What you need to know
- Sea of Thieves is an open-world pirate game from Rare.
- Forza Horizon 4 is an open-world racing game from Playground Games.
- Sea of Thieves recently crossed 8.4 million players on Xbox One and PC.
- Forza Horizon 4 recently crossed the 10-million mark on the same systems.
- You can play both games through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate.
Sea of Thieves is the latest game from developer Rare. The team has worked on titles like Banjo-Kazooie and Perfect Dark in the past, so a pirate simulator is quite a radical departure. While the title launched as a barebones experience, the team has since managed to turn it around by adding mechanics like fishing, cooking, and even a single-player campaign.
In April, the developer released the "Anniversary Update" for the game. Since then, the number of players has spiked. According to the team, the title now numbers over 8.4 million players. This information was revealed during an Inside Xbox show a few days ago. If you haven't played the game yet, be sure to jump in because it's quite good.
That's not all the news that was shared. Today, Forza Horizon 4's developer shared that the game now numbers 10 million players. This information was first spotted by Twitter user "@emiel1981" while watching a Forza Horizon 4 livestream on Mixer.
Forza Horizon 4 garnered stellar reviews at launch and has one of the highest scores on Metacritic. That contributes to the game's continued popularity. The racing simulator is also getting a Lego expansion soon, so that should draw even more players in.
It's great to see that Forza Horizon 4 and Sea of Thieves are doing so well. High player counts are important for the longevity of both games because they rely heavily on multiplayer. You can play both of them right now because they're part of Xbox Game Pass. There's a promotion going on right now that upgrades your existing membership to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate for just $1. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate bundles Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Game Pass for PC, and Xbox Live Gold into one package.
Xbox Game Pass and Xbox Live Gold in one
Xbox Game Pass gives you access to over 200 games for one monthly fee. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate also adds Xbox Live Gold to the package so you can play online with your friends. You can either get a month-long trial for $1 from the Microsoft Store, or a 3-month subscription for $20 through Amazon.
Xbox accessories you'll love
Every one of these quality accessories is guaranteed to enhance your Xbox experience.
PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller for Xbox One ($20 at Amazon)
PowerA's take on the Xbox One controller is an attractive pickup for budget-conscious gamers that nails all the basics.
Talon PDP Xbox media remote ($20 at Amazon)
The Talon PDP Xbox media remote is great for watching shows on your console.
Xbox One S vertical stand ($10 at Amazon)
Stand your console upright with this accessory.
