Windrose Release Date and Early Access Status
Windrose released into Early Access on April 14, 2026. The old “2026 target” language is now historical; server owners should use the live Early Access and dedicated-server workflow.
Current timeline
- November 6, 2025: the project was renamed from Crosswind to Windrose.
- April 14, 2026: Windrose entered Early Access on Steam.
- August 25, 2026: build 0.10.0.9, the current version, following 0.10.0.8 on July 8.
- August 28, 2026: the developers previewed the next update, Ashlands, still in development: a new NPC armor set, reworked halberds and greatswords, faction clothing sets, a Brethren of the Coast Galleon variant and ship damage effects. No release date has been given.
- Current status: dedicated servers are available, with invite-code joins and a Windows-only upstream workflow.
What the Release Date Means for Hosting
| Question | Current answer |
|---|---|
| Can players buy and play the game? | