The Legend Of Glitterbeard was a feature added in Sea Of Thieves to commemorate the life of James "Jim" White, who passed away in March of 2020. White was a member of the development team at Rare, where he helped balance new features and troubleshoot issues. He had only just begun a career in the gaming industry.

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Rare and Microsoft Studios created a storyline in memory of Jim, who lost his life at such a young age. The larger than life Glitterbeard will exist in the world of Sea of Thieves forever, keeping Jim alive. Players should drop by for a visit and pay their respects by following the simple steps below.

How To Commemorate Glitterbeard

Glitterbeard Map

Pirates will need to travel to the Plunder Valley, where they will find the memorial. To complete the task, gamers will need 8 people in their party, as there are eight different spots that need to be filled. Heading to the location around sunset is a good way to find others that are there for a similar goal.

On the northwest side of the island, there will be a tree that has 16 bottles hanging from it. This is where all eight pirates will need to gather. As soon as the sun sets, all eight players will need to walk into one of the glowing circles and play a Becalmed Melody with the correct instrument. The proper order is as follows:

  • North/South Spot: Hurdy Gurdy
  • East/West Spot: Banjo
  • Southwest/Northeast Spot: Drum
  • Northwest/Southeast Spot: Accordion

The window to have the correct order and start playing the instruments is about 30 seconds after the sun fully sets. If the memorial is executed correctly, all 16 bottles will glow. Everyone should continue to play the song until the branches of the tree stop glowing. An image of Glitterbeard will appear on the rocks behind the tree for a brief moment. Next, a cave entrance will open right where the image popped up. Head inside the cave.

Glitterbeard's Hideout

sea-of-thieves-glitterbeard-header

Down the steps, players will find Rare's memorial for Jim. There is a flag of Glitterbeard, and even a portrait of the magnificent swashbuckler. Hopefully, pirates enjoy the experience of looking into the life of Jim.

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Many of the small details in the cave have meaning, so people will want to have a good look around Glitterbeard's cave to learn about his life and legacy. There's plenty to discover.

Glitterbeard's Journals

sea of thieves Glitterbeard

Rare have also included 22 different Glitterbeard journals, which are scattered across the map. Out of respect for Rare and their intentions with the tribute, only general locations will be included in this guide. Pirates should explore the world that Jim helped to create, and read the journals along the way.

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Players will have to read these journals in game, which include a unique perspective on life in the Sea of Thieves. Travel to the following locations and search for each of the listed journals. The final Glitterbeard journal is sitting in the cave in Plunder ValleyFind all of the journals, and pirates will receive some unique rewards.

  • On the beach in Smuggler's Bay
  • South of the tavern on the Sanctuary Outpost
  • In the tunnels on the Crescent Isle
  • Any tavern in Sea of Thieves
  • On the beach at the Golden Sands Outpost
  • On the rocks at Reaper's Hideout
  • Docks at Reaper's Hideout
  • The center of Old Faithful Isle
  • By the light posts on Dagger Tooth Outpost
  • On the west end of Galleon's Grave Outpost
  • Plunder Valley, where the water falls.
  • On the north end of Castaway Isle.
  • On the beach at the Plunder Outpost
  • Somewhere on Booty Isle
  • At a camp in Shark Bait Cove
  • On the west end of Discovery Ridge 
  • The spring on Paradise Spring
  • On the north end of Cutlass Cay
  • On the docks at Stephen's Spoils
  • At the highest point on Crook's Hollow
  • On the east end of Thieves' Haven

The Importance Of The Glitterbeard Commendation

This entire event is a testament to the team at Rare, who found a way to honor their own in one of the best ways possible. It is a truly beautiful thing to witness: pirates normally at odds have been putting their differences aside to show love for a complete stranger. At a time where gaming toxicity can be overwhelming, it's nice to see the community come together for a good cause.

The Glitterbeard Commendation begs the question, why do we not see this in all video games? For better or worse, games bring people together, and a lot of developers in the space should take notice. Hopefully, events like these foster a better relationship between the developers and their communities as a whole. Apart from the commendation, there is no loot or reward for completing the task. Thousands of people gathered together to complete the challenge, and the only reward was the experience. That's how it should be.

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