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There is no single best graphics preset for every PC running Sea of Thieves. The right settings depend on whether you prioritize image quality, smoother performance, or a balance—and on what your system can sustain. Start with a resolution and frame-rate target that suits your PC, then adjust settings and compare the results on your own setup.
What graphics settings should you use?
Choose your priority first. These are practical starting approaches, not verified presets or benchmark results:
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
Sea of Thieves The Board Game: Voyage of Legends | $44.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One | $38.87 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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Sea of Thieves Xbox One (Renewed) | $30.14 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |
![Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41RiuntPiNL._SL160_.jpg)
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Sea of Thieves: Standard Edition – Xbox One [Digital Code] | $35.19 | Buy on Amazon |
| 5 |
|
Sea of Thieves - Xbox One/PC - Full Game - Key Card | $57.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| Your priority | Starting approach | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Image quality | Use the highest resolution and graphics preset your PC can run comfortably. | Watch for unstable or unsatisfactory frame-rate behavior; lower demanding settings if needed. |
| Smoother performance | Choose a resolution and graphics preset that your PC can sustain, then adjust from there. | Check whether performance remains consistent during your normal play. |
| Balance | Start with a middle-ground preset if your current game build offers one, then make small adjustments. | Compare the visual change with the performance change after each adjustment. |
To find your own fit, use this repeatable process:
- Pick a target. Decide what resolution and frame-rate experience you want, within the limits of your display and PC.
- Choose a starting point. Use an available in-game preset or your current settings. The exact options can vary by game build.
- Change one setting at a time. Make each adjustment in the graphics menu, then observe both image quality and frame-rate behavior in your own setup.
- Keep the changes that suit you. If a change brings little visible benefit but worsens performance for your needs, undo it.
This approach avoids treating any particular combination as universally optimal: current, controlled benchmarks for specific PC configurations and individual settings are not established here.
How should you think about resolution and frame rate?
Higher resolutions demand more from a PC, and the experience a system can deliver depends on its hardware. Rare’s official PC requirements page organizes historical examples around several targets: 720p at 30 fps, 1080p at 30 fps, 1080p at 60 fps, 4K at 30 fps, and 4K at 60 fps. The table associates tiers with quality labels from Low (Common) through Medium (Rare) to Ultra (Mythical). The page was last updated June 22, 2023, so these are historical official examples—not current benchmarks, guaranteed performance, or modern buying advice. See Rare’s PC system requirements.
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- Welcome, pirates! Have you ever dreamed of being out on the open waves in search of treasure and adventure?
- Well then, the Sea of Thieves is calling!
- Inspired by the hit video game, Sea of Thieves: Voyage of Legends is a competitive seafaring game of piracy for 2-4 players.
- Explore the high seas with your friends in voyages packed with danger and excitement, but don't forget - only one of you can be crowned a Pirate Legend...
- You'll build a fearsome reputation as you compete for that title, battling sea monsters and pilfering plunder as you go.
Use resolution and frame-rate goals to frame your own settings choices, not as a promise that a particular component will deliver a particular result today. The hardware examples on that dated page should not be extrapolated into present-day purchase recommendations.
Does field of view affect performance?
Rare’s FOV guide says the setting ranges from 60 to 110, with the game starting at 78. Raising FOV shows more content on screen, but can affect performance on lower-spec hardware. The guide does not establish a fixed frame-rate gain from lowering it, so treat FOV as a visibility-versus-performance trade-off and check the result on your PC. Read Rare’s field-of-view guide.
Rank #2
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare’s irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot. Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Xbox One Console exclusive
- Battery: no battery used;Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) Content Description: Crude humor, use of alcohol, violence
Which effects can you turn off?
Rare says certain visual effects can be disabled in Graphics Settings. The available official guidance does not identify which effects or quantify the performance benefit, so do not assume a specific toggle will produce a particular FPS increase. If you experiment, change one option at a time and judge the result in your own game. See Rare’s visual-effects guidance.
What should laptop players check first?
If performance is unexpectedly poor on a laptop, check which GPU Windows assigns to the game before considering hardware changes. Rare notes that a game can sometimes launch on the onboard GPU instead of the dedicated one. Its support steps are:
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchRank #3
- A shared-world adventure game by acclaimed UK developer Rare Ltd. Xbox Live Gold required to play (sold separately)
- Live the essential pirate life in a world rich with Rare's irreverent charm. Sail and fight together, hunt treasure and create your own legends!
- A fantastical world of unspoiled islands, mythical monsters and mouth-watering loot
- Total freedom to decide how you approach the world and its players
- Available on the Xbox One family of devices and Windows 10 PCs. Supports Xbox Play Anywhere and cross-platform play** (**Play on one device at a time. PC hardware requirements may vary for games on Windows 10).The Hungering Deep, the first major Sea of Thieves content update landing May 2018, brings with it an exciting new threat to the Sea of Thieves world. Work together with other crews on a completely new adventure with gameplay enhancements and unique rewards.The May kick-off of the Sea of Thieves weekly events programme also introduces fun new ways to play with weekly events and rewards.
- Open Settings > System > Display > Graphics in Windows.
- Find Sea of Thieves and select Options.
- Choose High Performance, then save.
This is an official troubleshooting check, not a guarantee that GPU assignment is the cause of every performance problem. Follow Rare’s laptop graphics instructions.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Should you use one of the game’s named presets?
Release notes for version 3.8.0 describe Rare-curated Adventure, Competitive Pirates, Competitive Sandbox, and Social presets that can be customized and saved. The notes do not establish their exact graphics values or confirm that every current build still offers them. Check the options shown in your game before relying on a named preset. Read the version 3.8.0 release notes.
Quick Recap
Rank #4
- Sea of Thieves offers the essential pirate experience, from sailing and fighting to exploring and looting – everything you need to live the pirate life and become a legend in your own right.
- Whether you’re voyaging as a group or sailing solo, you’re bound to encounter other crews in this shared-world adventure – but will they be friends or foes, and how will you respond?
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
