As one of the most popular anime and mangas of all time, One Piece is no stranger to collaborations. From merchandise to films to video games and more, One Piece has invaded almost every type of media to date. The latest collaboration for the Straw Hat pirates is a journey they’ve embarked on before, but the continuation of this kind of collaboration opens the door for further endeavors with the companies in question.
Saying that One Piece has a chance to expand into a new genre of video game based solely on a single collaboration would be a stretch not even Luffy would be capable of. But after two separate announcements from two different sports teams announcing practically back-to-back collaborations with One Piece, it proves that it might be time for the Straw Hats to make their way into a sports game.
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The Straw Hat Pirates Join the Big Leagues
The first recent sports collaboration announcement of 2025 came courtesy of the Boston Red Sox. Announced on February 19, the Boston Red Sox will host a One Piece Day at the iconic Fenway Park on May 3. One Piece and the Boston Red Sox had a successful collaboration last year, making this a return to the event. Sox fans that purchase tickets for One Piece Day will receive a Red Sox x One Piece jersey, though sizing is limited. Loyal fans can purchase either regular or VIP tickets, with VIP ticket holders also receiving a hat. Activities will be held during the event, such as a cosplay meetup, a One Piece TCG demo, and meet-and-greets with several character mascots.
A collaboration between the Los Angeles Lakers and One Piece was first announced back in mid-December of 2024, but further details and promotional material were revealed on February 24. Like the Boston Red Sox collaboration, the Los Angeles Lakers will be hosting a One Piece Night at their home, the Crypto.com arena. The LA Lakers x One Piece collab will occur on February 28 as the Lakers face off against the Clippers.
Unlike the Red Sox collab, promo images of the Straw Hats in Lakers gear were revealed in celebration of the event. Other activities will occur during the game, including the debut of a new animated short of Luffy and the other Straw Hats playing basketball, a One Piece-themed photo booth, and various One Piece-themed prizes. Merchandise, like shirts featuring the Straw Hats in their Lakers gear, will also be available.
One Piece Could Collaborate with Iconic Sports Video Games
Video games for major US sports exist. The Madden franchise is obviously one of the more recognizable games in the genre, but there are also games like MLB: The Show and varios NBA titles. With One Piece collaborations seemingly becoming a frequent part of American sports, perhaps the Straw Hat crew could make their way into a few of these titles.
Games like MLB: The Show, the Madden franchise, and the NBA 2K series all feature players from the respective sports leagues rather than new characters. Therefore, if a One Piece collaboration happened with any of these titles, seeing new skins or One Piece-themed items would be more likely than the Straw Hat crew joining a character roster. In addition to the Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Lakers, One Piece has also collaborated with the Los Angeles Rams. This gives the franchise the opportunity to crossover with all the aforementioned titles. These One Piece skins could be inspired by existing merch from collaborations with these sports teams, like a new Luffy jersey for LeBron James.
While a standalone One Piece sports game would be a title fans would definitely be excited about, the franchise’s consistent collaboration with American sports teams lends itself perfectly to collaborations with existing video game titles inspired by those leagues. After all, many One Piece fans would surely love to see Luffy and LeBron joining forces.
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