Windrose has only been sailing for a few weeks, but the pirate-themed early access title is already making waves—and its developer, Kraken Express, is now asking players for a bit of patience as they chart a course toward the game’s first major update, which won’t arrive for another six months.
Since launching on Steam, Windrose has found a solid audience, proving that the appetite for swashbuckling sandboxes is still strong. But as with any early access game, the community is already hungry for More—more islands, more ships, more loot. Kraken Express hears the call, but they’re taking the long view.
“We’re committed to delivering a meaningful update, not just a quick patch. That takes time.”
To tide players over, the studio has outlined what’s coming in the next big patch, expected around October 2026:
- New ship types and customization options
- Expanded map regions with fresh biomes
- Additional NPC factions and quest lines
- Performance optimizations and bug fixes
What does this mean for players right now? If you’re already aboard Windrose, expect a quieter horizon for the next few months. The devs are deliberately avoiding a rapid-fire content drip, aiming instead for a substantial overhaul that reshapes the core experience. For those on the fence, this six-month wait might be a good time to jump in and explore the current build before the big changes land.
In a landscape where early access games often burn out with rushed updates, Kraken Express is betting that slow and steady wins the race. Whether that bet pays off depends on how well they can keep the community engaged through the lull.
