Skip to content

Is Sea of Thieves Free on Epic Games?

Sea of Thieves is an action-adventure game developed by Rare and published by Xbox Game Studios. It was released in 2018 for Windows and Xbox One. The game is set in a shared world, which means groups of players will encounter each other regularly throughout their adventures. Sea of Thieves has become one of the most popular multiplayer games in recent years. But is it available for free on Epic Games?

Can You Get Sea of Thieves for Free on Epic Games Store?

The short answer is no, Sea of Thieves is not free on Epic Games Store. The game is available exclusively through the Microsoft Store on PC.

Sea of Thieves has never been given away for free on Epic Games Store since the release of the game. Epic Games regularly offers free games each week, but Sea of Thieves has not been one of them so far.

Some of the free games Epic Games has offered in the past include big titles like Grand Theft Auto V, Civilization VI, Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, Hitman, Watch Dogs 2, Just Cause 4 and many more. But Sea of Thieves is an Xbox Game Studios title, so it‘s highly unlikely it will be offered for free on a competing platform like Epic Games Store.

So if you want to play Sea of Thieves on PC, you‘ll have to purchase it from the Microsoft Store for $39.99. There is currently no way to get the game for free legally.

Has Sea of Thieves Ever Been Free?

While Sea of Thieves has never been free on Epic Games Store, there have been a few limited ways to play the game for free in the past:

Xbox Game Pass

Sea of Thieves is included with an Xbox Game Pass subscription, which gives access to over 100 games for a monthly fee of $9.99. So Xbox Game Pass members on PC or Xbox can play Sea of Thieves at no additional cost.

However, an Xbox Game Pass subscription still requires paying the monthly fee. And it only grants access to Sea of Thieves while your subscription is active.

Free Weekends

Sea of Thieves has held a few free weekend events where anyone could download and play the game for free for a limited time. These usually lasted 3-4 days and were available on both Xbox and PC.

The last free weekend event for Sea of Thieves was in December 2021. So while you could play it for free during the promotional period, these free weekends are time-limited and relatively rare.

Giveaways

There have been some giveaways of Sea of Thieves over the years through various promotions and contests. For example, Sea of Thieves codes were given away with the purchase of certain AMD hardware products in 2018.

You may also occasionally find Sea of Thieves codes being given away through various online contests and sweepstakes. But these types of giveaways are inconsistent, and you‘d have to get very lucky to score a free code.

So in summary – while there have been a few limited ways to access Sea of Thieves for free temporarily, there is no permanent free version of the game. The only way to reliably get Sea of Thieves on PC is to purchase it from the Microsoft Store.

Will Sea of Thieves Ever Be Free?

There‘s always a possibility Sea of Thieves could be offered for free in the future through promotions like Xbox Game Pass or Epic Games Store. But the chances seem relatively slim.

As an Xbox first-party title, Microsoft seems unlikely to give away permanent free copies of Sea of Thieves on rival PC platforms. It goes against their business model and incentives to attract more Xbox/Microsoft Store customers.

That said, here are a few scenarios where Sea of Thieves could potentially be free someday:

Epic Games Store Free Game Promotion

While unlikely, Epic Games could possibly negotiate with Microsoft to give away Sea of Thieves for a 1-2 week promotional period. Epic has managed to negotiate deals for some exclusive titles like Grand Theft Auto V in the past. So it‘s not out of the question, but seems improbable.

Xbox Game Pass Adds PC Version

Xbox Game Pass currently includes the Xbox console version of Sea of Thieves. If Microsoft ever adds the PC version to Game Pass as well, subscribers would gain access to the full game for free.

Free Weekend Events

Sea of Thieves may continue to hold free weekend promotions every so often. So occasional free access is possible, albeit for very limited durations.

Sea of Thieves 2 Release

If a sequel ever releases, Microsoft may make the original Sea of Thieves free or deeply discounted to drum up interest and retain players.

So while Sea of Thieves being permanently free for all PC players remains unlikely, there are hypothetical scenarios where limited-time free access could happen again in the future. But nothing is guaranteed.

What Games Have Epic Given Away for Free?

