Season 1 of Sea of Thieves is nearly upon us!
The popular pirate game is set for a big 2021, as it switches to seasonal content as opposed to monthly tweaks and updates.
This has been a growing trend in the video game industry and it's great to see it follow suit.
Complete with a new Battle Pass system, there's something for everyone.
While the game's upcoming Season 1 is still somewhat of an unknown quantity, there's plenty we do know about what's coming as part of the new release cadence.
Here's what we know about Season 1 of Sea of Thieves
Read More: Is Sea of Thieves Worth Playing In 2021?
Sea Of Thieves Season 1 Release Date
The game's first season of content has its maiden voyage on January 28th - so just a few days away!
Seasons will last for around three months.
Sea Of Thieves Season 1 Content
Season 1 will offer a new progression system that Rare promises will mean players never leave a session empty-handed.
Players earn Renown for doing a bit of everything in the game, not just handing in loot, and new Trials will offer new objectives of varying length to complete.
"These Deeds have been designed to suit all sorts of gameplay session lengths and will reward players with unique in-game items, running alongside recurring and one-off live Events to keep the world feeling fresh and ever-changing," a new blog post explains.
Merchant Alliance Trading Company
Merchant Alliance Trading Company is arguably the most unpopular of the game's factions, and it's getting some love with Season 1.
A new Voyage type will have players acting as detectives in order to find lost ships and their cargo.
Sea Of Thieves Season 1 Plunder Pass
Season 1, and the base battle pass, will be free to all Sea of Thieves players – including those on Game Pass.
What's included in the new Battle Pass, you ask?
Seasons will offer 100 progress levels that unlock character and ship cosmetics, pirate legends, and a new series of Pirate Trials. New goals will help players climb the ladder quickly, even in shorter play sessions.
Rare promises around $40 of loot in the premium pass from an investment of $10 (999 Ancient Coins) – with 11 premium items available that would otherwise be locked to the Pirate Emporium.
Trailers
In lieu of a Season 1 trailer, we do have a lengthy developer diary video to explain the changes.
Check it out below: