sea of Thieves. The following issues have been identifie?d, and Rare is pl?anning on having them fixed with the game's May update.

• Passive Megalodon encounters will soon be a thing of the past. The development team identified what was causing these, so the Megalodon should stick around and attack you in full force once the update is out.
• An issue with held gunpowder kegs that won't detonate after being fired into will be addressed.
• Right now, players can get stuck in a fast Throwing Knives cycle that sees them launch the knives faster than intended, but this will be fixed in May.
• The Bone Caller doesn't currently progress the Skeleton Squared Commendation, but it will with the next update.

Season 12-specific issues

At the time of writing, Rare is pretty happy with the state of Sea of Thieves Season 12. However, it has listed a few areas that it'??s keeping an eye on and might address with changes in the May update.

• Throwing Knives are pretty solid outside of the problem mentioned above. Right now, the development team is investigating the impact of having them stuck in intractable in your ship on boarding. As you can imagine, these could protect you or slow down boarding parties, which isn't intentional. At least, not yet.
• Bone Caller skeletons are revealing tucked players on ships, which is another unintentional feature that Rare may decide is fine or nerf entirely.
• Some players have reported that they can't reload their Double Barrelled Pistol, and once the development team can reproduce the issue consistently, it'll find a fix for it.
• Adding two new weapons to the game has impacted Sea of Thieves' combat. While there's nothing to report right now, changes will undoubtedly occur once a new meta begins to surface.

The official patch notes provide a littl??e more detail and information on where to report bugs, but right now, it looks like we're all waiting for the May u?pdate before any big changes come along.

The post Sea of Thieves Season 12 hotfix returns Guilds f??unctio??nality and outlines upcoming fixes appeared first on Destructoid.

One of the most appealing things about any MMO like Sea of Thieves is that the game world is fil??led to the brim with other real people to play alongside. But sometimes, you just want ??to go it alone for a session or two.

The massive open seafaring world of Sea of Thieves feels fantastic not only because of the amazing water graphics and physics but also because you're often doing so alongside a group of other players. Each session brings with it the potential to encounter another group on its own ship that you'll need to battle for supremacy over the seas. Howe?ver, the game is also perfect for spending hours out at sea alone if that's what you want to do.

Can you play Sea of Thieves solo?

Yes, you can play Sea of Thieves solo. To do this, you need to pick which mode to?? play in, I always opt for High Seas over Safer Sease because the loot is better, then pick your ship from your collection or by chartering one, and finally, ?select the Closed Crew option. This option will make it so that only your friends can play with you.

Once you get ??into the game world, you just need to let your friends know that you want a solo session or refuse them when they attempt to join your game. It might sound a bit harsh, but this always works for me. It also helps you avoid matchmaking up with randoms who don't want to do the activity you're aiming to complete.

Why should you play Sea of Thieves solo?

While you don't ever have to, I like playing Sea of Thieves solo sometimes because it lets me go at my own pace. I can pick the quests I want ?to complete for whichever faction?? or Tall Tale I want to earn a reputation with and progress.

I find that in groups, players tend to want to jump into the most productive content. The quests that will earn the crew the most loot and the latest Tall Tale. I've not completed everything the game has to offer, so I quite e??njoy playing solo and building up my reputation or tackling a Tall Tale without any interruptions.

This is particularly useful at the start of a new season, such as Season 12, when so many new players are joining the game or lapsed players are returning for the Plunder Pass. It can be difficult to do what you want when there are so?? many players just trying to be as optimal as possible.

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While it has its share of players who prefer the PvP elements and actively seek out others for a fight, Sea of Thieves is a fairly chilled MMO available on multiple plat?forms.

As of April 25, 2024, Sea of Thieves is available across PC, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PS5. The game began life on Xbox and PC, meaning most of the player base started their time with it on these platforms. However, as time has gone on and the PS5 version was added, players want to be able to take their progress with them when they play, but that requires cross-platfor?m progression.

Does Sea of Thieves have cross-platform progression?

Yes, Sea of Thieves has?? cross-platform progression, and it's supported across every platform as of Apr??il 30, 2024. This means that everyone who poured hours into the game on PC or Xbox can take that progress with them to PS5 if they want to.

Cross-progression is a massive benefit in Sea of Thieves because it makes the game so much easier to justify spending time playing. Games such as Dead by Daylight are more difficult to justify because progression is still locked to a single platform with that title. But with this game, I can l?og in on my PC to play for a while, then pick up where I left off on PS5 or Xbox anywhere else. All I need is my Microsoft login, and I'm good to go.

How does Cross-platform progression work in Sea of Thieves?

Cross-platform progression in Sea of Thieves is tied to your Microsoft account. I've had one through an email service for decades, so I used that to sign up for Sea of Thieves when I first played?? it on Xbox One. Then, once the game came to my preferred platform, PS5, I logged in with the same account when launching the game for the first time. This transferred across all my data, my pirate, all my guild standing, and everything else I'd acquired.

However, there is one issue with cross-platform progression when it comes to PS5. Only some Trophies will be triggered when you port across your progress. Those that are designed to pop only once will need ??to be earned again, even if you already picked up the equivalent Achievement on Xbox or PC. It's a little bit annoying, but in the grand scheme of things, I don't think it really matters that much. It's certainly a price worth paying to be able to move? across platforms and, sometimes, rooms for multiple sessions in the game.

The post Is Sea of Thieves cross-platform? appeared first on Destructoid.

As Sea of Thieves opens up to players on PS5, Rare has clarified how your achievements from your Steam and Microsoft accounts will translate i??nto trophies. The long and short of it: not every achievement will unlock a trophy after linking accounts.

In a blog post accompanying the early access launch of Sea of Thieves on PS5, Rare explained that only some trophies would automatically unlock once you connect ??your accounts between the Sony platform and the game on PC or Xbox. This means that those who have already unlocked every achievement in the game on Steam or Xbox will need to unlock several again, as they're only built to trigger once per platform.

You can't automatically unlock every Sea of Thieves PS5 Trophy you have the equivalent Achievement for on another platform

Developer Rare states that this is intentional because some achievements, such as becoming a Pirate Legend, are only designed to trigger once and will, therefore, sync. Those achievements that can trigger more than once, though, won't transfer and must be unlocked through gameplay once again. Ultimately, it's due to how trophies work on PS5 and not how Sea of Thieves awards them.

Some players on the Sea of Thieves subreddit are disappointed by this news because it means they've got to work to unlock tr?ophies they've already done the equivalent work for elsewhere. However, there's a r??eally even split between those who don't mind the situation, too.

I can completely understand that if someone is coming to PS5 for a game from outside of the trophy ecosystem, they probably don't care about it. I love trophies and try to get everyone I can in the games I love, but I've been a PlayStation fan for decades now. Sea of Thieves originated on Xbox, and if you've already picked up every achievement for the game there, you've done the hard work and should be able to sai??l off on PS5 as a veteran without the need for a shiny platinum trophy to prove it.

Sea of Thieves is available in?????????????????????????? early access?? on PS5 now, with its full launch beginning on April 30, 2024.

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Like most MMOs, Sea of Thieves is subject to errors a?nd server outages that can impede the gameplay experience for players who want?? to plunge into colossal waves.

Sea of Thieves welcomes you into its massive open ocean world and asks you to explore it alongside more than 40 million others. You've got to work your way up from nothing to the point where you own a ship ??that you can crew with friends or randoms and tackle even tougher challenges for the best loot in the game. However, issues such as the Hazelnutbeard error can get in the way of this and really ruin your motivation for playing if you don't know how to fix ??them.

How to fix the Hazelnutbeard error in Sea of Thieves

To fix the Hazelnut error in Sea of Thieves, you need to double-check your internet connection before trying to launch the game and get into a session again. This could mean that your internet is down, your Wi-Fi router isn't connecting to your device?, or your device is having trouble connecting.

When this happens to me, I check if the internet is working on my computer or phone. If it is, I then check if my device is connected to it because sometimes it can say it's connected, but when I run a test, it fails. Finally, I restart my device, and t?hat usually does the trick. If that doesn't work, though, restarting the wi-fi router always works.

What is the Hazelnutbeard error in Sea of Thieves

The Hazelnutbeard error in Sea of Thieves is caused by players not being able to connect to the game's servers. Developer Rare advises that players check their internet connection to fix the error, indicati??ng that it has nothing to do wi??th the game's servers at all.

This error could crop up anytime because it's all about your hardware. I find that making sure there won't be any outages with my provider before a big update launch is a good idea because it helps avoid any issues when the time comes to actually pla?y.

Of course, sometimes, there's no way to avoid these issues. If your internet provider is going to have some downtime right when you want to play Sea of Thieves, you could always tether fr??om your smartphone or make sure you're s??omewhere else that has reliable internet on the day you want to play.

The post How to fix Sea of Thieves Hazelnutbeard error appeared first on Destructoid.

If you’ve been trying to join an open crew after the April 25, 2024 update for 2018's Sea of Thieves, you will have been met with frustration. As of right now, open crew matchmaking isn’t working, and the developm??ent team is aware of it.

The developers have stated that the open crew matchmaking will be fixed and working again with the April 30, 2024 patch. This means when Season 12 drops, Sea of Thieves�open crews should be available again.

This also means that if you bought Sea of Thieves premium version on PS5 in order to get the five day Early Access,?? then Open Crew won’t be available until it fully launches on April 30. It’s a pretty big bummer for anyone w??ho paid extra on PS5 and doesn’t have a pre-existing group to team up with.

However, PVP matchmaking and private crew should still be available. You will still be able to battle against ??other ships and can still play with friends, but the drop-in crew s?ystem is non-functional for the next few days.

To reiterat?e, Open Crew matchmaking is currently down. It should be fixed and re-enabled for the April 30, 2024 Season 12 update.

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When things go wrong in Sea of Thieves, you'll always be given an error code, but every code is?? a beard. While this helps?? figure out the issue, it doesn't always mean there's an easy fix.

Since Sea of Thieves is an online seafaring game that challenges you to explore its vast seas in search of treasure and ships to steal or destroy, it's had its fair share of server issues. These usually occur around major milestones for the game, su??ch as the launch of a new platform or a period of early access. One of the most common errors you'll see around these ti?mes is the Charcoalbeard error, to which there's a potential fix you can quickly try.

How to fix the Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves

To fix the Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves, you need to quit the game, check if there are any updates for you to download, and then relaunch it to try getting into a session once more. The cause of this error is on ??the server's side, so only developer Rare can fix it by implementing changes on its end.

The Charcoalbeard error usually clears up pretty quickly, but restarting your game and devices always helps. At times, the issue can already be fixed, but because you've still got the game running, you're preserving your instance of the error. Restart your game and device every 10 minutes or so, but if it's not fixed after three attempts, it might be time to check to see if the Sea of Thieves servers are down.

This error appeared most recently on April 25, 2024, around the early access launch of Sea of Thieves for PS5. I suspect the influx of new players caused some issues, which is why the ?error was so widespread and stopped quite a few of us from getting into sessions right w??hen we wanted to most.

What is the Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves?

The Charcoalbeard error in Sea of Thieves is a matchmaking error that's caused in the main menu wh?en you attempt to join a session with other players. Something, and we don't know exactly what for now, goes wrong and reports thi?s error.

Strangely, there's no official explanation for the error on the Sea of Thieves server status page, but I've found forum posts discussing it going back four years. Rare always resolves the issue by pushing an update to the gam??e's servers. Unfortunately, you won't be able to fix it by changing your settings. You've simply got to wait until you can get into a session.

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As with all online games, Sea of Thieves relies on servers to host players so they can sail its open seas and plunder the depths freely. But that reliance ??becomes an issue when servers go down.

Every time you log into Sea of Thieves and sail away on an adventure, you're joining a server with dozens of other crews who could help or hinder your efforts. There are many servers for you to join, filled with the game's 40 million and growing player base, which is fantastic if you're hoping for an o??ccupied online world. The downside is that every??one suffers when the servers go down, and no one can figure out what's going on.

Is Sea of Thieves down?

Sea of Thieves is back online, as the latest update has been implemented with the release of the game's PS5 version. T?his version went into early access on April 25, 2024, with the full release alongside Season 12 hitting on April 30, 2024.

PS5 players can now get into the game and start making progress ahead of the ?n?ext season. It's an exciting time to be a new player with so many pirates already out at sea. Still, if any error persists for too long, it could prove to be a source of aggravation for those players, like myself, who pre-ordered the Premium Edition to get a full five days head-start.

