Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life features the game’s first major crossover with another high-profile pirate franchise. Players can sail the seven seas with characters from the Pirates of the Caribbean and explore brand new locations to defend the pirate’s way of life. This new season is full of cameos, references, and homages from Pirates of the Caribbean that enhance gameplay and create countless moments of nostalgic enjoyment for fans of both franchises.
The Pirates of the Caribbean crossover in Sea of Thieves features five new Tall Tales given by the Castaway, who is herself a reference to the film franchise (as she is later revealed to be Tia Dalma, aka Calypso). She is the NPC that allows players to access the new in-game location, the Sea of the Damned, where a majority of the crossover occurs. Upon venturing into these murky oceans, players will come face to face with some familiar scenes from Pirates of the Caribbean.
Upon accepting the first Tall Tale (aptly named “A Pirate’s Life”) and entering the Sea of the Damned, players will be graced with a familiar scene from the Pirates of the Caribbean movies. Surrounding the crew’s ship will be a collection of rowboats inhabited by deceased sailors and guided only by the lanterns on their small vessels and the ominous lighthouse in the distance. This cutscene mirrors a similarly haunting scene in Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End, where the crew of the Black Pearl witnesses the result of Davy Jones’ abandonment of the souls that passed away at sea. Within Sea of Thieves, this cutscene of lost souls works as a Pirates of the Caribbean homage and a narrative tool. Davy Jones is placed front and center as a major antagonist in Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life and the wandering souls foreshadow his imminent arrival.
Sea of Thieves Lets Players Sail With Captain Jack Sparrow
Shortly after witnessing the lost souls in the rowboats, players will explore a location called Dead Man’s Grotto, which holds a slew of callbacks and cameos to the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and movies. While navigating the Grotto, dialogue (and a set path) pulled directly from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney’s amusement parks echoes the familiar quote, “Dead Men Tell No Tales”. This cry continues throughout the tunnels as players solve puzzles and make their way further through the dungeon. Deeper within Dead Man’s Grotto, there is also a reference to the Curse of the Black Pearl film. A trio of pirates will be encountered atop a pile of gold, conversing about the cursed treasure. In Curse of the Black Pearl, the crew has been cursed to an undead life after stealing and trading away cursed Aztec gold.
Perhaps the biggest highlight of A Pirate’s Life is working alongside the infamous Captain Jack Sparrow. After taking the Castaway’s quests, players will stow away on the Ferry of the Damned, where Jack Sparrow is being kept prisoner with a special prize. Mirroring the desperate attempts of prisoners in Port Royal and the Pirates of the Caribbean Disneyland ride, Jack Sparrow can be seen and heard attempting to lure the Prison Dog with the keys closer to his cell. Upon approaching his cell, Jack will try to make a competition out of whoever can coerce the mutt closer. As a bonus, players will also be able to pet the Prison Dog and let him know what a very good dog he is.
Sea of Thieves’ silent protagonist is rarely noticed upon encountering Jack Sparrow for the first time, as his charming personality needs no support to carry a scene. His appearance also begins to piece together some of the mysteries of the Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life story, as he reveals the treasure that made this entire crossover possible. While interacting with Jack Sparrow personally is an exciting experience, seeing him interact with the Ferryman is a pivotal moment of realization. One of the biggest names in pirate films, bargaining and toying with one of the most significant figures in Sea of Thieves, is the exact moment players understand just how deep this crossover runs.
Sea of Thieves Makes Davy Jones The Newest Scourge Of The Sea
Following the Ferry of the Damned jailbreak, Sea of Thieves’ Season 3 story lunges straight into the action. After a brief warning from the Ferryman that is ultimately cut short, Jack’s saviors will be faced with one of the biggest new threats in the game. Erupting from the depths with terrifying malice, Davy Jones’ Flying Dutchman will pursue the Ferry across the Sea of the Damned. Working alongside Jack Sparrow to return fire, this intense bout of combat does well in reminding players just how small they are. Davy Jones’ signature entrance from beneath the waves has been used several times in films like Dead Man’s Chest and At World’s End, which saw Jones occupying primary antagonist roles.
A Pirates crossover with Sea of Thieves would be incomplete without an appearance from the most famous ship within the franchise: the Black Pearl. A constant companion to Captain Jack Sparrow, the Black Pearl is often recognized by her black sails. In an attempt to reclaim Jack Sparrow from the depths after his fateful tumble overboard, players are tasked by the Castaway to free the ship from her underwater prison. Guarded by vicious Sirens and Ocean Crawlers, several puzzles must be solved and many enemies must be defeated to free the ship from the depths. Players will also be able to purchase the Black Pearl as a cosmetic item from the Pirate Emporium (Sea of Thieves‘ in-game store) to serve as a constant reminder of the game’s crossover. Unfortunately, the Black Pearl‘s cosmetic is not unlockable by simply completing story missions.
The Pirates of the Caribbean crossover with Sea of Thieves has been a riveting success in combining the charm of the film franchise and the gameplay mechanics of the open-world pirate game. The combination of film references, character cameos, and callbacks within Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life‘s Tall Tales make for an enjoyable campaign of thrilling nostalgia. Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life is available now for all owners of the game and Xbox Game Pass members.
