I remember the first time the sea whispered a familiar name to me. It was July 2018, and I was sailing my sloop through the Sunken Grove when I spotted it: a figurehead that looked like a bear and a bird, carved with just enough mischief to make me grin. In 2026, that memory still feels like a warm mug of grog on a cold night. Back then, Rare was celebrating twenty years of Banjo-Kazooie, and they did it inside Sea of Thieves. Not with a loud parade, but with a quiet, perfect nod: the Bird and Bear Figurehead.

If you are a gamer of a certain age, thinking about Banjo-Kazooie turning twenty might make your knees creak. But let us be glad Rare marked the occasion. Sea of Thieves has been tossed around in the foamy brine of gamer opinion since release. A console exclusive for Xbox One, an incredible concept—open world pirate PvP against other crews, what is not to like?—it garnered plenty of interest before launch. Sadly, it was tainted by a lack of launch content and some questionable decisions on Rare's part. Still, much like Pokémon Go, the game has been privy to nice updates, with more to come, as teased at that year's E3. And speaking of questionable decisions, the Bird and Bear tribute was definitely not one of them. Happy birthday, Banjo-Kazooie.

1998 was a fantastic year for gaming. Pokémon Red and Blue, Metal Gear Solid, Resident Evil 2, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and all manner of other iconic titles were released. Banjo-Kazooie, Rare's classic N64 platformer, also touched down that year. Gaming's most beloved bear and bird platforming duo—not that they had much competition—was unleashed on the world. The first outing for the duo is still renowned as one of the best titles for the system. So it was only right that Rare throw a little tribute into Sea of Thieves.

The item, known in-game as the Bird and Bear Figurehead, was available only for a limited time. It does not technically depict Banjo and Kazooie, but we all know who it honors. It was available at all outposts via the shipwright throughout July. How much did it cost? That is right, 1,998 gold. It is not subtle, but we can support it nonetheless.

The game's recent update also offered bug fixes and a couple of other super-minor enhancements, such as ships rocking under cannonball impact. Banjo-Kazooie fans wanted to hop back on board. And honestly? I did. No joke, I set a course just to stare at that figurehead while the wind teased my sails. My sloop groaned like an old dog as I turned into the wind, and I felt like a kid again, clutching an N64 controller.

I spent that July hunting skeleton ships and chasing storms, but the real treasure was the quiet moment when I would drop anchor and just look at the bow. The bear seemed to be smiling. The bird looked ready to spit eggs at anyone who dared board me. That figurehead did not give me better stats. It did not make my cannons hit harder. It gave me a story. It gave me a reason to remember why I fell in love with games in the first place.

Now, in 2026, Sea of Thieves is still sailing, and I am still chasing that feeling. The Bird and Bear Figurehead is long gone from the shipwright's shop, but the memory remains. You know what I mean? Some crossovers are just marketing. This one felt like a handshake across decades. The sea has a memory, and she does not let go. Neither do I. If you missed it back then, well, that ship has sailed. But the story of Banjo and Kazooie? That one keeps floating back to the surface, one gold coin at a time.