How to check the Sea of Thieves servers

The best way to check the Sea of Thieves servers is by visiting the game's official server status page. This will tell you about any server maintenance or parts of the game that are temporarily disabled and why. It'll also highlight the main error code that's popping up so you can check if you're getting the same ??one to see if you're in the same boat as everyone else.

If you see an error on the page, you'll have to hold tight and wait for Rare to figure out and solve the problem before you can play. You cannot get into Sea of Thieves if?? the servers are down, but once the page shows that they are back up, you can go right ?back in.

If you don't see an error on this page, check on the official Twitter account for Sea of Thieves. The development team will share all? updates on the game's outages there before they're seen anywhere else, so you should catch a problem as it occurs and is picked up.

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Rare has created a pretty unique MMO in Sea of Thieves, throwing players into its waters and letting them sink or swim on their own merit. Now, the PS5 version is set to do the same, but thanks to the game's success on Xbox and PC, it feels like it already has armband??s.

Sea of Thieves adopted a community of 40 million players in April 2024 from the PC and Xbox fan base alone. While that number is incredibly impressive, there are even more fans who can't wait to get into the game on PS5 either through early access with the Premium Edition or the full release five days later. Th?e only trouble I and many other PS5 fans are having is working out when the game will be available to play.

What time does Sea of Thieves early access release on PS5?

The early access period of Sea of Thieves on PS5 begins on April 25, 2024. Rare has clarified that while the game might be live on your PS5 from midnight, the PS5 servers go live at 1 p.m. UTC/6 a.m. PT/9 a.m. ET/2 p.m. BST on the day. If you try to play before then, you'll likely get an error and find that you're unable to play in any way.

Sea of Thieves will also be dow??n for maintenance leading up to the early access release of the game on PS5, so there's really very little chance you'll be able to play as soon as the game unlocks on your console. You're better off getting a good night's sleep, waking up at a reasonable hour, and then playing until a ridiculous hour after it's been confirmed the ser?vers are up.

What time does Sea of Thieves release for all players on PS5?

At the time of writing, all I know is that Sea of Thieves on PS5 will launch for all players at 00:01 a.m. local time on April 30, 2024. this is when the game will be available, but there co?uld be server maintenance planned for the day that I'm not aware of right now. As soon as I know more, I'll update this section of the article. For now, though, it's probably safe to assume that since the PS5 servers will have been live for 5 days, you'll be able to play from this time on April 30, 2024.

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Rare's seafaring MMO has passed the 40 million player milestone across PC and Xbox, and a PS5 release is just on the horizon. While Sea of Thieves arrives on the Sony platform next week, it's still not quite soon enough for some PS5 ??pirates eager to get back to their ships.

Six years after its initial release, 40 million players is quite the achievement, considering the game is still only available on PC and Xbox. For folks on the PS5, it's a brand new adventure, and they're eager to be part of the action. However, the platform's community is left lamenting this week, daydreaming about drinking Grog, boarding their ships, and sailing the open seas once more when Sea of Thieves launches for PS5 on April 30, or April 25 for those with the premium edition.

40 million players in Sea of Thieves is only the beginning as PS5 beta fans long for the open ocean

I think Gladielmf succinctly puts it best on the Sea of Thieves Subreddit: " I overdid the beta, and now I'm sad." Those responding in the comments either resonate with Gladielmf, as I very much do, or they're eagerly anticip?ating the excitement of PS5 players when they get to experience the game for the first time.

Other comments from Sea of Thieves mates are, mostly, pretty welcoming, considering they're all pirates with every incentive to kick those sea legs out f?rom under you. More than one player noted just how long they've waited to play on PS5, so any wait now is small potatoes.

"I've waited years to play it so 9 more days isn't that hard (got the premium ed)," wrote Almost-Anon98. "My last day I played, I got into a 45min to an hour (could be way longer, but the time flew b??y) long battle doing the song Siren Skull thingy".

It definitely says something about the quality of Sea of Thieves that those who took part in a b??eta enjoyed it so much that they want to put everything else aside and play for longer. Even six years later, the Rare? pirate adventure still calls plenty to the sea.

For Rare, this player response is a double-whammy of success. Not only does it have a massive player base, but those players have created a healthy community that's actively looking forward to the gam??e opening up just as a new season of content drops at the same time. I'm hoping they're up for helping newbies out because I definitely haven't gotten my sea legs just yet.

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Season 12 is going to be one of the biggest new seasons for Sea of Thieves because it op?e??ns the game up to an entirely new player base.

A new Sea of Thieves season is always something to look forward to. Not only does it bring a new Plunder Pass to work through and often big changes to the game's core content, but it also adds new activities to keep you busy for hours each time you log in. Season 12 is particularly exciting because it's going to see the launch of Sea of Thieves for PS5, which could see serv?ers flooded with hundreds of new pirates ready to take to the seas.??

When is the release date for Sea of Thieves Season 12?

Sea of Thieves Season 12 will be released on April 30, 2024. The exact time of the season's release isn't clear at the time of writing, but it will almost ce??rtainly require some server downtime in the days leading up to it. O??nce that's out of the way, players should be able to dive into season 12 on the date without any issues.

Sea of Thieves PS5 release date and details explained

Season 12 will see the release of Sea of Thieves on PS5. while the game isn't technically out on PS5 until April 30, 2024, anyone who pre-orders the game can play the closed beta between April 12 to 15, 2024. In addition, those who pre-order the Premium Edition? get five days of early access and can, there?fore, start playing from April 25, 2024.

The PS5 version of Sea of Thieves is no different from the PC or Xbox versions. Players will be able to start their pirate journey and link up with others to conquer the toughest challe??nges the ?seas have to offer. However, this version marks the inclusion of a big new fan base, one that could see the game's player base explode exponentially.

Everything new in Sea of Thieves Season 12

Developer Rare outlined everything it has planned for Sea of Thieves in Season 12 and beyond during its 2024 Preview Event. Just in case you missed it, I've highlighted all the new content you can get in the game once the seaso?n is out below.

New weapons and tools

With Season 12, two new weapons and three new tools are being added to Sea of Thieves??. The aim of these items is to mix up the current meta and get players to use something different each time they drop into the g??ame. The new weapons and tools are as follows.

