After setting sail in 2018, Sea of Thieves quickly became a breakout hit for developer Rare and parent company Microsoft. In addition, the recent crossover with Pirates of the Caribbean gives some players even more reason to join the millions of others swashbuckling in the pirate MMO. However, the game so far remains a PC and Xbox exclusive.
Many are wondering when and if Sea of Thieves is coming to the Nintendo Switch. Questions and rumors about a possible Switch port go back to when the game launched in 2018. So far, though, Microsoft hasn’t announced any such plans. However, that doesn’t mean Switch users are entirely out of luck.
On the surface, Sea of Thieves seems like a good match for Nintendo’s all-in-one console. The game’s cartoony art style fits right in with the Nintendo brand, and Rare has a long history with the console manufacturer. However, that was before Microsoft acquired Rare in 2002, and most of their games since have been Xbox exclusives. Sea of Thieves itself only came to PC last year. It’s unlikely that Microsoft will let a popular exclusive title launch on another console.
It’s also not clear if the Switch is even powerful enough to run Sea of Thieves. Nintendo’s console only supports half the memory and a noticeably weaker processor than the original Xbox One. That puts it far behind the Series X and most PCs. That doesn’t mean a Switch port is impossible but would likely require a substantial downgrade to the game. That’s also time and money that Microsoft would probably prefer went toward the development of Everwild or the next season of Sea of Thieves content.
A Switch port, while not technically impossible, is incredibly unlikely in the foreseeable future. However, Nintendo gamers do have some options for open-world pirate adventures. The similarly named King of Seas is a single-player pirate RPG released in May. Ther’s also Under the Jolly Roger, which arrived on Switch last year. Neither game has spectacular reviews, but they might scratch some player’s piratical itch.
Switch owners could also try out Assassin’s Creed: The Rebel Collection if they haven’t already. In addition, the bundle includes both Assassin’s Creed: Rogue and the very popular Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag. Both games offer plenty of ocean-going action for the nautically inclined. Although unlike Sea of Thieves, neither game supports multiplayer.
However, they may be the closest options currently available. There’s no evidence of any plans to bring Sea of Thieves to the Nintendo Switch. At least not any time soon.
Sea of Thieves is available on Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.