While Sea of Thieves hasn‘t been offered, Epic Games Store gives away 1-2 free games each week. Some of the biggest titles they‘ve given away so far include:

  • Grand Theft Auto V
  • Civilization VI
  • Borderlands: The Handsome Collection
  • Ark: Survival Evolved
  • Horizon Zero Dawn
  • Star Wars Battlefront II
  • Batman: Arkham Collection
  • Watch Dogs 2
  • Assassin‘s Creed Syndicate
  • Just Cause 4
  • Hitman
  • Far Cry 5
  • Control
  • Among Us
  • Prey
  • Wolfenstein: The New Order
  • The Witness
  • Amnesia: The Dark Descent

Epic has given away well over 100 free games since launching the Epic Games Store in 2018. They usually reveal the next 1-2 free games each Thursday at 11AM EST. So it‘s worth checking each week to see what they‘re offering.

While Sea of Thieves has yet to be included, you never know when Epic may strike a deal with Microsoft to offer it for free temporarily.

Is Sea of Thieves on Xbox Game Pass?

Yes, Sea of Thieves is included with an Xbox Game Pass subscription on both Xbox consoles and PC. Xbox Game Pass costs $9.99 per month and gives you access to over 100 games, including major titles like Sea of Thieves, Halo Infinite, Forza Horizon 5, and more.

So if you subscribe to Xbox Game Pass for PC, you can install and play the full version of Sea of Thieves at no extra cost. This is currently the only way to get permanent access to Sea of Thieves for free on PC.

However, you would lose access if you ever cancel your Game Pass subscription. And the PC version is only available on the Microsoft Store, not Steam or other platforms.

But for only $10 per month, Xbox Game Pass is the most affordable way to play Sea of Thieves and many other Xbox exclusives on a PC. An Xbox Game Pass subscription lets you play the game for free as long as your membership is active.

What‘s the Cheapest Way to Get Sea of Thieves on PC?

Here are a few options for getting Sea of Thieves on PC at the lowest possible price:

  • Xbox Game Pass – For $9.99/month, you get access to Sea of Thieves plus 100+ other games. This is the cheapest way to play if you subscribe for at least 2 months.

  • Buy from a Third-Party Key Seller – Sites like CDKeys sell digital codes at a discount. You can sometimes find Sea of Thieves PC keys for around $15-20.

  • Wait for a Sale on Microsoft Store – Sea of Thieves goes on sale for around 50% off several times per year. If you can catch a 50% off sale, it will be around $20.

  • Buy a Physical Copy on Sale – Physical copies can sometimes be found cheap on sites like Amazon or at retail stores. This still requires redeeming on the Microsoft Store.

  • Upgrade with an AMD Product Purchase – Some AMD hardware bundles have included a free copy of Sea of Thieves in the past.

The best option is definitely checking out Xbox Game Pass, at least for your first 1-2 months. But also keep an eye out for Sea of Thieves sales around major holidays. And check key seller sites for discount codes.

Is There Crossplay Between Steam and Microsoft Store?

Sea of Thieves is available on both the Microsoft Store and Steam. Players on both platforms can play together online.

So if you buy Sea of Thieves on Steam, you can still join your friends who own the Microsoft Store version of the game. And vice versa – there are no barriers to crossplay between the Steam and Microsoft versions.

This cross-play works between Xbox consoles and PC as well. Sea of Thieves supports full crossplay between Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Microsoft Store on PC, and Steam.

The gameplay experience is identical, and you can freely group up regardless of whether your friends are playing on Xbox or PC. So the platform you or your friends purchase Sea of Thieves on does not affect your ability to play together online.

Can You Mod Sea of Thieves?

Because Sea of Thieves is an online multiplayer game, modding is more limited than a single-player game. However, there are some mods available, mainly for small tweaks to the visuals or UI.

Some examples of Sea of Thieves mods include:

  • Visual mods – These change textures, lighting, colors, etc to improve graphics or change the style.

  • UI mods – UI overhauls that modify menus, HUDs, and other interface elements.

  • QoL tweaks – Small mods that add quality-of-life fixes like better PC controls.

  • Cheating mods – Mods that allow hacking, aimbotting, etc. These are bannable offenses.

Modifying Sea of Thieves too heavily will likely result in bans or problems connecting online. So most players stick to small visual tweaks for a subtly enhanced experience.

Major gameplay changes are not possible without disconnecting from the official servers. And cheating mods like aimbots are strictly prohibited – using them will get you permanently banned.

Overall, modding Sea of Thieves is limited. But visual enhancements and UI tweaks can be done safely in offline mode. Just avoid anything that could be considered cheating when playing online.

