Sea of Thievesmade a surprising appearance during Xbox’s E3 2021 showcase. During the show, Rare’s iconic pirate game announced A Pirate’s Life - a sprawling pirate story split across five separate Tall Tales in the game. A tense and atmospheric narration was quickly interrupted by the unmistakable drawl of one Captain Jack Sparrow. Sparrow was not the onlyPirates of the Caribbeancharacter seen in the trailer, with the iconic Davy Jones crashing into theSea of Thieveson the formidable Flying Dutchman. This crossover is a match made in heaven, Jack Sparrow fits perfectly within the goofy, bombastic tone of Rare’s pirate adventure game.
As is custom with the infamous Captain, a stolen artifact has plunged the seven seas into certain doom. With the Captain’s help, players have to combat Davy Jones and his massive horde of ghost ships, stopping the entire world from sinking into shadow. Sparrow’s unremitting humor makes him the ideal crossover character for the game in A Pirate’s Life. His blend of drunken wit and swaying, expressive movement mean he fits seamlessly into the cast of cartoonish corsairs already inSea of Thieves. Although there is a wealth of pirate protagonists that the game could crossover with, Captain Jack is undoubtedly the best choice.
RELATED:Skull and Bones, Sea of Thieves, and The Future of Pirate Games
What Is The Jack Sparrow Sea Of Thieves Expansion?
Releasing on June 22 for free on Xbox and PC,A Pirate’s Lifespans over five different Tall Tales in the game. A Tall Tale is a story voyage that players can embark on alone, or with co-op partners. These adventures begin at specific parts of the map, and often serve as part of a wider story. Five different Tall Tales for one story is a whopping number, matched only by the amount of new enemies, ships, and locations apparently on offer in the expansion. It looks like at least part of the expansion takes place in the Sea of the Damned, tying the adventure directly to the rich lore ofSea of Thieves.
In fact, this is not the first timeSea of Thieveshas delved into the Sea of the Damned. The 2020Fate of The Damned updatefor the game featured hordes of enemies from the Sea of the Damned. It looks like Davy Jones might well join those threats in this latest expansion, in his endless pursuit of the notorious Captain Jack.Sea of Thievesis no stranger to wave mechanics in combat encounters, but this E3 trailer showed off a monumentally huge fleet under the command of Davy Jones. Hopefully players get a change to tangle with the undead octopus captain, and Jack Sparrow is the perfect companion for such an event.
Why Jack Sparrow Is So Perfect for Sea Of Thieves
AsSea of Thievesis already comedic, Sparrow is an easy addition. In fact,Sea of Thieveslooks like a much more cartoony version ofPirates of theCaribbean.Both settings are rich with rival pirate factions, hungry sea monsters, and vicious skeleton crews. However, without Captain Jack Sparrow,Pirates of theCaribbeanwould be far too self-serious to cross over with the jauntySea of Thieves. In the original film, Sparrow even moves like aSea of Thievescharacter. The spring in his step, slapstick comedy, and expressive hand gestures essentially make him a walking emote. It is honestly surprising that the character has not appeared in the game already.
In a way, Sparrow’s long list of pirate escapades make him like aSea of Thievesplayer. Throughout his pirate career, Sparrow has stolen a magical compass, commandeered a ship, been bested by other more aggressive pirates, got lost among mysterious islands, visited Davy Jones' locker, and died to a kraken. MostSea of Thievesplayers boast a similar resume. Not only does Jack Sparrow embody the day-to-day of pirates inSea of Thieves, he carries out all of his adventures with the same wit and charm that enrapturedover 20 millionSea of Thievesplayers.
What Other Pirates Would Work in Sea of Thieves?
Captain Jack is undeniably a better fit forSea of Thieves. A sense of wonder, joy, and incredible camp lies at the heart of the swashbuckling simulator. Each memorable voyage shines that little bit brighter thanks toSea of Thieves' weird bananasand grog-chugging mechanics. Although Jack Sparrow is arguably the best choice for a crossover, there are still other movie swashbucklers that have great crossover potential.
Although David Tennant’s video game credits pale in comparison to his film and TV appearances, his voice does crop up in the occasional title. For example, he playsJust Cause 3’s propaganda minister. His voice also gave life to Charles Darwin in the movieThe Pirates! In an Adventure with Scientists!Like Jack Sparrow, the pirates in this animated feature are incredibly silly, charismatic, and full of manic energy. The claymation in the film would also suit itself well toSea of Thieves’cartoony visuals.
After aPirates of the Caribbeancrossover like this, andSea of Thieves' redemption story, anything is possible for the game. Many fans will undoubtedly be echoing the words of Captain Jack after that trailer: “Bring me the horizon.”
Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Lifewill release June 01, 2025, on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:E3 2021 - Schedule, Where To Watch, Everything Announced, & More
