Rare has released a sizeable new update for Sea of Thieves which both brings the game up to version 1.1.4 and activates a new limited-time in-game event called Gunpowder Skeletons.
As its name implies, the Gunpowder Skeletons event, which is the second in an ongoing series of events tied to the Bilge Rat Adventure event campaign, makes it so that all skeletons will now rush towards players while holding a gunpowder keg with a lit fuse. Players can earn Bilge Rat Doubloons by defeating gunpowder skeletons in various ways, and they can then spend those Doubloons on unique Bilge Rat cosmetic items. For the Gunpowder Skeletons event, the Bilge Rat faction is offering a set of ‘Bone Crusher’ items which include a sword, pistol, blunderbuss, and eye of reach (Sea of Thieves’ version of a basic sniper rifle).
Along with the Gunpowder Skeletons event, update 1.1.4 also adds in some fun quality-of-life changes. For example, Letters of Recommendation now grant a full reputation level for the associated Trading Company, allowing players to more consistently progress their reputation across the different companies in the game. Players who are jealous of the skeletons’ newfound love of explosives will be happy to hear that they too can now light a five-second fuse while holding a gunpowder keg by pressing their primary action button. Gunpowder kegs now also emit a powerful explosive force when detonated, a force that’s strong enough to push ships.
Other miscellaneous changes include a new “Unjoinable” option for the Crew Management tab, allowing players to play entirely solo with no chance of other players (not even friends) being able to join their crew. The Megaladons that were added in Sea of Thieves’ Hungering Deep expansion have also had their behaviors updated (they’ll also no longer collide with islands while pursuing ships), as if they weren’t terrifying enough already. The full patch notes for Sea of Thieves’ 1.1.4 update can be found here.
For more on Sea of Thieves, be sure to read about how the game will eventually be getting microtransactions. Also, if you just can’t get enough skeletons in your life, you’ll be happy to hear that the game’s Cursed Sails expansion will be adding in new AI-controlled enemy ships piloted by skeleton crews.