Swashbuckling co-op survivor Windrose sets sail into early access next week, which means it’s time to battle Blackbeard and a big flower
Windrose, a cooperative pirate survival game developed by Windrose Crew, is set to launch into Steam early access on April 14th, 2026. The game has already garnered player interest following its appearance during Steam Next Fest earlier this year.
The development team, now backed by Pocketpair—the publisher behind the massively successful Palworld—announced the early access launch alongside a fresh trailer at the Triple I showcase. The developers have estimated the full development cycle will take approximately 1.5 years from the early access launch.
Gameplay centers around cooperative survival mechanics with pirate-themed content. Players will encounter various challenges including combat against plague creatures and unique boss encounters. The game’s distinctive artistic direction is evident in encounters such as battling a giant flower alongside historical pirate figures like Blackbeard, blending action-adventure elements with survival gameplay.
The partnership with Pocketpair signals confidence in the project’s potential, following the publisher’s success with Palworld. Early access will allow the development team to gather player feedback and iterate on core mechanics before the full release.