Sea Of Thieves Closed Beta Dates Announced

It’s Closer Than You Think
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Action-Adventure
Sea of Thieves closed beta. YARRR!
Sea of Thieves closed beta. YARRR! (C) RARE

Rare and Xbox announced the dates for the upcoming Sea of Thieves closed beta today. The closed beta for Sea of Thieves will run from 7 a.m. on Jan. 24 until 3 a.m. on Jan. 29 and is limited to those who have pre-ordered the game or those who joined the Sea of Thieves Insider program before Dec. 1.

“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,” the announcement states.

If you’ve already pre-ordered the game, here's how to download the Closed Beta client:

If you pre-ordered the game through the Xbox or Windows Store, the game will appear in your games library 24 hours before the Closed Beta begins. You will need to download and install it.

If you have pre-ordered a physical version of the game through a retailer, you will need to redeem the code for the Black Dog cosmetic pack. Once you have done this, the game will appear in your games library 24 hours before the Closed Beta begins. You will need to download and install the game following these instructions:

  • If you pre-ordered the game via the Xbox or Windows Store, the game will show up in your games library 24 hours prior to the start of the Closed Beta. All you need to do is download and install it.

  • If your pre-order is for a physical copy, you need to redeem the code for the Black Dog cosmetic pack. Once this is done, the game will appear in your games library 24 hours prior to the start of the Closed Beta. Then download and install the game.

There’s one important detail to note: this closed beta, unlike other alpha/betas for Sea of Thieves, is not under any sort of non-disclosure agreement. That means this version of the game may well represent the final version, give or take a few wrinkles. “If you do create content, make sure you tag it “Sea of Thieves” so we can see it too – we’ll also be sharing some of our favourites on our social channels and website. We are incredibly excited to see the content you create and the stories you tell!” states the Sea of Thieves team on their FAQ page.

Sea of Thieves launches on March 20 and pre-orders are still available here, if you’re interested in joining the closed beta before it launches on Jan. 24. Will you be joining the Sea of Thieves closed beta? Is your pre-order already in hand? Let us know all your thoughts on the Sea of Thieves closed beta in the comments section below.

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