With Microsoft Teams being the preferred platform for real-time collaboration, signing documents during meetings was a need to be covered. Teams Store has many integrations with e-signature providers and by offering them a ready to implement solution so their customers can sign documents during meeting was a common ask.
Teams Ecosystem Engineering developed a proof of concept so any ISV or customer can implement signing documents during meetings. This application will let the document owner select the document to sign and add it to a meeting. Depending on the role of the attendees (signers or viewers), users will be able to sign or see the document during the meeting. The authentication will be seamless since it’s using Teams SSO. Some common documents to be signed during meetings are purchase agreements, incoming invoices, or NDAs.
The code is customizable so ISVs can select the type of signature the customer needs to use (manual signature, electronic signature or certificate-based signatures). Moreover, the POC can be customized for other scenarios like accepting changes in documents or in code reviews.
This is currently available in desktop client. Mobile and web clients are coming soon. In addition, this only works for users from the same organization or tenant with availability for guest and anonymous users coming soon.
Below is a list of useful resources to start using this proof of concept:
According to data released earlier this month, an estimated 1.95 million people with disabilities had trouble voting in the 2020 election. Today marks the beginning of Disability Voting Rights Week 2022, an annual effort coordinated by the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) to make sure disabled voters in every community across the country are registered, ready to vote and have access to the ballot. Additionally, it’s a day to engage with candidates and community leaders on issues impacting people with disabilities and to discuss better accessibility inclusion programs.
Today, the Microsoft Accessibility and Democracy Forward teams also celebrate the launch of the Center for Civic Designs’ Disability Voting Index. This new tool offers a single, centralized location that makes it easy to quickly search and understand accessibility options in all 50 states so that more people with disabilities can participate in the electoral process.
At Microsoft, this work is a direct result of listening to, and working closely with, disability communities to understand specific challenges and what was needed to garner greater civil society participation. We gauged the availability and accessibility of election information in all 50 states, plus DC, during an equitable Microsoft Global Hackathon by combing all 51 state election websites to see what information was available, how easy it was to find and if the website passed a basic accessibility check. What we found reflected what our partners in the community have been saying – information about accessible voting was very hard to find.
We are thrilled that the launch takes place during Disability Voting Rights Week. While nearly 62% of people with disabilities voted in 2020, up from 56% in 2016, finding accurate voting information can still be a challenging process for these populations. Currently, every state not only has different rules and options, searching for voting information can vary greatly based on terminology and location. Twenty-one states had info pages using the term “voters with disability,” 16 used “accessible voting” and 11 states had no dedicated page whatsoever. The Disability Voting Index is the first step to solving this problem.
Collectively, we plan to continue to update the site to expand its comprehensiveness and utility. Currently, it provides in-depth information describing the available resources for voting in each state. It also provides information on rights for a voter with a disability, vote by mail, in-person election day voting details, as well as, where applicable, descriptions of the types of voting machines in use (at one’s polling location) with links to instructional videos. We recognize that state laws affecting the 2024 general election are still changing, and we will continue to monitor and update the website as they are amended.
In the future, we’re hopeful this initiative continues to grow and provide the basis for evaluating not just what accessible options are available, but how well they serve their intended audiences. We also hope to enable quantitative and qualitative performance evaluations in order to spur innovation and more rapid adoption of effective techniques, analogous to the Elections Performance Index but with a focus on accessibility.
Join us in celebrating Disability Voting Rights Week as we continue to raise the disability voice and increase civic participation across the country in 2022 and beyond.
In the United States, some communities have very different experiences in their interactions with the justice system. There are policies, programs and practices within the criminal legal system that exacerbate racial inequities and disproportionately impact Black and African American communities.
At Microsoft, through our Justice Reform Initiative, we provide support to organizations using data and technology to develop alternatives to incarceration, accelerate the adoption of new models of public safety and expand access to data driven insights.
