Windrose
News, coverage and analysis tracking Windrose across the outlets.
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Betawatch: Monsters & Memories plunges testers into The Deep, Loftia begins pre-registrations, and ArcheAge S is on its way next year
Several MMORPGs are entering new testing phases or preparing for launch. Monsters & Memories is plunging testers into 'The Deep' ahead of its early access, while Loftia has begun pre-registrations. ArcheAge S is slated for a Q2 2027 release, with gameplay previews coming soon. Legends of Aria Eternal and Valheim have officially launched, while Pantheon: Rise of the Fallen has experienced layoffs.
Steam gamers have spoken: innovative indies like Palworld continue to thrive while traditional triple-A flounders for a foothold
PC gaming on Steam in 2026 shows a strong trend of innovative indie titles like Palworld thriving, while traditional AAA games struggle to gain traction. Despite industry layoffs, unique projects from smaller teams are resonating with players, contrasting with the performance of recent AAA releases such as Halo: Campaign Evolved and Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced.
Betawatch: Stars Reach sets course for early access, EverQuest Legends successfully launches
Stars Reach has announced its paid early access will begin on August 18th, while EverQuest Legends has officially launched. The article also provides updates on Guild Wars 3's music, Cinder City's pre-alpha testing, and Reaper Actual's free weekend, alongside a comprehensive list of games currently in various stages of testing and early access.
Aream & Co: Gaming M&A hits $2.3bn in Q2, highest level since 2022
Gaming mergers and acquisitions reached $2.3 billion in Q2 2026, marking the highest level since 2022, according to Aream & Co. Mid-market acquisitions, particularly in PC and mobile gaming, drove this growth. Despite a decline in mobile installs and spending, PC gaming saw a 13% increase, and Nintendo reported significant revenue gains from its Switch 2 hardware and software.
Ever since Black Flag Resynced's reveal 3 months ago, I've daydreamed about setting sail and these 6 games are letting me live out my best pirate life
This article highlights six pirate-themed games available now, with Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced serving as a major inspiration. The list includes classics like The Secret of Monkey Island: Special Edition and Sid Meier's Pirates!, alongside modern titles such as Sea of Thieves, Windrose, and Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, catering to various platforms and playstyles.
Windrose teases the new biome, improved ship gameplay, and wind mechanics coming in Ashlands
Developers Pocketpair and Kraken Express have teased details about the upcoming Ashlands update for Windrose, the game's first major content addition. The update will introduce a new biome called Ashlands, featuring new enemies, items, resources, and a challenging boss, alongside improved ship gameplay and wind mechanics. The developers also mentioned plans for new factions, updated costumes, and building expansions, with longer-term plans still being finalized based on player feedback.
Get ready to set sail with these 6 games to play before Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced
This article recommends six games to play before the release of Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced on July 9. The list includes titles like Windrose, Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age, Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, Sea of Thieves, Assassin's Creed Odyssey, and Assassin's Creed 3 Remastered, all of which feature pirate themes, naval combat, or connections to the Assassin's Creed universe.
Windrose’s first major update is taking players to the Ashlands – we just don’t know when
Developer Kraken Express has outlined the first major content update for its early access pirate game, Windrose, which will introduce a new biome called the Ashlands. This update aims to significantly expand the game's story and side quests, adding new islands, enemies, items, resources, recipes, and a major boss encounter. While a release window has not been announced, the Ashlands update will also focus on enhancing naval gameplay with new ship classes and improved AI, alongside base building expansions and increased faction activity.
Windrose's new Ashlands biome will expand your pirate escapades "significantly in scope"
Kraken Express announced that the first major update for its pirate survival game Windrose will introduce the Ashlands biome. This expansion will significantly increase the scope of the main story and side quests, adding new factions, enemies, items, and a new boss. The developer is also exploring new ship classes, improved ship combat, AI enhancements, and expanded base building options.
