Sea of Thieves producer discusses ethical monetization, and how internal backlash saved a crab

For Xbox Chaturday'south big 50th episode, I had the pleasance of being joined by Joe Neate, the executive producer on Sea of Thieves. I was honored and excited to take the opportunity to chat with a key effigy from Rare in such a comfortable, relaxed format.

In improver to discussing the game reveals that excited us at The Game Awards and our impressions of Halo Infinite'southward campaign, we also touched on the team's desire to push ethical monetization practices, the culture of Xbox Game Studios, and how a fan-favorite crab almost met its untimely demise.

Upstanding monetization in ongoing games

Sea Of Thieves Season Source: Xbox Game Studios (screenshot)

During our 2-hr session, one of my favorite conversations involved an evaluation of the monetization practices required to sustain an ongoing game. Many players have pre-conceived notions or theories as to why companies implement certain monetization practices, and it was incredible to hear thoughtful explanations into how these decisions are made.

"We'd rather have more than people spending less than a smaller amount of people spending loads."

Subsequently touching upon Sea of Thieves' transition to a seasonal update model, Neate began detailing how the team at Rare aims to deliver a fairly priced choice of optional cosmetics that respect the buyer's time and financial investments. He described the studio'due south conscientious approach to microtransactions by stating, "if people spend coin in Sea of Thieves, they should never regret it."

Neate so spoke almost how Rare and the team at Sea of Thieves will go on to hold themselves accountable when it comes to delivering what's best for all players every bit well equally the business organisation. Information technology was refreshing to have a candid give-and-take on how, in some cases, it tin can be easier for a company to hunt fiscal success by exploiting their nigh dedicated fans while also explaining how this isn't the about ethical approach and ane the Body of water of Thieves team fights hard to avert.

To make the team'southward strategy clear, Neate stated, "we'd rather accept more than people spending less than a smaller corporeality of people spending loads." As someone who's often questioned the monetization practices of ongoing games, I found his insights fascinating and refreshing.

The civilization of Xbox and the fate of a crab

Sea Of Thieves Combat Source: Windows Central

In improver to detailing Rare's strategy for providing a fair and rewarding monetization system for its players, Neate and I also touched upon Xbox Game Studios and its culture of empowerment. Neate passionately described Xbox's approach to direction.

"When I look at the leadership of Xbox, Phil Spencer, and Matt Haul, their method is very much empower your teams to make decisions and manage their games in the ways they feel are best to do," he said.

He and then described how you can see this represented in the quality of games released by Xbox Game Studios in 2022. Neate further iterated on Xbox's mission of game development, stating, "speaking every bit a games developer, all you're always doing is asking how exercise I brand the all-time decisions for my game and the customs?"

"Mike Chapman did have a plan to impale off that crab, and we actually did some work to do it."

In another almost tragic chat, Neate talked about how a beloved crab mascot affectionately nicknamed "Shelly" by the customs was almost killed off in A Pirate'southward Life. As someone who'due south championed this cherished crustacean since its debut in one of the starting time update trailers for Sea of Thieves, I was taken aback by this evolution.

Afterwards asking if this crab'southward inclusion in most of the game'south official trailers foreshadowed whatever features or story beats, Neate detailed the night timeline where Shelly was murdered. "Mike Chapman did have a programme to kill off that crab, and we really did some work to do it, but in that location was a bit of revolt amongst the team." Thankfully, some vocal members of Rare have spared this crab for now, but it seems like its fate is still uncertain in the world of Body of water of Thieves.

All topics covered in this episode

Sea Of Thieves A Pirates Life Jack Sparrow Source: Windows Central

Joe Neate's game evolution journey - 00:05:10
- Joe described how he got into game development and what led to his current office every bit Executive Producer on Sea of Thieves.
Hellblade II gameplay reveals - 00:26:10
- Nosotros discussed the stunning gameplay reveal for Senua's Saga: Hellblade II and what information technology'southward like seeing Ninja Theory truly deliver.
Has Rare Been Using Unreal Engine five? - 00:31:forty
- I asked whether or not Rare has been experiment with Unreal Engine five in Sea of Thieves or their other titles.
Halo Infinite campaign impressions - 00:50:43
- Joe and I shared our excitement regarding 343 Industries delivering an incredible Halo package.
The culture of Xbox Game Studios - 00:58:fifty
- We discussed how the leadership of Xbox aims to empower its teams to make the decisions necessary to deliver the best games possible.
Ethical monetization in ongoing games - 01:09:45
- Joe explained Rare's arroyo to implementing microtransactions that respect players fourth dimension and money.
How long will the team support Sea of Thieves? - 01:37:forty
- We dove into the future of Sea of Thieves and whether or not we'd always run across a Sea of Thieves two.
The fate of the crab - 01:42:45
- Joe shockingly details the team's original plans to kill a dearest crab.
Customs Q & A - 02:00:00
- Joe answers a host of customs questions regarding crossovers, upcoming features, and requests for Sea of Thieves.

Bounding main of Thieves is bigger and better than e'er before and there's genuinely never been a better time to dive in and kickoff your pirate voyage. Season 5 is out at present, and so encounter for yourself why this is one of the best games on Xbox Game Pass.

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