• Weapon - Double-Barreled Flintlock: A pistol with two barrels that can fire more shots than the basic pistol. You can fire two shots before reloading or charge the weapon for a single powerful shot that uses both barrels.
• Weapon - Throwing Knives: Knives that players can throw to attack enemies from afar with something slightly more accurate and recoverable. These sharp implements can also be used for quick melee attacks or charged for stronger stabs against other players.
• Tool - Wind Caller: A horn-shaped shell that players blow into to summon the power of the wind. This gives them wind to fill their sails and speed even against the wind at full speed. It also works for pushing enemy players away or as a form of propulsion in the sea when stuck in the water.
• Tool - Scattershot: A collection of four cannonballs that are smaller and have a shorter range than standard ones, but hit targets with multiple projectiles and cause several small holes for players to repair. It can quickly overwhelm an enemy ship and make them easier to beat.
• Tool - Bone Caller: A new throwable for players to wield. Once it detonates, skeletons will spawn around the player in that area and fight for them.

Rare isn't only adding new wea??pons and tools,? though; it's improving old ones. For example, it will now be possible to balance on Harpoon Lines. This means you can now open up routes to other ships on the seas or make it easier to get onto and off of islands.

Ziplines

With Season 12's launch, more ziplines are going to appear on the islands around Sea of Thieves. They've been carefully placed across the game's islands where players can make? the most of them, not simply placed anywhere without a thought. they offer faster traversal, easier access to ships, and escape? routes from skeletons.

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While Sea of Thieves is a mostly stable MMO, it? can occa??sionally suffer from glitches, such as the Cinnamonbeard error.

Every online game has its issues. Sometimes it's server queues, others it's problems with files being downloaded, but almost all of them have errors from time to time. Sea of Thieves is no different, with many well-known errors like the Cinnamonbeard error rearing their heads when new content is released, updates show up, or events bring an influx of pla??yers to servers.

How to fix the Cinnamonbeard error in Sea of Thieves

To fix the Cinnamonbeard error in Sea of Thieves, you must restar??t the game in one of several ways to reconnect it to the game's servers. Bear in mind that this will only ??work if the error is on your end. If the error is on the server-side of the game, then you'll need to wait until the issue is resolved before you can play.

First, try jumping back into a game by joining another playe?r or your own server. If that won't work, then you'll ne?ed to restart the game from scratch by closing it down and launching it anew. This should force the game to attempt a reconnect, but it still may not be enough.

If Sea of Thieves still presents you with the Cinnamonbeard error, close down the game and the device you're playing on. Once it's been completely shut down, restart your device, launch the game, and attempt to join a server ??again.

Finally, if you're playing on a PC, you may need to search in Windows for your Firewall settings. Check if your PC is blocking Sea of Thieves from connecting to its servers. This can be caused by the simpl?est of updates, so it's always worth checking to see if something has changed without you noticing.

What is the Cinnamonbeard error in Sea of Thieves?

The Cinnamonbeard error in Sea of Thieves is caused by a connection issue between the player's version of the game and its servers. When the ?connection is interrupted, this error and many other beard errors can pop up, depending on exactly what the core issue is.

If using the methods above doesn't fix the Cinnamonbeard error, you should check the game's official Twitter account for news of any ongoing issu??es. This is where developer Rare will share news of problems it's aware of first, so you'll know you have an impossible error to fix if the developer is sharing it with the player base.

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Most online games like Sea of Thieves have errors that c??rop up from time to time, and usually, like the Lavenderbeard error, they're fairly easy to ?fix.

As a pirate and seafaring MMO, Sea of Thieves is no stranger to errors. In fact, it's got more than its fair share around any update, new content release, ?or announcement that drives more players into its seas. Some of these can be caused by issues on the server side that aren't fixable by any player, but others are very easy to address. Thankfully, the Lavenderbeard error falls into the latter of these two categories.

How to fix the Lavenderbeard error in Sea of Thieves

The only way to fix the Lavenderbeard error in Sea of Thieves is to restart the game and attempt to connect to the servers again. This is a server connection error, so you need to trigger the connection to start again if you want to ge?t around it.

There are a few ways you can do this. First, just try to reconnect to the server. this game be done in-game without restartin?g your device. If that doesn't work, you'll need to quit the game entirely before launching it again and trying to reconnect.

If that still doesn't get you into Sea of Thieves, try shutting down the device you're playing on. Then, once you've rebooted it, launch the game and see?? if you're able to get into it now. A full system restart shoul?d clear out any gremlins in the system, so if this fix doesn't work, you might have to wait for a server-side issue to be fixed.

However, if you're playing on a PC, you may be having issues because your software is blocking the game. Open your Windows menu and search for your Firewall settings. Then, once you've found them, make sure Sea of Thieves is't being ?treated as suspicious or having its connections blocked. Any update could cau??se this to happen, so it's always worth checking to see if something silly like this is preventing you from playing on PC.

What is the Lavenderbeard error in Sea of Thieves?

The Lavenderbeard error in Sea of Thieves is caus???ed by a disconnect between the game and its servers. If this is on your side, the player's side, then you should be able to fix it using the methods outlined above. If, however, you can't, the error is almost certainly on the server's side.

You can check if an error or general issue in Sea of Thieves is known by seeing if it's been discussed on the game's ??Twitter account. This is where the development team posts about all known issues, so you'll see information about server outages here before too long if they're widespread. If you do see an issue being discussed, you'll need to wait until it's fixed before you can play.

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Sea of Thieves is finally coming to the PS5 and we have a release date. Along with i?t, there are othe??r important tidbits of information you may be interested in, ranging from the different editions, betas, crossplay, and more.

Sea of Thieves PS5 release date

The standard PS5 version of Sea of Thieves will be released on April 30, 2024. The Premium version of the game will be released five days earlier, on April 25.? 

Is there a Sea of Thieves PS5 beta?

Yes, if you pre-ordered the PS5 version of Sea of Thieves, there will be a Closed Beta. It’ll run between April 12 and April 15. Participating in the beta will give you the Dauntle??ss Adventurer Title and Dauntless Adventurer Sails items. 

You'll also be able to earn Renown, currency, and cosmetics from the current season. A??t the end, you'll be given 10 Renown lev??els as a beta participant bonus.

