There is going to be a closed beta for Sea Of Thieves here soon to make sure players know what they are getting into with Sea Of Thieves as well as fix some bugs, presumably
It looks like those wanting to try Sea Of Thieves before shelling out their cash for it will get their chance to do so here in a few weeks. It has just been announced that Rare will be holding a closed beta for the game between January 24th and January 29th so players on the Xbox One and PC can see if this is going to be a game for them, but also to test out the servers and game before the March 20th release of the game. Feelings for Sea Of Thieves have been mixed among those who have seen some of the game already, and this could be a great way to entice more players in. That is at least if this is more than just a testing beta and not a flashy “demo” to show off and such.
There are a few caveats to joining in on the Sea Of Thieves closed beta though. Besides having to log in and spend the time during the five days, gamers would need to have been part of the Insider Program for the game before December 1st of 2017 or they must have already pre-ordered Sea Of Thieves and downloaded the beta client for the game. This is not one for the casual gamer who just wants to see what the game is all about, apparently, and only for those who have dedicated time and money in the past. So, maybe this is more about the bugs and servers than just getting more people to give Sea Of Thieves a try before and after launch.
For those who do not fit the criteria listed above, do not worry as you can see some sweet Sea Of Thieves action during the time. By sweet, I mean watching other gamers try to play it all as there is no NDA for the beta and streaming is completely allowed. Rare might even share your stream if they like the way you are showing off their game at that. Now we are heading back into the special “demo” of Sea Of Thieves realm and less of a give it a try and help fix any bugs they missed. We really need a new term for “beta” when it is just a very basic early access. Maybe that is just me though?
The Sea Of Thieves Closed Beta will run from 12 p.m. GMT on January 24 to 8 a.m. GMT on January 29 (4 a.m. PST on January 24 to 12 a.m. PST on January 29), which gives pirates a full five days of sailing, shanties, and shenanigans. We’ve crafted a bespoke experience for Closed Beta players that offers a true taste of the pirate life and a great chance to get your sea legs ahead of March 20! We won’t be testing the full game during this Closed Beta phase: we want to keep a good selection of things up our sleeves for players to discover at launch. So get your calendars out and get those dates penciled in!
The Sea Of Thieves Closed Beta will be accessible to anyone who joined the Sea Of Thieves Insider Program before December 1, 2017, and anyone who pre-orders the game. If you’ve already pre-ordered the game and want to find out how to download the Closed Beta client, visit our website.
One final thing: the Closed Beta will not be covered by an NDA, so players can stream, create videos, share clips, take screenshots or do anything else that their wonderful minds can come up with. Some of our favorites will no doubt be shared on Sea Of Thieves’ social channels and website. I know a lot of players will be excited by this announcement – I am too! If you missed out on the Insider Programme, pre-order now to ensure access to the Closed Beta!
Are you excited to see that Sea Of Thieves is going to have a closed beta or are you going to be one of those watching others play the game and wishing you acted sooner? Do you think this is going to be a true beta test or will it be a demo with a bit of a server stress test? Are you still excited for the game in general or has it fallen off the radar for you over time? Let us all know down in the comments and then feel free to discuss. For more on Sea Of Thieves, make sure to stick around the site here. We will keep bringing you all of the updates as we get them and you will not want to miss out.