Xbox will release a Sea of Thieves bundle on the same day the game is available to buy in the UK, the company has announced.
The highly-anticipated shared-world adventure, which sees players become pirates to sail ships, search for treasure and battle other gamers, will be released on March 20.
Xbox has now revealed that gamers can purchase the title on its own for Xbox One devices or Windows, or buy a bundle that includes a one-terabyte Xbox One S, a full download version of Sea of Thieves, a standard wireless controller and one-month trials of Xbox Live Gold and Game Pass.
The package is priced at £249.99 and can be pre-ordered from participating retailers from today.
“As we approach the global launch of one of the most anticipated Xbox One exclusives for 2018, we’re thrilled to announce the Xbox One S Sea of Thieves bundle, offering prospective pirates the best value in games and entertainment alongside the highly anticipated shared-world adventure,” an Xbox spokesman said.
Sea of Thieves will be available on its Game Pass subscription service on the same day as its general release, as part of a new plan. The move will also apply to State of Decay 2, Crackdown 3 and future unannounced games from Microsoft Studios including new iterations of Xbox One exclusive franchises such as Halo, Forza and Gears of War. On Monday, Xbox revealed that Rise of the Tomb Raider, Super Lucky’s Tale and Resident Evil: Revelations 2 will be added to Game Pass.
Last month, the makers of Sea of Thieves revealed more about the game. Developers at Rare said players can complete quests from trading companies with the aim of being awarded the title of “pirate legend”. That unlocks a new section of the game featuring hideouts, special ships and unique treasures.
“When you become a pirate legend, everyone assumes you just get an outfit. Actually, that’s just the start,” said design director Mike Chapman. “There’s a hidden location that no one knows about – a pirate hideout called the Tavern of Legends. If you go up into the captain’s cabin in the tavern, you can meet the Pirate Lord. He will give you legendary voyages, which are the best and most rewarding voyages in the game.
“This hideout becomes your hideout. You’ve started this journey to become a Barbosa, a Jack Sparrow, a Blackbeard of the Sea of Thieves world and now you’re going to build your Black Pearl. When people see your ship, they will know that it’s the ship of a pirate legend. When you embark on a pirate legend voyage it leads to ancient chests, which are the best chests in the game. They’ve got unique clothing and weapons inside; only the pirate legends can dig them up but when they’re on a ship, anyone can steal them.”
The first person to find the Tavern of Legends will “no doubt become a celebrity” in the Sea of Thieves world, Chapman added.
