Ron Gilbert, Creator Of Monkey Island, Was "Unaware" Of The Series' Collaboration With Sea Of Thieves Until Shortly Before The Announcement

Guybrush Threepwood always did want to become a pirate.

In case you missed it, Sea of Thieves, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games, is bringing the world of Monkey Island to the swashbuckling game as a three-part Tall Tale expansion called The Legend of Monkey Island. The expansion, announced during the recent Xbox Games Showcase, will be released in monthly installments starting from July 20. Players will embark on a brand-new adventure featuring characters and voice actors from the Monkey Island series, including Guybrush Threepwood, Elaine, LeChuck, Murray the Demonic Talking Skull, and more.

The expansion allows players to freely explore Mêlée Island and Monkey Island, solving puzzles in a point-and-click style adapted for Sea of Thieves' first-person view. The story takes place in the Sea of the Damned, which is separate from the main setting of the base game.

As per Xbox Wire, the Sea of Thieves team are big fans of Monkey Island. They said the expansion captures the essence of both Monkey Island and Sea of Thieves, providing an immersive experience with in-depth dialogue, iconic puzzle gameplay, and the presence of beloved Monkey Island characters.

“The idea of what could a potential story be if Guybrush and Elaine found their way into the Sea of Thieves, that was something we thought about during the development of A Pirate’s Life.”

The Legend of Monkey Island adds new locations to Sea of Thieves, allowing players to explore classic areas while introducing new elements. They concluded that the collaboration aims to introduce new players to the Monkey Island franchise while providing an authentic and connected experience for existing fans.

“The double meaning of the ‘legend’ in The Legend of Monkey Island, refers to Guybrush’s “past stories”, and the adventure you will go on in this new Tall Tale in Sea of Thieves.”

That being said, excitement from the team and anticipation from the players aside, Ron Gilbert, the creator of Monkey Island, has revealed through Mastodon that he was not consulted or informed about the series' crossover with Sea of Thieves. The collaboration between Rare and Lucasfilm Games did not involve Terrible Toybox, his company. He directed the first two installments of the Monkey Island series and created the iconic characters being used in the crossover.

According to Gilbert, he "Wasn't even told about it," and the collaboration "Happened behind my back." Gilbert said, "It was all done without my knowledge or input.” While Gilbert was given a "heads-up" prior to the reveal, Gilbert wasn't given a chance to "meaningfully" contribute, but does wish the game well.