After years of anticipation and feedback from dedicated pirates, Rare has confirmed that Custom Servers are officially coming to Sea of Thieves in early 2026. First tested in a limited alpha back in 2020, the long-requested feature will finally be available to all players though access will come through a paid subscription model.
A Pirate’s Sandbox, Your Way
Originally launched in alpha form via the game’s Insider Program, Custom Servers allowed select players to host private sandbox sessions, choosing ship types, player numbers, and more. These servers disabled gold and reputation progression to keep the experience focused on creativity and community-driven events, such as roleplaying, ship races, or cinematic captures.
Now, Rare is taking that early framework and turning it into a full-fledged product.
“We’re building tools for our players to create their own stories, run events, and shape the seas as they see fit,” Rare said in its July 2025 Community Direct presentation.
What’s Included in Custom Servers?
The 2026 launch will introduce an expanded version of the original test features, including:
- Private Server Hosting
Invite-only sessions where players can sail together without outside interference. - World Customization Tools
Control storm patterns, enemy spawns, loot drops, ship types, and encounter frequency. - Cinematic Camera Mode
Perfect for content creators and community filmmakers to record custom events and machinima. - Safer Seas Fleet Integration
Players can simulate the solo-friendly Safer Seas experience in multiplayer environments, ideal for relaxed adventures or family sessions.
Rare confirmed that these features will be accessible through a subscription purchase likely via the in-game Pirate Emporium. While no pricing has been announced yet, the team emphasized that this approach allows them to offer powerful tools without compromising the core free content for all players.
Why It’s Paid
Maintaining scalable, customizable private servers requires significant backend infrastructure. Rare says the subscription model ensures sustainable development and maintenance while enabling continued support for the game’s primary seasonal updates and live-service features.
“This isn’t just a toolset it’s an entire new layer of Sea of Thieves, and we want to get it right,” the developers explained.
A New Era of Community Content
The upcoming servers mark a turning point for the Sea of Thieves community. For years, content creators have relied on makeshift solutions or limited Insider sessions to produce events and cinematic content. With this upcoming update, any pirate with a subscription can host immersive events, storytelling campaigns, or just mess around with friends in a no-pressure environment.
Rare also announced that the Insider Program’s NDA will be lifted for Custom Server testing, encouraging open feedback and public discussion ahead of launch.
Seasonal Updates Will Continue
The Custom Servers rollout doesn’t mean a slowdown for the game’s regular content. Rare reaffirmed their commitment to Sea of Thieves’ three-month seasonal model, which will continue to deliver new live events, sandbox updates, and story-driven content each month.
When Can You Set Sail?
Rare is targeting an early 2026 release window for Custom Servers, with open testing and more details expected later this year.
For pirates eager to run their own taverns, host ship battles, or just sail in peace with their friends, Sea of Thieves is finally opening the door to player-controlled adventures. Custom Servers are shaping up to be one of the game’s most important and empowering features yet.
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