Windrose: Ashlands Update Reveal and Ship Customisation Overhaul
Windrose has revealed Ashlands, its first major update since launching into Early Access, with a release window of this winter. The reveal came through a trailer premiered during the Triple-i Initiative and the team has promised regular updates sharing what’s coming between now and launch.
Today’s first deep dive focuses on ships, and there is a lot to unpack.
Why the Ship System is Being Rebuilt
The current system allows faction specific ship variants for the Brethren of the Coast and Blackbeard’s Crew, but the developers have been upfront about its limitations. Faction hulls and sails took up most of the available visual variation, leaving little room for personal expression. Some exterior elements were also tied to specific faction variants, meaning changing your ship’s look often forced a faction switch entirely.
With more factions in the game than just two, scaling the old system further would have multiplied the development workload significantly while still delivering surprisingly limited freedom. So they’re scrapping it and starting fresh.
What’s Changing
Faction specific ship variants are going away entirely. Instead you’ll choose a ship class and access the full pool of customisation options for that class, with no predefined faction versions locking you into a particular look.
Exterior customisation is getting broader, with visual options that were previously faction locked moving into a wider system alongside new elements still to be revealed. The goal is more freedom to mix and match rather than working within predefined combinations.
For anyone who already owns faction specific ships, the developers have confirmed you won’t lose your progress. A full migration plan is still being finalised but any resources from dismantled ships will be fully refunded.
The Ship Hold Gets a Major Upgrade
The most detailed part of today’s reveal focuses on the ship’s hold. The team wants the space below deck to function more like your land base, particularly for players who spend more time at sea than on land.
That means being able to install functional structures below deck including a workbench and a cooking fire. Additional storage containers are also being explored, which would give you more room for supplies even if they don’t work exactly like your main ship inventory. Decorative options are planned as well, so the hold can feel like a space that actually belongs to you rather than an empty compartment.
Some installed modules may also affect the ship itself, opening up preparation choices depending on what you’re planning. Outfitting for exploration, optimising for a trading run, or preparing for a fight at sea will all be valid approaches.
One thing worth noting is that ship building will not be fully free form. The developers have been clear that this is intentional. Ships are technically complex, performance demanding, and already tight on space. Designated building spots are the compromise that keeps the system sustainable without sacrificing performance or the feel of an actual sailing vessel.
What’s Still to Come
The team has also mentioned new gameplay systems tied to the ship including changes to how crew feel during naval gameplay and expansions to cannon and ship system interactions. Those aren’t ready to be detailed yet but more reveals are coming regularly as Ashlands development continues.
Ashlands is expected this winter. Full details and the reveal trailer are available on the Windrose Steam page.
