With just a few months left until Xbox One owners can take to the high seas in Rare's Sea of Thieves, Microsoft has announced plans for a Closed Beta at the end of this month. The Sea of Thieves Closed Beta will run for five days from January 24 (4:00am PST) to January 29 (12:00am PST).
The full game won't be accessible during this beta, as Rare wants to keep some secrets for launch, but the developer has promised a "bespoke experience that offers a true taste of the pirate life and a great chance to get your sea legs ahead of March 20!"
As a Closed Beta, it won't be accessible to everyone. Only those who have joined the Sea of Thieves Insider Programme before December 1, 2017, and anyone who pre-orders the game will be able to participate. The good news is the Closed Beta will not be restricted by NDA, so if you don't get a chance to play, look out for streams, videos, clips, and screenshots.
Sea of Thieves will leave shore for Xbox One on March 20.