Today, Microsoft is partnering with the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators (PPI), a national effort led by researchers at Loyola University of Chicago and Florida International University, to expand access to data-driven insights via new, publicly available data dashboards created in partnership with Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver and Colorado district attorneys’ offices. In the spirit of promoting transparency, prosecutors worked together with researchers, and with input from their communities, to create the data dashboards that will enable community members to gain a better understanding of the work going on in their local office, including trends in cases filed and resolved over time, identify patterns in how individuals are treated and evaluate how they are addressing serious crime and protecting and serving victims.
Prosecutors hold significant decision-making power, and the public wants to know what their local prosecutors are doing, especially given the increasing scrutiny on prosecutors and ongoing concerns that disparities in charges and sentencing recommendations are often correlated to race, ethnicity or wealth. However, most district attorneys’ offices are not able to aggregate, review, interpret or share data publicly.
“The move to create prosecutorial data dashboards was sparked by public demand for greater accountability and impartiality, along with a focus on community well-being and fairness,” said Don Stemen, PhD, Loyola University Chicago professor and co-manager of the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators (PPI) project. “Increasingly, prosecutors are expected to take proactive, engaged responses to community problems, reduce disparities in justice outcomes, build greater trust through community engagement and increase transparency and accountability. This requires robust data-driven prosecutorial work.”
“Transparency and easy public access to data are two items that can go a long way in nurturing trust and faith between prosecutors and the communities they serve,” said Jeremy Shaver, a spokesperson for Hate Free Colorado, a diverse group of community partners dedicated to countering hate crimes in Colorado. “We appreciate that the participating district attorneys’ offices held meetings with community leaders to learn what they want and expect out of this project. We look forward to how the dashboards may increase awareness on how prosecutorial decisions are made in Colorado.”
The collaboration between prosecutors, researchers and community members was a critical factor in ensuring these dashboards provide relevant and useful information for all stakeholders. Denver District Attorney Beth McCann says, “We are committed to transparency and embrace prevention-oriented approaches to public safety; approaches that are rooted in data and facts. By using our existing data, we can be smart on crime, think about new ways to maximize public safety, ensure fairness and create new systems of accountability to the public.”
Each dashboard also utilizes indicators to assess prosecutorial progress toward three goals: capacity and efficiency; community safety and well-being; and fairness and justice. Robust data is needed to identify and prioritize the possible actions at points of prosecutorial discretion to improve community safety, reduce disparities and ensure prosecutors are treating defendants and victims fairly. These dashboards are now available in eight judicial districts.
“There is a commitment in Colorado generally, and certainly among the judicial districts, to data-driven decision-making,” said Lauren Gase, PhD, senior researcher and project director for the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab. “The dashboards are a way to take the data from the case management system and make meaning of it, and display it in ways that support transparency and use within each office.”
With support from the Microsoft Justice Reform Initiative, these data dashboards were created as part of the pilot phase of the Colorado Prosecutorial Dashboards project. This is the first statewide initiative for the PPI and is a collaborative effort between PPI, the Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab at the University of Denver and district attorneys’ offices across the state. The project was also supported by data stored and shared by the Colorado District Attorneys’ Council (CDAC). This project, which started with eight judicial districts, will next aim to expand to all judicial districts across Colorado.
I’m proud that Microsoft can contribute to this historic initiative and look forward to seeing how this work continues in the months and years ahead. This work is not easy, but it is necessary to ensure fundamental rights like access to justice are protected and equitable outcomes are guaranteed for all.
It’s become increasingly clear in the past few years how integral small and medium businesses (SMBs) are to the success of our global societies—and yet, we hear from you that being a small business today is harder than ever. In our always-on digital reality, SMBs need smarter solutions to grow their online presence and acquire new customers. And those solutions need to be easy to use, time-saving, cost-efficient, and reliable. Today, Microsoft Advertising is proud to announce that we’ve launched a newly redesigned Smart Campaigns experience with a new Multi-platform feature in the United States to make online advertising for small businesses easier, smarter, and better at helping you reach more customers across leading advertising and social media platforms.
