As one of the most popular anime and mangas of all time,One Pieceis no stranger to collaborations. From merchandise to films to video games and more,One Piecehas 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 thatOne Piecehas a chance to expandinto 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 withOne Piece, it proves that it might be time for the Straw Hats to make their way into a sports game.
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, theBoston Red Sox will host aOne PieceDayat the iconic Fenway Park on May 3.One Pieceand the Boston Red Sox had a successful collaboration last year, making this a return to the event. Sox fans that purchase tickets forOne PieceDay will receive a Red Sox xOne Piecejersey, 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, aOne PieceTCG demo, and meet-and-greets with several character mascots.
A collaborationbetween the Los Angeles Lakers andOne Piecewas 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 aOne PieceNight at their home, the Crypto.com arena. The LA Lakers xOne Piececollab will occur on February 28 as the Lakers face off against the Clippers.
Unlike the Red Sox collab, promoimages of the Straw Hats in Lakers gearwere 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, aOne Piece-themed photo booth, and variousOne Piece-themedprizes. 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. TheMaddenfranchise is obviouslyone of the more recognizable games in the genre, but there are also games likeMLB: The Showand varios NBA titles. WithOne Piececollaborations seemingly becoming a frequent part of American sports, perhaps the Straw Hat crew could make their way into a few of these titles.
Games likeMLB: The Show, theMaddenfranchise,and theNBA 2Kseriesall feature players from the respective sports leagues rather than new characters. Therefore, if aOne Piececollaboration happened with any of these titles, seeing new skins orOne 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 Piecehas also collaborated with the Los Angeles Rams. This gives the franchise the opportunity to crossover with all the aforementioned titles. TheseOne Pieceskins could be inspired by existing merch from collaborations with these sports teams, like a new Luffy jersey for LeBron James.
Whilea standaloneOne Piecesports gamewould 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, manyOne Piecefans would surely love to see Luffy and LeBron joining forces.
