The next content update for Sea of Thieves, dubbed “Cursed Sails,” will launch on July 31 at 8:00 a.m. PT / 11:00 a.m. ET, publisher Microsoft and developer Rare announced.
Here is an overview of the content, via Rare:
Cursed Sails will change things forever on the Sea of Thieves, as the sails you see cresting the horizon are no longer guaranteed to be other players making their own way through the world. The decks beneath those masts may now be manned by skeletal marauders returned to the seas from their restless graves. All that sustains these grinning terrors is a thirst for battle that leads them to terrorize Outposts and call out defenders to face them on the tides…
Fortunately, the threat of these fortress-like skeleton ships washes up alongside other features planned to help Sea of Thieves‘ living pirates face down the dead. The Galleon and Sloop get some company in the form of the Brigantine, a new ship type specifically tailored for a crew of three. An Alliance system is also added which encourages the formation of fleets united under a single cause, ready to tackle greater challenges and share the rewards.
For those who like to follow the lore, things are afoot with Sea of Thieves‘ ever-competitive shopkeepers, and a tale of ambition and greed escalating into something truly terrible will come to light in Cursed Sails. As before, the first seeds of this story can be found sprouting between the community celebrations making up popular seafarers’ rag the Pirate Times.
Tackling the time-limited campaign that introduces Cursed Sails‘ new elements will hurl players into a series of fierce clashes and, as always, earn a fine set of in-game rewards upon victory. But rest assured that even if you’re late to the party, you won’t miss out on seabound skirmishes with the roaming undead as this new menace will remain in the world even after the campaign ends. You just can’t put a good pirate down. Especially if they’ve already been dead for decades. The Brigantine ship and the Alliance system will also be permanent additions to Sea of Thieves.
Recent weeks have seen regular challenges and rewards on offer in Bilge Rat Adventures, but even those fast-living outlaws are likely to put their horseplay on hold as the events of Cursed Sails begin to unfold. Best to start bracing yourselves for the skeletal uprising as soon as their latest challenge draws to a close.
Sea of Thieve is available now for Xbox One and PC.
Watch a teaser trailer below.