New Smart Campaigns make getting started simpler and easier than ever
Time is money, right? We know that how you spend your time matters to the success of your business, so we’ve enhanced our Smart Campaigns to save you time and reduce the stress of promoting your business online. Smart Campaigns are a simple and efficient way for small businesses to get started with digital advertising and connect with relevant customers who are ready to engage with their business. It’s a streamlined and guided campaign experience to run ads on Microsoft Advertising, and optionally on other advertising platforms. From onboarding to optimizing your campaign, our support team is available through a prevalent chat experience across our site, and setting up ads is easier than ever with a simplified setup workflow. You can create your own ads or have us generate options for your review.
Optimization is key to the new Smart Campaigns experience. With your revenue growth in mind, we’ve refined the artificial intelligence (AI) built into the solution. This can help you easily optimize your campaigns to meet your goals while budgeting for a strong return on investment.
Extend and scale your reach with Multi-platform
Reaching new audiences and optimizing campaigns across many digital channels used to be hard, but we’re making it easier. Multi-platform, an all-in-one Microsoft Advertising feature now available in Smart Campaigns, is built to help you connect with customers across leading advertising and social media platforms.
Extend your reach at scale by running ads across any mix of Microsoft Advertising, Google, Facebook, and Instagram—all from one interface within the Microsoft Advertising platform. Not only do we provide a single place for the management and analytics of your campaigns across platforms, but we also bring the power of Microsoft AI, which automatically optimizes your budget for the best performance across all these platforms.
Well Life recently used the Multi-platform feature in Smart Campaigns to achieve growth and optimize campaigns easily. Read more about how Well Life used Microsoft Advertising tools for their success.
Smart Campaigns and Multi-platform can also help with your website or organic social media efforts. Build a brand-new website from scratch or generate one from your business’s Facebook page in seconds. And use our powerful social media management tools to schedule posts and respond to your customers across LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram from a single interface. The best part? These tools are free to use—you only pay for your ad spend!
Royal Apple found efficiency in managing campaigns with the Multi-platform feature. Learn more about how Multi-platform helped Royal Apple reach new audiences and easily interact with their customers across platforms.
Simplify your marketing approach and grow your business with Smart Campaigns
Existing Microsoft Advertiser? We’ll give you the option to migrate to the new experience in the coming months. If you’d like to be considered for early access to Smart Campaigns, let us know here.
We also have a webcast on Smart Campaigns and the Multi-platform feature happening on September 20th. Register here to watch.
Stay informed
Sign up for the weekly Microsoft Advertising Insider newsletter to keep up with the latest insights, product news, tips and tricks, thought leadership, customer success stories, and more resources.
Another step towards eliminating electronic waste and responding to the needs of our planet
Here at Microsoft, our unwavering commitment to sustainability continues with the opening of a new Circular Center in Singapore.
Microsoft’s Circular Centers enable us to reuse and repurpose decommissioned cloud computing hardware from our datacenters to find new life in schools, as resources for skills training programs, and much more. The goal of our Circular Center program is to reuse 90 per cent of our cloud computing hardware assets by 2025.
The launch of our first Circular Center in Asia located in Singapore is an important milestone towards that goal, while also creating local employment opportunities.
Intelligently executing a zero-waste solution
The Microsoft Cloud is powered by millions of servers in hundreds of datacenters around the world, and demand for cloud services is growing exponentially.
At our Centers, decommissioned servers and other types of hardware can be repurposed or dissembled by our technicians, and the components and equipment moved on to another phase of life.
Our Intelligent Disposition and Routing System (IDARS) uses AI and machine learning to establish and execute a zero-waste plan for every piece of our decommissioned hardware, at scale.
IDARS also works to optimize routes for these hardware assets and provide Circular Center operators with instructions on how to dispose of each one.
YouTube Video
Collaborating to find new repurposing opportunities
The Circular Centers are transforming the sustainability credentials of our datacenters, but Microsoft hasn’t done it alone. We work closely with partners to find new opportunities for our end-of-life parts and equipment.