All Sea of Thieves editions 

There are three versions of Sea of Thieves on the PS5. We’ll break down what ea?ch version c??ontains:

Standard Edition (39.99 USD)

• Closed beta access
• Exclusive Pre-order weapons and pet

Deluxe Edition (49.99 USD)

• Closed beta access
• Exclusive Pre-order weapons and pet
• Ocean crawler cosmetics
• Collector’s Thunderous Fury ship items
• Shrouded Ghost Hunter Blunderbuss
• 10,000 Gold

Premium Edition (59.99 USD)

• Closed beta access
• Exclusive Pre-order weapons and pet
• Ocean crawler cosmetics
• Collector’s Thunderous Fury ship items
• Shrouded Ghost Hunter Blunderbuss
• 10,000 Gold
• Dark Warsmith Ship Set and Costume
• Season 12 Plunder Pass
• 5-day early access
• Diabolical Dog Pet

Is Sea of Thieves crossplay between PS5 and Xbox?

Sea of Thieves will have crossplay between PS5, Xbox,?????????????????????????? and even PC. If you are a PlayStation player wishing to play with people on other platforms, you will need a Microsoft account and link it to your account.

Does Sea of Thieves have cross-progression?

Along with having crossplay, Sea of Thieves will also have cross-progression between all available platforms. So, if you want to continue your adventures on PS5 from a pre-existing Microsoft account, you can ?do just that. 

So, remember the two dates. Sea of Thieves will be avail??able on April 30, 2024, for Standard and Deluxe Edition players while the Premium users will get to start playing on?? the 25th.

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Microsoft's live service pirate game Sea of Thieves will make the jump to PlaySt??ation 5 very soon, and newcomers can get a taste for it ev?en earlier by participating in a closed beta test.

The test is scheduled to run this weekend, starting from 2am PT / 5am ET / 10am BST on Friday, April 12, and ending at the same time on Monday, April 15. That's plenty of time to get accustomed to Sea of Thieves' gameplay loop and mechanics. The downside is this isn't a 'try before you buy' situation. According to developer Rare, the only way to gain access to the beta is by pre-ordering Sea of Thieves on PS5.

This may be deflating for anyone still on the fence about checking Sea of Thieves out, especially with it no longer being an Xbox/PC exclusive. It may be a live service, but Sea of Thieves is not free-to-play. At its cheapest, it's still priced at $39.99/£39.99 on the Xbox and PlayStation storefronts. This works out for anyone who already pre-ordered Sea of Thieves, though, and there are a lot of people eager to play it on PS5. So many in fact that it quickly became the best-selling pre-or?der on the PS St?ore in the U.S.

If you do participate in the closed beta, you'll earn an exclusive Dauntless Adventurer Sails cosmetic and Title, but Rare has warned in an FAQ on its website these are locked to the PS5 version of the game. So, even if you play Sea of Thieves on Xbox as well, you can't t?ransfer the sails and Title to your Xbox save file. The beta also doesn't include cross-play, meaning you'll only be interacting with other PS5 users (cross-play is a thing in the full game, don't worry), and trophies will be disabled too. Trophy progress will still be tracked in the beta, though, so if you meet the conditions for unlocking them, you'll do so upon booting up the full game.

The Pirate Emporium, where you can purchase Sea of Thieves' microtransactions like costumes and emotes, will be unavailable in the beta too. However, you will still earn rewards through the Season 11 Seasonal progression track, which you get to keep in the full game. Furthermore, you'll automatically receive 10 levels of Renown for the Season 12 Seasonal progression track. Sea of Thieves launches for PS5 on April 30.

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In what could be both a delightful turn of fate and a worrying sign of things to come, depending on where you stand, Sea of Thieves appears to be?? leading ??the pack on PlayStation Network, as the #1 best-selling pre-order on the platform in the US.

This information comes from Benji-Sales on Twitter, a video game industry analyst who focuses on sales information, social metrics, data summaries, and other pertinent bits and bobs. Microsoft's Sea of Thieves, which was recently announced to be coming to PlayStation 5 alongside Pentiment, Grounded, and Hi-Fi Rush, is? thus making waves on the very platform that Xbox competes against. Quite the thing to wrap one's mind around, really. Granted, there are a few reasons as to why this is the case at this time.

PlayStation users seem to like Sea of Thieves

First of all, one would be hard-pressed to argue that Sea of Thieves isn't a good game. Sure, it had a somewhat rocky start back in 2018, but the developer Rare has since built the experience up into something truly remarkable and, most importantly, positively loaded with meaningful content. It is, by all measures, one of the best pirate-themed games of our time.

Secondly, there's that other, quadruple-A pirate game that everyone used to talk about, and which is proving to be a bit less than many players thought it would be. Indeed, Skull and Bones is dec??idedly not an AAAA game, and it's not a huge surprise that people would be eager to play something adjacent to it (but also better).

Finally, there's the simple fact that Sea of Thieves release on PlayStation 5, which is due to release on April 30, marks the biggest platform departure Xbox and Microsoft have made since the company started releasing its first-party titles on day one on PC. As was the case when Sony began considering PC a valuable source of revenue, people are interested in experiences that they previously couldn't get, and Sea of Thieves' PlayStation r??elease is a huge deal in this regard.

Even though there are some negative comments disparaging Xbox under Benji-Sales' Tweet, Sea of Thieves' rapid-fire success on PlayStation is exactly what Microsoft and Xbox must've hoped for, as the companies' brands and IPs penetrate deeper into an all-new, previously unused and inaccessible platform. Of course, one could argue that having a variety of Xbox games on PS5 reduces the value of Xbox as a brand, but multiplatform is clearly the way forward for every major gaming company. Make no mistake: for the current Xbox, this is a big win?, and if it repeats, it may?? well inform the company's gaming strategy for times to come.

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Last week, Microsoft confirmed it would bring more first-party titles to other platforms. There was plenty of speculation as to what those games woul??d be, but after various announcements today, the roster has been set.

During today's Nintendo Direct: Partner Showcase, Nintendo fired off the first confirmation that Grounded would be heading to the Nintendo Switch in April and Pentiment would arrive February 22. Then, Hi-Fi Rush for PS5 leaked a little early.

Now, Xbox has confirmed all four games: Grounded, Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush, and Sea of Thieves.

The first to roll out will be Pentiment, and it's coming quite soon! Obsidian Entertainment's "superb" RPG is coming digitally to PlayStation?? 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch on February 22.

Following Pentiment, Hi-Fi Rush is coming to coming to PlayStation 5 on March 19. Tango Gameworks' shadow-dropped rhythm brawler is apparently skipping over the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch. The title will be available for preorder over on the PlayStation Store at some point today.