Is Sea of Thieves Worth Playing in 2024?

Over 4 years after launch, Sea of Thieves remains one of the most popular multiplayer games available. It receives frequent content updates, including major expansions, and has maintained an active player base.

Here are some reasons Sea of Thieves is still worth playing in 2024:

  • Tight gameplay – The sailing, shooting, and exploration mechanics still hold up extremely well.

  • Tons of content – Sea of Thieves now has a massive amount of quests, enemies, items, and secrets to discover.

  • Great visuals – The stylized pirate aesthetic looks fantastic and runs smoothly.

  • Active community – Multiplayer is thriving, with over 1 million monthly players.

  • Regular updates – The developers continue adding new modes, events, cosmetics, and more.

  • Accessible fun – Sea of Thieves is casual enough for anyone to enjoy, but has high skill ceilings.

While Sea of Thieves had some content issues early on, the amount of gameplay variety and polish today makes it more than worth jumping into. And free access via Xbox Game Pass lowers the barrier to entry. For a shared world pirate adventure, Sea of Thieves is still a top choice in 2024.

Is Sea of Thieves Coming to Nintendo Switch?

Currently there are no official plans to bring Sea of Thieves to Nintendo Switch. Sea of Thieves is a Microsoft exclusive title developed specifically for Xbox and Windows PCs.

Porting Sea of Thieves to the Switch‘s much less powerful hardware would be difficult from a technical standpoint. The game demands strong specs for its detailed water physics, dynamic weather, and other graphical capabilities.

Significant visual downgrades would likely be required to get Sea of Thieves running smoothly on Switch. And the lack of pointer controls could also pose issues translating the gameplay to Switch‘s controllers.

While not impossible, Sea of Thieves launching on Switch seems very unlikely given its exclusivity to Microsoft platforms. The game has only released on Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and Windows PCs so far.

Unless Microsoft decides to bring Sea of Thieves to rival platforms like Switch and PlayStation, it will remain restricted to Xbox and PC. Porting such a demanding game to underpowered hardware doesn‘t seem feasible right now without major changes.

So in summary, Sea of Thieves coming to Switch has not been announced or even rumored at this point. While fans may hope to see it happen someday, the game continuing as a Microsoft exclusive seems far more probable in the foreseeable future.

Is Sea of Thieves 2 in Development?

Microsoft and Rare have not officially confirmed work on Sea of Thieves 2 or any direct sequel. The companies have remained fully focused on expanding and improving the existing game with continual updates.

However, Sea of Thieves has proven to be a major IP for Xbox. Given the game‘s popularity and potential, Sea of Thieves 2 or some kind of follow-up entry in the future seems very possible.

Rare job listings over the years have sometimes hinted at "exciting unannounced projects" beyond Sea of Thieves. While purely speculative, these could point to early work on a Sea of Thieves sequel.

Some rumors have circulated about Sea of Thieves 2 development, but nothing concrete yet. Any announcement would likely have to wait until at least 2024-2025 based on typical game cycles.

For now, Rare seems committed to more seasons, storylines, characters, locales, enemies, items, modes, and live events being added to the current Sea of Thieves. But eventually, a full sequel could take the pirate adventure to the next level.

Conclusion

While Sea of Thieves has been one of the most popular multiplayer games in recent years, there is currently no way to get the game for free permanently on PC. It has never been offered on Epic Games Store or other PC platforms except its Microsoft Store exclusivity.

The only way to play Sea of Thieves for free is joining Xbox Game Pass, which grants access on PC for $9.99 per month. Occasional free weekend events also give players temporary access. But the game has never had an indefinite free giveaway.

It remains unlikely Sea of Thieves will ever launch as a completely free title due to its status as a major Microsoft IP. However, limited-time promotions or inclusion in a low-cost subscription plan could potentially happen in the future.

For now, Sea of Thieves remains a paid game only playable on PC through the Microsoft Store or Steam. But thanks to Xbox Game Pass, trying out the game is more affordable than ever. So if you‘ve been eager to set sail in the immersive pirate world of Sea of Thieves, now is a great time to live that swashbuckling adventure!

nv-author-image

Michael

Michael Reddy is a tech enthusiast, entertainment buff, and avid traveler who loves exploring Linux and sharing unique insights with readers.