That has seen repurposed servers being donated to schools or used for job training. Reclaimed memory cards have also been used by companies making electronic toys or computer games, to mention just a few examples.
While our new Singapore Center will produce ground-breaking environmental improvements, it will also create employment opportunities. At other Microsoft Centers around the globe, the processes used during repurposing have resulted in the creation of new jobs, including fresh job categories and many entry-level positions.
Contributing to positive climate action for Asia
In 2022, nations everywhere have been confronted with the need to accelerate their net zero ambitions. That includes Southeast Asia, where eight out of ten countries are already committed to net zero targets. But despite recent progress, a new study reveals that there is still a large emission gap of three gigatons to be closed by 2030 if the region is to meet its net zero goals.
The same study also found that Asia is well positioned to address these challenges and capture the opportunities that come from managing climate risk effectively. It estimates, for example, that annual green economic opportunities worth USD$1 trillion by 2030 exist in Southeast Asia alone.
Singapore, with its strong government and private sector commitments and agile policy environment, has already laid the foundations for creating an advanced recycling infrastructure that can help it take advantage of those opportunities.
The arrival of a Microsoft Circular Center in Singapore is in line with this approach. By re-using and repurposing components, our Center will help reduce waste and carbon emissions. In our pilot Circular Center in Amsterdam alone, Microsoft contributed to the goal of reducing carbon emissions by 145,000 tonnes CO2 equivalent.
Since achieving this outstanding result, Microsoft has established further centers in Dublin, Ireland, and Virginia in the US.
Along with the Singapore Center, plans are now underway to expand the program in Washington, Chicago, Sydney and to other sites.
We’re exceptionally proud of these facilities. But we also know this is only the beginning.
We have been operating in Singapore and Asia for over 30 years and are present in 23 markets in Asia today. Through this tenure, we have become a go-to partner for Asia’s businesses, governments, partners, communities, and individuals.
The Singapore Circular Center is a further testament to our commitment to Asia’s future. We will continue to collaborate and co-innovate with our partners the world over, and power towards our global goal of reaching net zero by 2050.
Good things are bound to happen when you mix [email protected] and /twitchgaming! Here we are once again to showcase updates and new announcements of amazing games coming to Xbox from independent developers.
This year we’d like to kick off the showcase with a pre-show by Black Girl Gamers. They’ll be showing us some exciting gameplay of Versus Evil’s multiplayer deception madness game, Eville. The pre-show will kick off on Wednesday, September 14 at 9:30 a.m. PT and can be watched directly at twitch.tv/blackgirlgamers or during the co-stream on Twitch.tv/twitchgaming or Twitch.tv/xbox.
The main showcase itself will feature updates for Metal: Hellsinger, You Suck at Parking, and more. Look out for new announces and trailers, what’s coming soon to Game Pass, a deeper dive with developer interviews, and gameplay of Ghostbusters: Spirits Unleashed (plus a couple other fun titles). Catch this part of the show on Wednesday, September 14 at 10 a.m. PTon Twitch at Twitch.tv/twitchgaming or Twitch.tv/xbox.
We hope you can join us for this 90 plus minutes of exciting news and debuts on Wednesday, September 14 at 10 a.m. PT for the /twitchgaming: [email protected] Fall Showcase! For all the latest [email protected] news, be sure to stay tuned to Xbox Wire and @ID_Xbox on Twitter.
With the launch of the original Xbox Elite controller in 2015, we wanted to give gamers a new way to play at their full potential. We developed a premium gaming controller that offered unparalleled levels of customization to allow you to play with a specific setup that works best for you.
Today we are excited to build on that legacy with the announcement of the Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core in white. It’s designed to meet the core needs of today’s competitive gamers, putting exceptional performance, customization, and durability where it matters most — in your hands. We are giving fans more choice than ever before with two Elite controllers to meet your needs:
The new Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 – Core in white at $129.99 USD MSRP includes the essential components you need to unleash your best game. Experience adjustable-tension thumbsticks, wrap-around rubberized grip, and shorter hair trigger locks. Enjoy limitless customization with exclusive button mapping options in the Xbox Accessories app. Stay in the game with up to 40 hours of rechargeable battery life1 and refined components that are built to last.