Windrose might get wind
Developer Kraken Express is considering adding a wind system to its pirate survival game, Windrose, in a future update. This potential change comes after player feedback, though the studio emphasizes that the system will be designed to remain fun and simple, avoiding overly hardcore simulation aspects. The update will also introduce a new biome called the Ashlands, new ship classes, and improved NPC ship behavior.
Palworld lead says there's no "bad blood" between rival survival games like Valheim and Rust: "We all get along really well because we all have something in common!"
Pocketpair's John Buckley stated that there is no rivalry between survival game developers, emphasizing that they all share a common passion for the genre. This sentiment is highlighted by the "Super Survival Summer" bundle on Steam, featuring Palworld, Valheim, Rust, and other titles at a discounted price. Buckley also shared his personal involvement in curating the bundle as a side project.
The best MMO and multiplayer deals from Steam’s 2026 summer sale and beyond
Steam's 2026 Summer Sale is offering significant discounts on a wide variety of MMO and multiplayer titles, including bundles and individual game sales. Notable deals include discounts on Palworld, Guild Wars 2, Dune Awakening, Destiny 2 DLC, Elder Scrolls Online, and many more, with prices slashed across numerous genres and publishers.
"We're going to see more hit games coming from publishers you've never heard of" – Pocketpair and the indie publishing revolution
John Buckley, head of publishing at Palworld creator Pocketpair, argues that traditional publishers are out of touch with the current industry, offering outdated deals. Pocketpair Publishing, established after Palworld's success, aims to offer more favorable terms to developers, focusing on marketing and support without ownership of intellectual property. Despite ongoing legal battles with Nintendo over alleged similarities to Pokémon, Pocketpair remains committed to its survival crafting genre and expanding the Palworld IP with spin-offs.
"Indie titles now routinely produce launches with AAA-level concurrent player counts" – How to prepare in case of viral success
Nitrado CEO Raphael Stange highlights a growing trend of indie games achieving AAA-level concurrent player counts, citing successes like Windrose and Palworld. He emphasizes the critical need for independent developers to proactively plan robust server infrastructure, particularly hybrid models combining bare metal and cloud capacity, to handle unexpected viral success and avoid damaging community trust at launch.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream was April 2026's best-selling game in the US
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream was the best-selling game in the US in April 2026, generating over $41 million. Pragmata and Crimson Desert followed in second and third place, respectively. The report also noted growth in console and subscription spending, with Fortnite leading in monthly players.
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream is 2026's top new release by revenue to date | Newzoo charts
Tomodachi Life: Living the Dream topped Newzoo's revenue charts for new releases in 2026 and overall console revenue in April, attributed to Nintendo's install base. New titles like Pragmata and Windrose also saw strong debuts, though displacing established live-service games remains challenging.
Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced devs aren't worried about pirate games like Sea of Thieves and Windrose, because Ubisoft offers a "unique mixture" others don't
Ubisoft's Richard Knight believes Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced offers a unique blend of pirate and assassin gameplay that sets it apart from other titles like Sea of Thieves and Windrose. He highlights the narrative focus on protagonist Edward Kenway's journey as a key differentiator. The game is set to release on July 9.
How to get a shovel - Windrose
This guide explains how to craft a shovel in Windrose, a tool essential for digging up treasure and terraforming the game's environment. Acquiring a shovel is presented as a key step for players to engage with these mechanics.
The MOP Up: Conan Exiles Enhanced has saddles to dye for
This week's MOP Up covers several MMO updates, including saddle dyeing for Conan Exiles, new titles in RIFT, and a dungeon difficulty system for TERA Console. Sea of Thieves' new mode has developer concerns, while War Thunder saw over 1.3 million players during an event. Other news includes updates for World War II Online, DC Universe Online, Fortnite Zero Build, RavenQuest, Myth of Empires: Throne, Fallout 76, MU Pocket Knights, BitCraft, and No Man's Sky.
Does Windrose have multiplayer?
This article addresses player inquiries about the multiplayer capabilities of the game Windrose. It aims to clarify whether friends can play together in the game.