PS5 users are counting down to the release of Sea of Thieves on Sony’s console. After recently launching for Premium Edition customers, Sea of Thieves will make its full PlayStation 5 debut on April 30. Judging by the countdown timer on the PlayStation Store, the game will launch at 10am BST in the UK. There is, however, a chance the timings could change, as Sea of Thieves developer Rare prepares to hold a period of server downtime in the run up to the launch of Season 12. According to Rare, Sea of Thieves will be taken offline for server maintenance at 8am BST. The game will be offline on PS5, Xbox Series X|S and PC during maintenance, which will also coincide with the release of a new update.
The news was announced by Sea of Thieves developer Rare on X: “Attention, pirates! Season 12 begins tomorrow, alongside adventures for a whole new platform of players.
“To get things ready, the SoT servers will be offline for planned maintenance starting a little earlier than usual at around 7am UTC, April 30th. Plan your Voyages accordingly.”
To ensure PS5 customers can start playing the moment the servers go live, pre-order customers can pre-load the game ahead of schedule.
“Pre-load is now available for all pirates who have pre-ordered Sea of Thieves on PlayStation 5!” Rare explains.
“An additional, small download will be required on April 30th, but pre-loading will make sure you hit the waves as quickly as possible.”
Season 12 will introduce new weapons and items, including the Double-barrelled Pistol and Throwing Knives.
The new pistol allows pirates to fire two shots before needing to reload. Alternatively, you can charge your shot in order to fire both bullets at once. Similar to a shotgun, the Double-barrelled Pistol is more effective at close range, losing power from further away.
Throwing Knives, on the other hand, are for players who value stealth. You can take out the opposition with a downward strike from behind, or deliver high damage with a quick thrust or throw from afar.
Elsewhere, players will be able to discover the Scattershot cannonball from storage barrels. The Scattershot breaks apart when fired, ensuring you’re more likely to hit your target while also doing more damage.
There’s also a new throwable that summons skeletons to fight on your behalf, as well as a new artefact that summons the power of wind. It can be used to propel your pirate and ship forward, put out fires and even push back enemies.
Islands will now feature ziplines for speedier traversal, and pirates will also be able to walk across harpoon lines.