The current Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 in black at $179.99 USD MSRP includes all the Elite Core features plus it comes with premium interchangeable components to fit your preferred gaming style, including different thumbsticks, D-pad, and paddle shapes. The carrying, case allows you to keep the controller and components secure and organized. Charge the controller either inside or outside the carrying case with the included braided USB-C cable and charging dock.
Since Xbox Design Lab debuted in 2016, the number one fan request has been to include Elite controllers in our unique customization program to empower further personalization of that premium experience. Today we’re announcing that coming this holiday, you will be able to do just that when we bring Elite Wireless Controller Series 2 to Xbox Design Lab! We’re excited to bring more choices to gamers around the world and can’t wait to see how fans reimagine what it is to be Elite.
Add even more customization to the Elite Series 2 – Core or replace components on other Elite Series 2 models with the Complete Component Pack for $59.99 USD MSRP. Tailor the controller to your preferred gaming style with interchangeable thumbsticks, paddle shapes, and D-pad. Includes carrying case, charging dock, and USB-C cable.
We’ve heard players loud and clear and have continued to improve Elite Series 2 controllers to be more reliable than ever before with refined components that are built to last. For added peace of mind, Elite Series 2 controllers come with Microsoft’s 1-year limited warranty2. The best part is that Elite Series 2 controllers are designed to be fully customizable, so you can play with a specific setup that works best for you.
To celebrate the newest member of the Xbox Elite family, the Xbox Gear Shop is excited to announce the new Xbox Elite Jersey. This premium gaming jersey includes both styling and technical features, including a zippered sleeve pocket and magnetic chest strip to keep your Elite components ready for action. The Xbox Elite Jersey is available for purchase today from the Xbox Gear Shop for $99.99 USD MSRP.
1 Battery life varies with usage and other factors. 2 Microsoft’s Limited Warranty is in addition to your consumer law rights.
The future of work is flexible. Now more than ever organizations need a single, integrated experience that makes working together easier and more engaging for their employees whether they are all in the same room, remote, or—for many of us—a mix of both.
At Microsoft, we are committed to bridging the gap between physical and digital workspaces. More than 60 percent of the Fortune 500 have already chosen Microsoft Teams Rooms to connect employees across the hybrid divide and active Teams Rooms devices have more than doubled year over year.1
Enabling truly great hybrid meetings and collaboration has gone from nice to have to must have. Because of this, Microsoft is happy to announce changes to Microsoft Teams Rooms, making it easy to start your hybrid journey.
What is Microsoft Teams Rooms?
Meeting space solutions play a vital role in enabling effective hybrid collaboration, but many of today’s rooms systems are focused on the people who are physically present. In fact, less than 8 percent of the 90 million conference rooms worldwide are video enabled.2
Microsoft Teams Rooms help remove the barriers between spaces, places, and people and are designed to deliver inclusive meeting experiences with all participants in mind. Teams Rooms can turn any room into an easy-to-use and inclusive meeting space where everyone can fully engage and participate, no matter where they are. Teams Rooms is an ecosystem of Microsoft Teams software and certified partner hardware devices that provide flexibility for your meeting needs.
Get started today with Teams Rooms
Enable everyone to be seen, heard, and fully participate from anywhere.
Introducing Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro
Meet Microsoft Teams Rooms Pro. Teams Rooms Pro is a new offer that brings together the value of our existing Teams Rooms features, new innovations, and the Teams Rooms managed service platform—all in one license. Teams Rooms Pro simplifies the purchasing process for our customers and delivers the collective benefits of our advancements in both hybrid meeting experiences and device management.
