Surrey Toucan’s Squawks Bring Life to Video Game Sounds
A toco toucan named Boy from Birdworld in Farnham, Surrey, has become the unlikely star of the popular action-adventure game Sea of Thieves. Developers from Xbox Game Studio Rare recorded Boy’s unique squawks to use in the game, giving players an authentic experience when interacting with the in-game pet toucan.
Katie Tarrant, senior sound designer at Xbox Game Studio Rare, shared how challenging it was to find authentic toucan sounds. “When we first envisioned adding a toucan as a pet in the game, I began researching reference videos and quickly realized how unique their sounds are,” she said. Surprisingly, no existing sound libraries included toucan calls, leading the team to Birdworld for help.
Musician Chloe Kwok mentioned that Boy was a bit shy at first but warmed up to the team over time. “At one point, he tried to eat the microphone, which was highly amusing. It was clear that Boy certainly had the personality that we were looking for,” she added.
Birdworld explained that toco toucans, the largest of their kind, are facing declining numbers due to habitat loss and trapping. The collaboration between Birdworld and the game developers highlights the importance of preserving these unique creatures.
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Looking to the future, Boy’s contribution could pave the way for more authentic animal sounds in video games, promoting awareness about wildlife conservation. As game developers continue to seek realistic and engaging experiences, collaborations like this could become more common, benefiting both the gaming industry and conservation efforts.