As previously mentioned, Grounded is making its way to the Nintendo Switch on April 16. However, it's also making its way onto the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 as well. Crossplay will be built in over all platforms, so expect a significant player? base boost as we head toward the summer.

Finally, as many predicted, Sea of Thieves sees ??another system off on the horizon. Rare's still-going-strong live-service pirate sim i??s coming to PlayStation 5 on April 30. This, too, will feature crossplay so that PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox players can all adventure together.

Microsoft gently reminds us in today's Xbox Wire post that the above four titles join other massive Xbox properties like Minecraft, Overwatch, Call of Duty, and Diablo to go third-party. For whatever reason, some Xbox fans are still balking at this business decision. However, it's pretty clear at this point that this is the direction Microsoft will be considering for its games going forward, though those like Starfield and the upcoming Indiana Jones are staying on Xbox.

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Microsoft and Rare have given details on the upcoming Season 10 of their shanty-inspiring game, Sea of Thieves. If you have friends, you might be interested in guilds. If you’re like me and don’t have f??riends, then the private sessions are going to be more up your alley.

First off, Season 10 is going to introduce guilds into the game. These are organizations for up to 24 players. Within these guilds, players and crews team up to accomplish common goals. T??heir success will help boost the Guild Reputation, and doing so will unlock new cosmetics for everyone involved. Guilds can be customized with names, branding, and mottos so you can all unite under a single humiliating banner.

Season 10’s addition of private sessions is more geared toward the introvert. Whether you have a tight group of friends or would just rather ??play alone, the “Safer Seas�mode strips out the PvP involved with other players sailing around. Instead, you can focus on completing Tall Tales or doing some fishing without worryin??g about distant cannonballs.

However, if you hate people and want to get back at them for existing??, then there’s also a competitive addition in Season 10. This comes in the form of a new world event where you attempt to find the Skull of Siren Song. The catch is that any crew that accepts the quest has the same map, leading them to the same spot. Moreover, if you get there first, you’ll only find half of the treasure, which immediately illumin??ates you with a beacon that everyone can see. So, whoever has that second half is going to be looking for you.

Sea of Thieves is available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. S?eason 10 starts on October 19th.

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Rare Games revealed in a video that Season 10 for Sea of Thieves will embark a little later than expected. According to the team, recent changes to the upcoming release roadmap have led to the delay. The decision was made for quality, sustainability of the development process, and the wel??l-being of the team. Th?e substantial Season 10 update will now set sail on October 19

While delays are never fun, it's always understandable when it's ensuring game quality. Based on the recent Sea of Thieves official podcast episode, it sounds like some heavy-hitting n??ew system??s are coming to the pirate adventure:

"As we assess the ongoing development of Season 10, looking at the work we've got remaining, and the expectation that there will still be unforeseen issues that will crop up," said Creative Director Mike Chapman. "And even though the team is working incredibly hard to pull this ambitious feature set together, ultimately we're not where we want to be in the development timeframe. So we've taken the difficult decision to delay Season 10 to October 19. This has been an incredibly hard decision for us to make on the Sea of Thieves?. It's a very difficult thing for us to do with the plans that we had, but this is right for us. Especially for the ambitions that ??we had for Season 10."

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=yngSqfOsr3Q

Season 10 appears to be full of new content

Rare typically doesn't disclose SoT features ahead of time but this is shaping ??up to be a big updat??e.

Typically each season comes with one headline content feature. However, with the new timeframe, the plan is for two headliner features in the first two months of Season 10. The team explains that while things may feel slow right now, Season 10 should re-energize the SoT worl?d with multiple feature releases, events, and experiences.

Sea of Thieves Season 10 i??s scheduled to rel?ease October 19 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.

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What pirate game reigns over the e-seas?

Unless you count most of the movies in the Pirates Of The Caribbean series, every pirate-themed movie made after the 1960s has brought nothing but financial ruin to Hollywood. Cutthroat Island? It sunk an entire studio.  Disney's Treasure Planet and Sinbad: Legend Of The Seven Seas? Many credit them for having killed traditional 2D animation altogether. Hardly the crime any movie pirate would like to be remembered f??o?r.

Luckily, pirates have thrived in the world of gaming �in more ways than one �you could say. Over th?e course of? its entire history, gaming has featured a wide variety of pirate-themed games. There's no lack of offers, variety, and quality, so let's find out which one is the best of them all.

[caption id="attachment_272221" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Spiders[/caption]

10. GreedFall (2019)

GreedFall is the pirate game for Witcher fans. It’s an action RPG d??eveloped by Spiders �the studio, not the creatures. It takes place in a world o?f piracy that’s also home to a hell of a lot of elements that we just have to assume weren’t present in historically-accurate pirate times.

While players shouldn't expect great sea battles, GreedFall features great fantasy wor?ldbuilding that includes mons??ters, a mysterious plague ravaging the populace, and decision-making that will impact our journey.

Players can approach the game in a variety of ways. There's diplomacy, stealth, and even the "pirate manner." The gameplay is far from perfect, and definitely not as overtly pirate-y as the other entries on the list, but GreedFall's world features a beautiful "pirate" aesthetic and provides a strange allure that one just can't deny.

[caption id="attachment_392439" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Mastfire Studios[/caption]

9. Blackwake (2017)

In theory, Blackwake is a ver??y simple game. You command a pirate ship and try to board other ships while avoiding boarding attempts from rival crews.

Whether they're using a canon, rifle, or pistol, players get exactly one shot before they have to deal with a ridiculously long-though-realistic rel?oading time. This sounds awful in text, but it works marvelously in-game because that’s also the reality of the enemy. Missing a shot will, at best, result in having to sit through the most stressfully long reload animation ?as you hope you don’t get killed before you get to shoot again.

Blackwake made sea battles fun even without making pirate weapons fun. That’s how good it is. On top of that, the game also? features neat mechanics, like having to actively fix your ship, draining out the water that??’s leaking in due to enemy canon fire, and healing via drinking rum. Great stuff.

[caption id="attachment_241722" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Microsoft[/caption]

8. Sea Of Thieves (2018)

If we have Blackwake in this list, then we must also include Sea Of Thieves, because it expands and improves upon everything that the former tried. Want to take to the sea alone? You’ll have fun. Want to journey with your friends in the search for lost treasure? You’ll have even more fun. Want to go with your friends in the search for found treasure inside some other team’s ship? You’ll have the most fun.