Teams Rooms Pro will deliver the latest hybrid meeting experiences with a focus on inclusivity, ease of use, flexibility, security, and management. Let’s look at some of the features available or coming soon to Teams Rooms Pro.
Intelligent audio and video: To help everyone be seen and heard, we combine high-quality audio and video from Microsoft Teams-certified devices with video layout options like front row, noise suppression, and bandwidth optimization. Advanced camera capabilities use AI to help remote attendees feel like they are in the room with automatic framing to capture the active speaker.
Increased engagement: Beyond audio and video, one of the best ways for remote participants to establish their presence in a meeting is to engage with ease. We’re bringing popular features from the personal Teams meeting experience to Teams Rooms Pro—including features like wirelessly sharing content, raise hand, and live reactions. And when using the classic video grid layout, chat bubbles alert in-room participants to the conversation happening alongside the meeting, so nothing gets missed.
Powerful collaboration: Real-time collaboration can be a part of every meeting for every attendee through Microsoft Whiteboard, Microsoft Surface Hub 2S, and the intelligent capture of an analog whiteboard. Easily add a touch display to enable multi-user, shared whiteboarding, or add a content camera to share an intelligent, augmented whiteboard view into Teams meetings.
Management and security: Great meeting experiences start behind the scenes with strong security and operations. Teams Rooms Pro provides essential enterprise-grade management and security, including access control, remote configuration, and device analytics, as well as IT service management (ITSM) integration. Teams Rooms Pro also includes the Teams Rooms managed service platform, which provides AI-driven operations that automate updates, problem detection, and resolution at scale.
Teams Rooms Pro is available now at USD40 per user/month.
Updates for Teams Rooms managed service
Teams Rooms managed service enables customers to scale and optimize their rooms deployment. Building on our learnings delivering on this value for the past several years, today we are announcing an evolution to one of the Teams Rooms managed service workflows. Starting October 1, 2022, incidents will automatically remediate or route to the customer’s IT department or designated management partner, without the intermediary involvement from our engineers.
The Teams Rooms managed service platform will continue to provide all the platform value Premium customers know and use today, including all-day monitoring, update ring configuration, incident diagnostics, inventory planning, and advanced incident analytics.
We will focus our approach moving forward on growing and deepening the value of our managed service software platform by increasing our feature investments. Additional support for Teams Rooms issues will move to our standard processes for customers across their Microsoft products.
For customers who are seeking additional help managing and supporting their meeting rooms, we have partners with strong technical expertise and deep experience working with Microsoft Teams Rooms.
Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic
Microsoft Teams Rooms Basic makes it easier for small businesses to create hybrid meeting experiences. Teams Rooms Basic provides foundational Teams meeting experiences like scheduling, joining meetings, and wireless content sharing. For customers needing core management and hybrid meeting features, we recommend Teams Rooms Pro.
Teams Rooms Basic is included with the purchase of any certified Teams Rooms device at no additional cost purchased on or after September 1, 2022. Customers can apply up to 25 Basic licenses to their tenant.
As the new way of work demands ever greater flexibility, Microsoft is committed to providing inclusive meeting experiences and seamless device management. We believe these features will enable organizations to support their employees and help them to thrive in the hybrid workplace.
We are excited about the role Microsoft Teams Rooms plays in this mission and the roadmap of innovation ahead.
Sea of Thieves’ next Community Day will take place from September 17 (10am UTC) to September 18 (10am UTC).
Community Day takes place during a long weekend of celebrations for Talk Like a Pirate Day, including a Pirate Emporium sale and login gifts available from September 15 to September 20.
For the first time on a Sea of Thieves Community Day, reaching the top Community Emissary Grade will raise more Ancient Skeletons across the seas.
We’re thrilled to announce that Season Seven Community Day will be arriving on Sea of Thieves’ shores on September 17! As a Talk Like a Pirate Day special, this event is going even bigger on the rewards available across the weekend, with a stunning smorgasbord of in-game and out-of-game delights primed and ready for your pirating pleasure.
