Rare's sea-faring action-adventure Sea of Thieves has had the wind in its sails for a few years now, with regular updates and community events helping the pirate-focused title maintain a steady stream of players. The online open-world lets gamers live out their nautical outlaw fantasies, joining crews or sailing solo as they hunt for treasure and take part in various adventures along the way. As a live service game, Sea of Thieves undergoes periodic updates, providing tweaks and changes as well as giving players more content and events to partake in.
The latest event that players can participate in – the Lost Sands Adventure – is now live, and available until June 9th. While there have been a number of events and Adventures released already for Sea of Thieves seasonal content, Lost Sands offers something a little different from what gamers have experienced so far. For the first time, players have a chance to shape the story of Sea of Thieves. If they want to take part, they should really have a read of the full breakdown so they can see what the stakes are for the Lost Sands before they set sail.
The Set-up
Players may have noticed that until recently a shroud had descended on the Golden Sands Outpost, and now they know the reason why. The ominous mist not only served as a reminder of the growing presence of The Reaper’s Bones but also of their intention to take on the Trading Companies and diminish their influence throughout Sea of Thieves. Outposts play a big role in the game, and Golden Sands used to be a charming and cheerful destination where players could pick up Quests, make purchases, and engage with NPCs.
Following its shrouding, the fate of Golden Sands now hangs in the balance as players are told to pick a side and determine its fate. If gamers want to save the Outpost and restore it to its former glory, they need to help Merrick and his band of merry misfits rebuild the location. They can do this by donating items like wood crates, cloth, and rum bottles to help with the restoration efforts, or by disposing of Soulflame Rowboats away from the Outpost. Alternatively, players can ensure the Outpost is out of commission for good but siding with the Reapers and detonating Soulflame Rowboats close to Golden Sands, as well as delivering supplies to the Servant of the Flame at the Reaper's Hideout.
Branching Choices, Lasting Consequences
This is the first Adventure within Sea of Thieves where players actually have a hand in shaping the outcome. Impacting the story's end result and changing the landscape of Sea of Thieves forever is an exciting opportunity for players to get more involved in the world, and Lost Sands hopefully won't be the last Adventure that utilizes this mechanic. With players pitted against each other within the community, it also adds another dimension to PvP combat and the completion of tasks in Sea of Thieves for the duration of the Adventure.
This is also a great way to bring players together around the same destination, ensuring that the Golden Sands Outpost becomes a hotspot over the course of the next week or so. The fate of the Outpost and how it will look and function after Lost Sands ends will be the direct fallout of player choice and could help or hinder future Reaper plots depending on the outcome. Leaving the ending of this chapter of Sea of Thieves' tale in the hands of players is a wise move on Rare's part, as it encourages engagement with the story, but also provides meaningful consequences along the way and ups the ante significantly.
Sea Of Thieves is available now on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.