If you have gone over the seas for just five minutes, you may think that this book is nothing but heavy with some crazy concept art and lore deep-dives. Definitely a book that you will want on your shelf display right at the top of the coffee table, right? Of course, to be a part of it all you have to do is answer their bombastic post on social media and let them know the name of your most favorite Trinket that you used in the game. One lucky winner will be chosen tomorrow at 6 PM UTC. So easy!
Back again to the giveaway. It’s the universal social media engagement tactic but they still offer the prize which is surprisingly appealing. It’s not like a digital code for a new cosmetic that you would forget in a week. This is an actual, physical art book. And that’s definitely a piece for a collector who wants to be right inside the pirate life. The tweet takes you to a post where the image of the book cover is shown, this just draws you in even more; it makes you want to have it.
Now, the task is to identify your favorite Trinket. This is where the real game is, isn’t it? It makes you think and put some effort in considering the small details in the game. Sea of Thieves is really packed with these small, movable items that can be used to beautify your ship or your hideout. Some players go for the functional ones, maybe the Compass or Hourglass, while others just want the style, like the glittering Chalice or the ghostly Skull of the Damned. Choosing one will surely ignite hot debates in the comments section, you can bank on it! It’s a very clever tactic to keep players think back and talk about their adventurous explorations.
Not to mention, the fact that they are doing it on different platforms—Twitter, probably Instagram, maybe their own forums—means they are reaching a wide audience. More entries equal more excitement. A wise move from the community team. It’s a “low-effort ask for players with a high-value reward” scenario. Such giveaways are the lifeline of a live-service game to keep the community warm and engaged between the major content updates, especially when one talks about Sea of Thieves players who are always waiting for the next big thing; thus, a little distraction from this scenario is like a breathe of fresh air.
They don’t seem to impose any conditions like asking for a follow, tagging a friend, etc., which is a bit surprising. It’s just… respond with your Trinket. That’s all. It looks quite simple and straightforward in a time when giveaways normally require you to meet a dozen criteria. Generating more authentic engagement could be their reliance on simplicity. Or perhaps, the social media manager just wanted an easy day. It could be both!
Another thing is the timing of the announcement. The lovely sense of urgency is created by the “tomorrow” deadline attached to the announcement. You read the tweet and have to respond right away; you can’t just save it for later and risk forgetting it. It becomes a 24-hour period of pirate fans shouting their favorite trinkets into the void. Well, one person will be declared the winner while others will get a little moment of community interaction, and Rare will be getting a lot of user-generated content about certain in-game items. Good deal for everyone, even for those who do not manage to get the book.
This is indirectly pointing out the embellishment potential of the game. Players are reminded that with the highly customizable Trinket system, which usually gets overshadowed by action-packed pirate battles or treasure hunts, they can show their creativity. They are subtly and gently nudged towards an aspect of the game that is fun and promoting the feeling of ownership of the game. What if your ship is not just a means of transport but a floating gallery of your treasures and the Trinkets are the artworks?
Therefore, if you are a pirate who has not logged on for a while, this giveaway could be the one that brings you back. You will be going through the replies and seeing all the Trinkets mentioned and before you know it, you will feel the urge to go sailing just to see your collection. Or to find that elusive Trinket that you are still missing. Do you see what I mean? It’s community management 101 but in a chic way.
In conclusion, it’s a nice little moment for the Sea of Thieves community. It’s a free chance to get a nice piece of merch and a reason for everyone to share their love for the game on platforms like PlayStation and Xbox.