This latest Community Day will feature a generous Renown boost from the very beginning, speeding up your progress through Season Seven’s 100 levels of earnable rewards. But as with our very first Community Day, it’s gold and reputation that will be significantly boosted by our community tweet-along this time. That multiplier will be in your hands as all players work together to raise the Community Emissary Grade. Everyone using the #SeaofThievesCommunityDay Twitter hashtag from 10am UTC on the day will be contributing to that effort, with the maximum level of Community Emissary Grade Five offering a handy two-and-a-half times the amount of gold and reputation until the end of the event.
Not only that, but for the first time ever, Grade Five will unlock an increased spawn rate for Ancient Skeletons for the rest of the event! When smashed, these particular skeletons drop a random number of Ancient Coins that can be claimed by you and your crew. These can be spent in the Pirate Emporium, where the stock ranges from amazing ship sets and weapon collections to costumes, pets, and even emotes – so you won’t want to miss your chance to slash some of those high-value skellies on the day! Especially as our Pirate Emporium shopkeepers will also be slashing their prices for the occasion.
More Gifts and Goodies
From September 15 to September 20, players will be able to pick up a stunning array of celebratory fireworks from the Merchant Alliance – and even just logging in will earn you a free emote. The Arrrgh! Emote will go straight into the Vanity Chest of all sailors who play Sea of Thieves during the event period, and you’ll also find the Ranting Rogue Emote available to pick up for free when you visit the Pirate Emporium during that time. Perfect for all your Talking Like a Pirate needs.
Of course, Community Day brings a themed login bonus of its own, with the free Season Seven Community Day Flag ready to be hoisted high for September 17’s event. Our Rare merchandise store sale returns for Community Day too, with a Season Seven commemorative T-shirt and flag available to buy for a limited time over the weekend. And all you pirates who love real-world loot can use the discount code COMMUNITYDAY to get 30% off Sea of Thieves items!
With Community Day also comes a celebration of our amazing artists, players, creators and community MVPs – so as is customary, we’ll be scouring our channels and the #BeMorePirate hashtag for amazing Sea of Thieves stories from now until the end of the big day. Wow us with your creations and adventures this Community Day, and worthy winners will be awarded the Hat of Unfeasibly Glorious Fame! So if you think you or one of your crewmates deserves attention, as well as a particularly rare and fetching hat, you know what to do.
Twitch will also be getting in on the party, with the Gilded Phoenix Hull available via Twitch Drops between September 17 (10am UTC) and September 18 (10am UTC). Watch any participating streamer play Sea of Thieves for an hour to spruce up your ship with this glorious golden hull – and anyone can offer this Drop, not just Sea of Thieves Partners! Meanwhile, if you’d like to spend some time watching Sea of Thieves TV, we’ll be running an event stream of our own which puts you, the community, firmly in the driving seat of the broadcast. Tune in on the day to take control of our stream team as they venture out onto the Sea of Thieves and undertake a wild journey of your choosing…
While there’s a lot of gold and glory on offer, don’t forget: the real journey is the friends we make along the way to bagging big rewards. Community Day is the space in our calendar for coming together and celebrating everything that makes the Sea of Thieves so wonderful to sail upon – and that’s you, our players. We hope you can join us to share the love for the pirate’s life (and language!) over this special weekend, so mark your maps for Sea of Thieves Season Seven Community Day on September 17. We’ll see you on the seas!
Find Out More
For more information on Sea of Thieves’ regular updates, including full release notes, visit the Sea of Thieveswebsite. Updates are available for free to all Sea of Thieves players who have bought the game on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, Windows 10/11 PC or via Steam, or players who have access to it with Xbox Game Pass. Simply download and install the latest Sea of Thieves update to get access.
New to Sea of Thieves? Find out about the latest free content updates on our What’s New page, get familiar with Who’s Who or pick up some gameplay tips from our Pirate Academy, which provides invaluable information on topics ranging from sailing to swordplay as you prepare for your maiden voyage. Learn more aboutSea of Thieveshere, or join the ongoing adventure at www.seaofthieves.com where you can embark on an epic journey with one of gaming’s most welcoming communities!
