Sea of Thieves, the popular online pirate game, is enhancing its player experience by introducing a new mode called "Safer Seas". The decision comes in response to frequent griefing issues troubling players. Launching as part of the game's tenth season in October, the new mode aims to offer a more enjoyable, stress-free experience to solo players by providing single-player servers.

The “Safer Seas" mode, as detailed in a recent Xbox Wire blog post, would allow new players a gentler introduction to the game world by offering a quieter map to existing players embarking on solo adventures. This means players looking for a tranquil fishing session or intending to complete a few Tall Tales can do so undisturbed, without having to constantly watch out for enemy players. All progress towards Commendations will also be valid in this mode.

Significantly, players will still have the option to form crews with their friends to participate in different adventures together, meaning it doesn't have to be a completely solitary gaming experience. Set to be introduced in December, the new mode does come with certain limitations. The rewards from completing tasks will be less, with trading companies give out fewer gold and reputation for any handed over treasure, while the seasonal renown remains unchanged.

Additionally, a rank cap of 40 is applied, meaning players cannot achieve Pirate Legend status while playing in "Safer Seas", nor take any voyages on behalf of the Athena's Fortune Trading Company. PvP features such as the Reaper's Bones, the Emissary system, and Faction battle will also be unavailable in this mode.

In other updates, the upcoming Season 10 will kick off with shared progression within Guilds that players can contribute to for unlocking certain rewards, and competitive Questing, where same-server players compete to finish the same quest, is set to arrive in November.