Coming on Jan 28th, if all goes well, a Sea of Thieves update will launch with a brand new feature: Seasons. If you've played other popular GAAS games, you already know how this goes.
https://www.seaofthieves.com/news/seasons-explained
Seasonal content is free for all Sea of Thieves pirates to play, and its progression system offers a treasure trove of rewards to earn as you progress through levels of Renown – rewards ranging from in-game currency through to cosmetics, emotes and even Ancient Coins to spend in the Pirate Emporium! There will also be an optional premium element to Seasons via the Plunder Pass, which we've explained in its very own article. Access to Seasons will not be gated through this Pass, and as is the case with all our updates, the Seasons update will be free for all players.
https://www.seaofthieves.com/news/seasons-explained
This move to a Seasonal structure is designed to enrich the game and provide players with the freedom to enjoy Sea of Thieves their way, while making sure that a feeling of progression is present throughout a whole gameplay session. We know how frustrated some of you have felt when something's gone awry and you've lost loot, so Seasonal play is there to let you make progress and leave satisfied every time you set sail.