Sea of Thieves is Getting One of Its Biggest Updates in Years on June 18

Season 20 is shaping up to be a huge moment for Sea of Thieves as Rare is preparing to hand the keys of the game to players with the free Custom Seas update. Over the course of 8 years, Sea of Thieves has seen massive changes and evolutions, while also managing to keep the core gameplay loop of exploring the dangerous open seas as a pirate largely intact.

It’s worth noting that the evolution didn’t happen overnight and for many, the launch of Sea of Thieves was more on the disappointing side due to server outages, game-breaking issues, and a general lack of content. Thanks to continued updates and quality of life improvements, Sea of Thieves is now considered a live-service success, joining the ranks of games like No Man’s Sky and Cyberpunk 2077 that recovered from a terrible launch. Eventually, Sea of Thieves would also continue to expand to Steam and PlayStation 5, adding new waves of players to populate its servers.

This Might Be a Gen Z Take, But Sea of Thieves is the Best Rare Game

When the nostalgia goggles come off, it’s clear that Sea of Thieves is better than GoldenEye 007, Banjo-Kazooie, and Rare’s other old iconic titles.

Sea of Thieves Adds Custom Seas in Season 20

After Sea of Thieves incorporated a seasonal model back in 2021, players have had a consistent stream of new content to unlock and play through. On June 18, Sea of Thieves reaches the big Season 20, and with it, Rare seems to be planning to unleash the biggest free update the game has ever seen.

Find the odd one out before the timer hits zero.

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During the 2026 Xbox Games Showcase, Rare released a new trailer highlighting many of the content and adventures Sea of Thieves has had over the years. However, Season 20 is set to add Custom Seas to the game, giving players creative control over their adventure. With the free update, players can now create new game modes and experiences, sharing them with friends and others. The trailer highlighted a number of possibilities, including PvP modes like Rowboat Royale, 6 players only in cannon rowboats looking to be the last person to survive. Team Deathmatch with flame cannons and a King of the Hill-style mode were also shown off, alongside a Hide & Seek and Rowboat Racing mode.

However, PvP experiences are not the only content players will be able to craft. For those who want a little bit more, Custom Seas can also give players the power to spawn all sorts of assets, from NPCs, to creatures, to treasure, and anything else available in game. Enhanced camera tools will allow players to create cinematic moments if they want, and the trailer even teased wildly different views from what appears to be a sort of Tilt Shift angle. Creative players can even create their own social space if they want as well.

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Reaction to the announcement appears to be mixed, with some players frustrated that Rare is choosing to let players make the content they want instead of actively listening to what the community wants. Others are hopeful that Custom Seas will finally let players have that PvE experience they’re looking for, as the Safer Seas option in Sea of Thieves can be overly restrictive and limiting. Of course, there are those who are looking forward to designing their own experiences with the tools as well.