There’s a lot to be excited about with the forthcoming release ofSea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life. The crossover between the popular online adventuring game and Disney’sPirates of the Caribbeanwas one of the most unexpected reveals of the Microsoft and Bethesda 2021 E3 showcase – not much was actually said in the original trailer, but more information about the game’s mechanics, story, and characters was unveiled during a specialSea of Thievesstream the following Sunday.
During a preview with creative director Mike Chapman in the days before, Game Rant learned about how Captain Jack Sparrowwill function inSea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Life. He’s most easily described as an AI crewmate who will join the player as an adventurer, explorer, and ally in combat against other ships. He has the ability to load and fire cannons, he will comment onSea of Thievesisland names as the player looks over the map, and he will disembark for land-based exploration when necessary.
RELATED:Sea of Thieves Dev Considered Vampires, Dinosaurs Before Pirates
The inclusion of a companion-like NPC inSea of Thieveshas been requested for a long time by solo players. Although the player will have to go through the first Tall Tale to get Jack onto the ship, he will stay throughout the duration ofA Pirate’s Lifeas a member of the crew. During the preview, Chapman told Game Rant that the team “paid special consideration to solo players"and mentioned inventory managementand sailing as key things the team kept in mind.
The inclusion of Captain Jack Sparrow as an AI crewmate makes getting around the Sea of Thieves much easier for solo players. Solo players can maneuver and outrun a ship belonging to a larger crew, but it’s still a hassle to have to manage everything on one’s own. While players will benefit from having Sparrow on board, they can also choose to go at it truly alone andreturn to theSea of Thieves:A Pirate’s LifeTall Tales at any point in their playthrough, thereby giving them the option to bring him back as an ally.
The design of Captain Jack Sparrow inSea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Lifewas central to the team at Rare. For authenticity, they brought in Jared Butler for Sparrow’s voice, who was the character’s voice actor inKingdom Hearts III. They also brought in a stunt double from thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies to re-enact Johnny Depp’s iconic mannerisms. Chapman told Game Rant that the stunt double acted in full make-up and captured the character “right down to the mannerisms… and the facial expressions.”
Captain Jack Sparrow won’t be the only familiar face from thePirates of the Caribbeanseries, though. Davy Jones will serve as the major antagonist of the Tall Tales, and Sparrow’s first mate Gibbs will make an appearance too. Chapman hinted vaguely at theinclusion of other iconic heroesand villains of thePiratesfranchise during the preview with Game Rant, but confirmed that players will also see members of the crew of the Black Pearl during the expansion, too.
Sea of Thieves: A Pirate’s Lifewill launch July 07, 2025 on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
