Musician Eddie Van Halen, lead guitarist for the band Van Halen, died from complications due to cancer on Tuesday, October 6, according to TMZ. He first confirmed his cancer diagnosis in 2001, according to Billboard, and his passing has no doubt had a huge effect on many fans of the American rock band. Those fans can be counted all over the world, as evidenced by British game development studio Rare releasing a tribute to the musician in the style of Sea of Thieves.
Rare released a video on Twitter Thursday that takes Van Halen's 1983 classic "Jump" and turns it into a pirate sea shanty against a sunset, complete with vocals sung by the kind of gruff voice one might expect from the captain of an old-timey oceanic vessel. The Sea of Thieves developer said Van Halen had a "huge influence on many members of the Rare family," and will continue to do so through his talent and "fun-loving spirit" for years to come.
Tributes to the musical artist have come from other fixtures of popular culture beyond Rare, as Van Halen's influence can still be seen by the usage of songs like "Jump" in modern-day film and television productions. Bill & Ted series writer Ed Solomon talked about Van Halen on Twitter shortly after the news broke, saying the original film's director Stephen Herek wanted Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure to be "a cinematic 'Jump.'"
Utilizing the style of Rare's multiplayer pirate-themed experience for this tribute is particularly resonant given Sea of Thieves' ongoing charity fundraiser for cancer research. Players can purchase an item called the Sails of Union, which changes based on time of day, until November 6, with all proceeds going to the charity Stand Up to Cancer.
Rare has been consistently updating Sea of Thieves since it released in 2018, even as development on other games like its upcoming Everwild continue in the background. Last month's Vaults of the Ancients update added new content like pet dogs and a Black Market to explore.
While classic American rock and sea shanties are probably not what most fans of music would assume is a great combination, Rare's tribute to Van Halen is well put together, making it worth listening to. It's just one example in a long line of video game developers and players creating tributes to those who have passed away using the interactive medium over the years.
Sea of Thieves is available now on PC, Xbox Game Pass, and Xbox One.