IGN posted an article about what you actually do in the game and it includes some raw gameplay footage (without annoying people screaming).

Rare have also been uploading short behind scenes videos that delve into the game's design, art direction, tech etc.

• Instruments
• Setting Sail on PC
• Aboard the Ship
• Engineering Great Water
• Creating Clouds
• Let There Be Light
• Visual Effects
• A Signature Soundtrack

It's really great to see them working on something other than Kinect rubbish. Their output on the 360 often gets overlooked because of the Microsoft buyout, but all those games are highly under-appreciated in my opinion. Rare Replay was a nice reminder that there are still passionate people working there.

Anyone else looking forward to this game next year?

I really hope it lives up to expectations, everything about it strikes me as something I would love to play.

I'm right there with you OP. It's feels good to be excited about a new Rare game. Hopefully Sea of Thieves sparks a renaissance at Twycross.

So...wenches and boy-toys are in there too? You guys are saying I do anything a Pirates would do...but really?

• Can I find a lady in every port?
• Can I rescue my lady/lad love from bad-guys?
• Can I romance the Governor's daughter? (or son)
• Can I dance at the grad ball with one or other of some person's daughters?

This is all stuff in various ' other' pirate games, but while these guys say, 'everything' they really don't seem to mean that at all. I hope I'm wrong, but this looks very Disney.

Minor update: it looks like they're now accepting signups for future beta tests. Took me a few minutes to fill out one of those "gaming habit" surveys.

https://www.seaofthieves.com/sign-up

@dharmabum: I did as well. When will it go live?

@evilcalvin: Not sure but this Insider program just went live a week ago I think.