Summary

  • PS5 owners will need a Microsoft account to play Sea of Thieves and access other features in the game when it launches for the console.
  • The Microsoft account requirement will allow for cross-platform invitations, voice chat, and progression for PS5 users of Sea of Thieves.
  • Sea of Thieves is one of a few first-party Xbox games coming to the PS5 soon, with Hi-Fi Rush launching in March and Grounded coming in April.

Sea of Thieves' PlayStation Store page has revealed that PS5 players will need a Microsoft account to play the popular open-world pirate game. Once Sea of Thieves releases for the PS5, developer Rare will break a surprising 39-year streak.

Sea of Thieves' cross-platform release marks the first time that Rare has ever released a game for a PlayStation console since the studio was founded in 1985. Most fans are probably familiar with Rare's work, which includes legendary titles like GoldenEye 007, Perfect Dark, Banjo-Kazooie, Donkey Kong 64, and many more. The studio's biggest hit in modern times is Sea of Thieves, which is coming to PlayStation alongside other Xbox exclusives.

Skull and Bones Combat
Skull and Bones Should Follow in Sea of Thieves Post-Launch Footsteps

Skull and Bones will need to have some exciting post-launch content if it wants to stick around, and following Sea of Thieves may give it that.

By 

Sea of Thieves' PlayStation Store page explains that "Microsoft account registration, acceptance of Microsoft Services Agreement and Privacy Statement [is] required to play." Journalist Stephen Totilo further explained that Sea of Thieves PS5 users will be able to link their PlayStation and Microsoft accounts, which will allow for cross-platform invitations, voice chat, and progression. Creating a Microsoft account will likely be a quick and simple process, so this seems to be a worthy tradeoff for Sea of Thieves coming to PS5 on April 30. Additionally, Totilo stated that Grounded, which comes to PS5 and Switch on April 16, will also require a Microsoft sign-in for crossplay, cross-save, and shared world features. However, it seems that Grounded users who don't care about these features will be able to play without a Microsoft account.

Sea of Thieves PS5 Users Will Need to Make a Microsoft Account

Sea of Thieves' approaching PS5 release will likely help the game outperform Ubisoft's Skull and Bones, which is already struggling with lackluster reviews and disappointing player numbers. Ubisoft's open-world pirate game was in on-and-off development for over a decade before its release earlier this month.

Recently, Sea of Thieves released a new update that surprised Xbox's console and PC users with a massive download size of over 90 GB, although Steam users were much luckier with a 10.5 GB download size. Rare explained that the update's large size was mainly due to the integration of the newest Xbox Game Development Kit, which will allow future updates to be considerably smaller than usual. However, the update did make some performance improvements as well as a gameplay improvement by improving water visuals when viewed from a distance.

Additional Xbox titles coming to PlayStation include Hi-Fi Rush, which will release on March 19, and Pentiment, which already released on February 22. Some PlayStations fans are particularly excited about Hi-Fi Rush, which was nominated for five categories at The Game Awards 2023.

Rating block community and brand ratings Image
sea-of-thieves-cover-art
Sea of Thieves
Display card tags widget Display card system widget
Display card community and brand rating widget
Display card open critics widget Display card main info widget
Released
March 20, 2018
Display card main info widget end Display card media widget start Display card media widget end

WHERE TO PLAY

SUBSCRIPTION
DIGITAL
PHYSICAL
Checkbox: control the expandable behavior of the extra info

Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right. With no set roles, you have complete freedom to approach the world, and other players, however you choose. Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond?

A Vast Open World:  Explore a vast open world filled with unspoiled islands and underwater kingdoms. Take on quests to hunt for lost loot, forge a reputation with the Trading Companies and battle foes from Phantoms and Ocean Crawlers to Megalodons and the mighty Kraken. Try your hand at fishing, make maps to your own buried treasure or choose from hundreds of other optional goals and side-quests!

Become Legend:  On your journey to become a Pirate Legend you’ll amass loot, build a reputation and define a unique personal style with your hard-earned rewards. Adventurer. Explorer. Conqueror. What will your legend be?
 

Developer(s)
Rare
Publisher(s)
Microsoft Game Studios
Genre(s)
Adventure