Sea of Thieves
Microsoft Studios
☆☆☆☆☆1139
★★★★★
$39.99$31.99
Xbox One X Enhanced
PC Game Pass
Xbox Game Pass
Xbox Live Gold membership required to play on Xbox One; sold separately. ========= About the game
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. With no set roles, you have complete freedom to approach the world, and other players, however you choose. 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? A vast open world
Explore a vast open world filled with unspoiled islands, sunken ships and mysterious artefacts. Take on quests to hunt for lost treasure, seek out cursed Skeleton Captains or gather valuable cargo for the Trading Companies. Go hunting and fishing or choose from hundreds of optional goals and side-quests. Unforgettable stories
Play through the Tall Tales to experience Sea of Thieves’ unique take on a story-driven campaign. With 11 tales to play through across two epic storylines, these immersive and cinematic quests provide around 30 hours of the ultimate pirate fantasy. Become Legend On your journey to become a Pirate Legend you’ll amass loot, build a reputation and define a unique personal style with your hard-earned rewards. Adventurer. Explorer. Conqueror. What will your legend be? A game that’s always growing
With five major expansions and almost a year’s worth of monthly updates, Sea of Thieves is a service-based game that is continually growing and evolving. Check back each month to see what new content has been added.
Partnership will include collectible syrups and loyalty rewards inspired by Game Pass games
Today, Xbox announced a new and delicious partnership with IHOP to celebrate two things we love – a full menu and unlimited games.
Members of IHOP’s International Bank of Pancakes rewards program will now have more choice and value in how they redeem rewards with game offers, including a 1-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate trial, Forza Horizon 5 Premium Add-Ons Bundle, and full game download codes for Grounded.
IHOP is also rolling out limited-time Xbox-inspired meal combos, collectible syrup caddies and a restaurant pop-up event near Microsoft campus.
Xbox Menu Items:
Party Animals – Pancake Combo with 2 Cupcake Pancakes with pork sausage links, hash browns & 2 eggs over medium
Grounded – Big Brunch Steakburger with hickory-smoked bacon, fried egg, crispy potato pancake, American cheese and IHOP sauce. Served with a side of Buttermilk Pancakes
Forza Family Feast – Fuel your crew without having to hit pause with the exclusive Forza Family Feast. Enjoy 4 servings each of scrambled eggs and golden hash browns, 8 hickory-smoked bacon strips, 8 pork sausage links, and of course 8 world-famous buttermilk pancakes. Team up to take down this delicious feast today! Serves 4. Available for a limited time through IHOP ‘N Go only. Not available for dine-in.
Collectible Xbox Syrup Caddies: Xbox and IHOP have teamed up to create Iconic IHOP syrups with an Xbox twist. Held in a collectible caddy and bundled with a bright blue Xbox Wireless Controller to discover your next favorite Xbox Game Pass game anywhere. Stay tuned for details on how you can enter to win your very own through IHOP’s social channels.
Restaurant pop-up event: On Tuesday, September 13, fans in the Seattle area can stop by the IHOP at Bellevue Marketplace for the opportunity to grab a booth, a controller and grub while you game. The community can feel what it’s like to experience Xbox Game Pass and try the Xbox-inspired menu items in an IHOP restaurant.
Xbox will also be streaming live from this newly remodeled IHOP location on September 13. Tune in at Twitch.com/Xbox from 11am-12pm PST for a chance to win prizes including IHOP gift cards and PanCoins, which you can now earn from ordering delicious IHOP food and redeem for new offers, exclusive Xbox games, trials and more.
The limited-time Xbox menu is now available at participating IHOP restaurants nationwide through October 31. For more information or to find the nearest location, visit IHOP.com.
Xbox is excited to partner with IHOP in bringing Game Pass rewards to its rewards program, giving Xbox fans more ways to play and save at the International Bank of Pancakes.
