Windrose, the pirate survival game that made a big splash during the most recent Steam Next Fest and is one of the most anticipated titles on the platform with over 1.5 million wishlists, is releasing soon. Very soon.
As revealed during the recent Triple-I Initiative showcase, the co-op pirate adventure will sail into Steam Early Access on April 14, just four days from now. That’s extremely soon for a game whose developer Windrose Crew in February stated it wasn’t ready to reveal a release date and instead wanted to “ship the game on time in the best condition possible.”
That is, however, good news for those who played Windrose’s Steam demo (which is still available) and couldn’t get enough. For anyone looking to scratch that Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag (seemingly confirmed to be a remake or remaster soon) itch, Windrose is definitely worth paying attention to. The game is fully playable in co-op with up to four players, features ship combat, hirable crews, base building, unique dungeons, and more.
According to the game’s Steam Early Access FAQ, Windrose Crew estimates it will take about one-and-a-half to two-and-a-half years of work to reach the “full release” version of Windrose. In that time Windrose will receive around 50% more content in the form of additional biomes, bosses, ships, loot and more story to finish the game’s “epic adventure with a satisfying finale.” The game’s price will increase once the game is fully released, the developer states. It will launch for $30, with a $40 Supporter Bundle that includes the soundtrack and wallpapers.
What players are getting in early access is already plenty to chew on. Windrose Crew estimates the game’s main story to take around 50-70 hours to complete, with three different biomes scattered across 30 procedurally generated islands and three playable ship types. Progression and loot is fully in place, as is the game’s building system, allowing players to craft bases from several different building styles. Factions are also present in early access, allowing players to take on faction quests, gain reputation, and barter with various groups.
“While we do have a general plan of the future biomes, bosses, and story arcs, player feedback will be crucial to determine what content and aspects of the game we need to focus on,” Windrose crew states. “We are determined to listen carefully and work hard to make this journey exciting for everyone.”