Rare immediately backpedals on charging gold for deaths in Sea of Thieves

In a recent post on the Sea of Thieves website, Rare advised players that in a future update players would be charged gold for deaths. The Sea of Thieves Death Cost, as it came to be known, caused significant uproar amongst fans.

Due to the negative fan feedback, Rare has advised that it won’t be implementing the Sea of Thieves Death Cost.

Sea of Thieves Death Cost

Originally posted on the Sea of Thieves website the Death Cost was described as follows;

Death Cost – This new feature has the Captain of the Ferry of the Damned deduct a small gold fee when you die. Rates are dependant on the cause of death, so the more avoidable the death, the less patience the Captain will have when we enable this feature!

Understandably, fans weren’t too pleased with the idea. Gold is the only form of reward in Sea of Thieves and it’s used to purchase new gear. All of the items on offer are prohibitively expensive and losing gold just for dying would really hurt.

Another problem with forcing players to pay gold upon a death is that it would deter them from exploring or experimenting. Seeing as though Sea of Thieves is a sandbox game, stopping players exploring and experimenting isn’t a great idea.

In response to the negative feedback, executive producer Joe Neate tweeted that the Death Cost was “dead.” You can view his tweet below.

Sea of Thieves has had a stormy launch with review scores varying wildly. 

In my first impressions, I thought it was a welcome return to form for Rare, but whether it holds up over time remains to be seen.

Look for our full review to be published soon.

Leo Stevenson
Leo Stevensonhttps://powerup-gaming.com/
I've been playing games for the past 27 years and have been writing for almost as long. Combining two passions in the way I'm able is a true privilege. PowerUp! is a labour of love and one I am so excited to share.

━ more like this

Melbourne Term 1 School Holidays 2025: Josephine Wants to Dance

Just in time for school holidays in Melbourne, Monkey Baa Theatre Company has announced the return of Josephine Wants to Dance at The Ian...

This Day in Aussie Gaming: The Must Plays of Apr 3

Video game history is often written by its greatest leaps forward—mechanical breakthroughs, bold artistic visions, and unforgettable characters. April 3rd stands as one such...

This Day in Aussie Gaming: The High Stakes All-Timers of Apr 2

Gaming is an ever-evolving medium, but some days in history stand out as pivotal moments in its journey. Whether it's a groundbreaking movie tie-in...

Warfare Review (2025) – An Unflinching, Harrowing, Claustrophic Nightmare

Warfare, from Writer-Director (and Iraq War Veteran) Ray Mendoza and Alex Garland (Ex Machina, Civil War), is a towering achievement in cinema. Following in the footsteps...

This Day in Aussie Gaming: The Whip-Cracking Goodness of Mar 31

Every game launch is a moment in time—a snapshot of where gaming was, what players craved, and how technology was evolving. Some titles push...