Sea Of Thieves is the first and still best (Skull & Bones, where the hell are you?!) seafaring MMO. It's also the first great game made by Rare after Micros??oft??’s acquisition.

[caption id="attachment_392449" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Herocraft[/caption]

7. Tempest (2016)

Tempest is?? an action RPG that emphasizes the naval warfare side of things. It features a wide array of customization ??options and allows players to experience a complex world of seafaring, exploration, crew management, and naval combat.

It’s no slouch on land, either. Players can also engage in swashbuckling adventures agains??t land-based enemies who are also in search of wealth �or simply trying to defend t?heir poor little forts.

This is the closest we have to a serious "pirate simulator" �if there?? can even be such a thing in a medium so heavily distorted by tales of drunken sai??lors.

[caption id="attachment_388535" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by LucasArts[/caption]

6. Monkey Island 2: Lechuck’s Revenge (1991)

Not all pirates need to be physically strong. No??t all pirate games require heavy action.

Sometimes all you need is to insult your enemy until his mind is frail enough for him to lose against your piss-poor sword skills. That is one of the dubiously hilarious lessons you’ll learn from the Monkey Island series, a pirate tale that s?omehow foregoes any sort of action mechanics in favor of clever writing and puzzles.

I picked Monkey Island 2 specifically for this list b??ecause I think it’s the best of the bunch. Still, pretty much any game in the series will do it for those lo??oking for a fun pirate romp.

Bonus Points: If you feel enticed by the comedy of Monkey Island but are more into the action of Sea Of Thieves than you're into puzzles, then you'd perhaps be happy to learn that they've transplanted Monkey Island into Sea Of Thieves in an epic crossover event.

Screenshot by MobyGames

5. Skies of Arcadia (2000)

Disclaimer: sky pirates are pirates.

At the time of its release, Skies Of Arcadia went mostly unnoticed, possibly due to a sore lack of the words “Final�and? “Fantasy�in its title. That was a mistake.

Time has vindicated this marvelous and highly inventive RPG as its fanbase has grown immensely ever?? since its release. Sadly, the only two ways to legally play it nowadays are via your cursed console of choice, the Dreamcas?t or the GameCube.

We’d really like to see a re-release of this one, even if they keep the entire thing as is. Otherwise, most people interested in playing it will h??ave to resort to, welp, measures that would make the characters of this game proud.

In the meantime, we're looking forward to Sky Oceans: Wings for Hire, an upcoming RPG that could be seen as the spiritual successor to Skies of Arcadia.

[caption id="attachment_4294" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Nintendo[/caption]

4. The Legend Of Zelda: Wind Waker (2002)

Back in '02, few would have expected Link to become a pirate, but they'd be wrong. Wind Waker shows Link at hi?s most daring, and not just in the visual sense.

At first, Wind Waker looks just like a regular Zelda game, but it doesn’t take long for it to show its true colors and send players on a boat trip across the s?eas of its world in a way that no other game had done before.

Wind Waker's sea itself can feel a little lackluster. That's perhaps because it misses random events such as the ones introduced by Red Dead Redemption that do such a great job of making a deserted area feel lively. Still, Wind Waker does a great job of providing yet another stellar addition to the Zelda catalog and enticing other developers to try their h??and at this genre.

[caption id="attachment_367674" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Frontier Developments[/caption]

3. Elite Dangerous (2014)

Disclaimer: the same applies to space pirates

Even though it looks like a regular space shooter, this one is actually about straight-up space piracy. It just has to be in here. Elite Dangerous features space battles as fun as those of any other space game and even has a lot more depth than what ??many would expect from a game tha??t's seemingly just about laser-blasting things in space.

And what's a pirate game without spectacular tales of piracy? Even though Eve Online gets all the credit for having the best player-made stories, many fans have also used Elite Dangerous as a beautiful stage for some of online gaming’s most epic tales of treachery.

[caption id="attachment_392434" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image by Firaxis[/caption]

2. Sid Meier’s Pirates! (2004)

The title says it all. This is the guy who did Civilization doing a simulation o?f pirate life. I mean, kind? of an embellished and simplified simulation, but it's all the better for it.

Pirates is, in essence, a simple navigation game intertwined with various minigames. Still, it works beautifully because mostly every single one of the minigames provides enormous fun and enriches this world. Ok, maybe? not the dancing one. That one kind of sucks.

This isn’t the first Pirates game by Sid Me?ier. It's actually a remake of the one he did in '87. Feel free to play that one instead if you feel like a purist �and find a way to run it �but this is one of the few remakes that clearly surpasses the original. Regardless of which game you pick, Sid Meier's work in the pirate genre likely remains the most fun and influential in gaming history.

[caption id="attachment_392436" align="alignnone" width="1201"] Image by Ubisoft[/caption]

1. Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag (2013)

Assassin’s Creed 4: Black Flag is arguably the best game in the series. Ironically, it's also the one people say should have more pirate action and less assassin stuff. Let's not get the fans wrong. It’s still great when it comes to classic Assassin's Creed-type action. It’s just that its pirate adventures proved so interesting and refreshing that people couldn’t stay away from them. Few things beat boarding a ship in a game that features the production values of the Assassin’s Creed series. The sea shanties also rock.

The success of Black Flag prompted Ubisoft to do yet another pirate-themed AC game, the severely underrated Assassin's Creed: Rogue. More importantly, even, it paved the way for Ubisoft to begin working on Skull & Bones, the company’s first full-on pirate game. Its development has been long and rough, but we hope it will come out one day to take Black Flag’s spot at the top of this list.

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I mean, it makes sense

The crossover we’ve all been waiting for has finally been announced: The Lucasarts classic is coming to Sea of Thieves as part of its Legend of Monkey Island update.

The Secret of Monkey Island first launched in 1990, and is one of my favorite games of all times. Meanwhile, Sea of Thieves is one of those games that I’ve wanted to get around to, but absolutely haven’t in all the years it’s been available.

//youtu.be/DOWILvQGVz4

The trailer for Sea of Thieves: The Legend of Monkey Island?? shows a group of Scallaw??ags arriving on Melee Island and quickly going on a tour of all the hot spots. They talk to the Voodoo Lady, Stan, and even Guybrush Threepwood himself. They even find their way to Monkey Island and the second biggest monkey head I’ve ever seen!

See that? I’m loaded with Lucasarts references.

Anyway, it’s being promised that “three tall tales�will be added to Sea of Thieves over the s??pan of three months, starting Ju??ly 20, 2023.

The post Monkey Island is Crossing Over with Sea of Thieves in ??The Legend of Monkey Island appeared first on Destructoid.

Avast, ye! An update is here!

It always makes me happy to see Sea of Thieves in the news �it's one of those games that I think has a great premise and always delivers on the fun, and it's managed to live on despite threats of a shutdown in 2022. The game is not only alive now, but thriving �evidenced yet again by announced a new update for 2023 that Rare announced this week. This release will focus on matchmaking improvements, as well as the addition of Pet Rocks and a brand new live event called The Secret Wilds. It's??? always been exciting to be a pirate, but now, even more so.

The Secret Wilds event will take over right where the previous PvE event The Rogue's Legacy left off, which explored the backstory of an undead pirate named Captain Briggsy. The event will run from January 18-February 2, so players will have a fe?w weeks to delve further into the mystery.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=XresgzEZaT0

Sea of Thieves is also getting a whole host of new cosmetics, including the "Labyrinth Looter" set of outfits, guns, and ship acces??sories themed around the Greek myth of Theseus and the Minotaur. There's also ?a new emote that has players playing with their very own Pet Rock �I guess if you can't have a parrot, a rock is the next best thing.

Arguably the most exciting changes, however, come in the form of improvements to the game's PvP mode, especially when it comes to its matchmaking systems. In an attempt to make queue times shorter, Rare is introducing a system that will pair players with an opponent from the same faction if load times are too long to make sure that players will always be able to get into a game. In addition, Rare is also increasing the number of PvP arenas from six to 50, and the losing crew in a battle will receive more compensation as an effort to make losses less bothersome. Make sure to check out the Sea of Thieves news video for more info!

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Double-stuffed with cosmetics

A new crossover is bringing some Oreos flavo??r to games. Xbox and Oreos are teaming up for a special-edition cookie design, with both a change in the cookie and some in-game cosmetics for several Xbox games.

The promotion is taking place in 22 countries, which Xbox specifies as Europe only. Sorry to any North American fans or other regions loo?king to get the special cookies.

These specific cookies will feature the Xbox logo and the A, B, X, Y button layout, as well as a directional arrow. By scanning the cookies and cracking the combination, players can unlock prizes for games. Entering the symbols in the correct sequence will unlock special, exclusive Oreo-themed content for games like Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and Sea of Thieves.

[caption id="attachment_357256" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot via Xbox[/caption]

The codes are meant to be inspired by cheat codes hidden in games throughout history. That does make me curious if a Konami code input is hiding somewhere in all those Oreo cookies.

The special cookies are expected to be available in participating regions this month, and available while stocks last. If you want to participate, you can visit the Oreo site and check here to see if your country is takin??g part. (Reminder, this ??is a Europe-only event.)

Funnily enough, Oreos have tied into video games before now in some fun ways. The Pokemon limited edition Oreos bore the likenesses of some of the series' most well-remembered Pokemon. But this one, letting you discern s??pecial cheat codes from the cookies themselves? Well, that's pretty neat. At least until you eat the cookies before remembering to check the s??ymbols.

The post Special Xbox Oreos are on the way, with prizes?? for various Xbox games appeared first on Destructoid.

I'm sorry, but that's the rule

Sea of Thieves has snuck in some neat crossover ships that pay tribute to Battletoads, Banjo-Kazooie, and even the fun-at-the-time Xbox 360 title Kameo. Now there's this Borderlands ship. As Eric put it in Slack, it's the "biggest way to paint a target on ??yourself."

//youtu.be/YmqDKLTZyjM

The news popped up during this morning's Xbox Gamescom 2021 stream, and now the event for the Borderlands ship �Making Mayhem �is live in Sea of Thieves.

All told, there's a new flag, hull, Claptrap figurehead, sails, capstan, wheel, and cannons to unlock before the event expires on September 7, 2021. You'll unlock pieces by earning Favour with the Bilge Rats trading company, an?d I've ?listed the pieces out in order of least to most effort required, so the cannons (the coolest part) are the final reward.

There are minor and major Making Mayhem challenges to complete in Sea of Thieves, ranging from "burning a group of skeletons at once using a firebomb or a Chest of Rage" to "setting a Skeleton Ship ablaze using an Ashen Win?ds Skull" to "drinking or playing music with another crew at an Outpost." According to Rare, any ship parts you've earned "will be available to equip from the relevant in-game chests within 72 hours."

I like Borderlands in moderation, I really d?o. But this ship must be su??nk on sight.

The post This Sea of Thieves Borderland?s ship gets su??nk on sight appeared first on Destructoid.

Now bring me that horizon

Sea of Thieves launched its Pirates of the Caribbean-themed crossover A Pirate's Life in late June. And now,? just over a month later, Rare has announced just how many scallywags it brought to th?e ship.

In a blog post, Sea of Thieves executive producer Joe Neate said that players were sharing reactions, fan art, and stories about exploring the new Tall Tales, and all the excitement from the launch of A Pirate's Life resulted in the game's busiest month ever. In June, Sea of Thieves saw 4.8 millio??n active players setting out for tales and treasure.

"To all of you who’ve recently cast off for the very first time, jumped back in after a break or simply never stepped away from your regular Voyages, thank you from all of us," wrote Neate. "And we hope that Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life (and the surprise of its unveiling!) was everything you could have w?a?nted from a crossover on this scale."

//youtu.be/i8KVJGJQBPU

There are still more updates on the horizon, however. The August update is set to make more improvements, as Rare continues to fine-tune Sea of Thieves across the board. There will also be ??a Gold & Glory Weekend on Aug. 20 through 23, offering double gold and reputation alongside Seasonal Ren?own boosts for all treasure turned in.

There's also a new set of Disney's Pirates of the Caribbean cosmetics coming to the Pirate Emporium, too, as part of the August update. You can turn your ship into the Cursed Ferryman, get a Davy Jones Cursed Costume Set, or get a Condemned ?Captain Monkey pet. Yes, you t?oo can have a cursed pet accompany you on the high seas, towards plunder and danger alike.

Anecdotally, I saw a lot of friends get back into Sea of Thieves around the time of A Pirate's Life. It doesn't hurt that it'??s free to hop into, either. Maybe I'll give the seafaring life another try.

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