Highlights

  • Despite recent challenges, Sea of Thieves still has a loyal following and exciting updates like Safer Seas that appeal to a range of players.
  • The game made more fundamental-focused additions in 2023, like Guilds and Safer Seas, giving players more ways to play and learn the ropes.
  • The developers have teased massive changes and a renewed focus on new content for Season 11 in January 2024, with plans for five years of Sea of Thieves content.

It's been choppy waters for Sea of Thieves in 2023, with seasonal update delays and claims that the game is dying for different reasons, such as a lack of new content. As a result, some players might wonder if Sea of Thieves is worth playing in 2024 in terms of its current state and what's next on the horizon. That said, despite recent challenges, Sea of Thieves still has a loyal following, with many excited about some of Rare's recent additions to the game, such as Safer Seas launched in December 2023.

Although the desire for fresh, brand-new content remains for some, in many ways, 2024 couldn't be a better time to play Sea of Thieves for several reasons, as one of the best pirate games around. In the thirteenth Sea of Thieves Community Podcast, some of the developers also shared some "Sea of Tease" updates for its player base, suggesting a shift in focus as Sea of Thieves moves into Season 11 sometime this January, teasing a massive fundamental change and a renewed focus on new content, something which could potentially please many long-term fans and newcomers alike.

a ship battle in sea of thieves
Related
December 7 Is Going to Be a Big Day for Sea of Thieves Fans

Sea of Thieves pulls back the curtain on an interesting new mode releasing December 7, which offers an alternative approach to the pirate simulator.

Reasons To Play Sea Of Thieves In 2024

On one hand, Sea of Thieves was light on brand-new content in 2023, except for features like Season 10's Skull of Siren Song Voyage, effectively a brand-new Sea of Thieves World Event that, interestingly, players can join from their ship. However, Rare did focus on making more fundamental-focused additions to the game, like Guilds and Safer Seas, giving players more ways to play Sea of Thieves than ever before. Safer Seas also lets players learn the ropes of the game, potentially appealing to a range of players. The Skull of Siren Song also sets up different PVP scenarios for those who enjoy the game's competitive side.

While time will tell what kind of impact Safer Seas has on the game long-term, it was warmly received by those players previously put off by competitive encounters, giving those players a calmer way of returning to the game without the challenge of Sea of Thieves PVP, enabling players to focus on content they might otherwise struggle to complete with other players around, such as doing Tall Tales and ticking off Commendations whether solo or with friends. Focusing on PVP, 2023 also saw a renewed, ongoing focus on taking measures to resolve issues like cheating and hit reg, the latter being something the developers stated in the podcast that they also intend to continue prioritizing in 2024.

Upcoming Sea Of Thieves Content In 2024

It's also worth noting Rare has plans for five years of Sea of Thieves content. The latest podcast also teased what's next for Sea of Thieves this year, focusing on fresh and regular exciting content, which is another reason that makes it worth sticking with. There's also the possibility of new weapons and tools, plus the return of the long-awaited Captain Flameheart and related content, the latter also suggested by the beloved Orb currently at the Reaper's Hideout.

While there doesn't necessarily need to be another big content crossover like 2021's massively successful A Pirate's Life, hopefully, the new planned content is big and exciting enough to attract and keep players' interest, especially with potential competition from Skull and Bones. Although Sea of Thieves has a lot to prove in 2024, it seems it still has plenty left to give.