NEWS  Games  February 20, 2024  Reading time: 2 Minute(s)

Max (RS editor)

Since its launch almost six years ago, Rare's Sea of Thieves has captivated players with its immersive pirate experience. Now, with the release of the 2.10.1 update, the game undergoes a substantial overhaul, promising significant improvements under the hood.

Despite the update being light on gameplay alterations, its impact is monumental, both in size and scope. 

Key among the enhancements is the adoption of the latest Xbox GDK and the introduction of DirectX 12 support, marking a pivotal moment for the game's technical evolution. With these upgrades, Rare aims to elevate performance across PC and Xbox platforms, offering players a smoother and more immersive gameplay experience.

"General client performance improvements should be seen throughout the experience, with PC players seeing the largest improvements", affirms the studio.

However, the magnitude of the update is evident in the sheer size of the download. Xbox and Microsoft Store (PC Game Pass) users face a near-complete redownload of the game's files, with sizes reaching up to a staggering 102GB. Steam players, fortunately, encounter a significantly smaller update of only 10GB. The discrepancy underscores the challenges in delivering such substantial improvements while mitigating the inconvenience for players.

Looking ahead, Rare assures players that future updates on console and the Microsoft Store will be more streamlined, with sizes expected to align closer to the Steam version. Additionally, the Microsoft Store version receives further enhancements, now supporting custom installation locations via the Xbox app, providing users with greater flexibility and control over their gaming experience.

The Sea of Thieves 2.10.1 update introduces more than just technical improvements. Patch notes detail water visual enhancements, voyage balance adjustments, and the latest offerings from the Pirate Emporium, catering to players' aesthetic preferences. Furthermore, a comprehensive list of bug fixes addresses various issues, enhancing overall stability and polish.

As the game continues to evolve, speculation mounts regarding its potential arrival on PlayStation 5 consoles.

For further details, the complete patch notes for the Sea of Thieves 2.10.1 update can be found here.

 IMAGES CREDITS: RARE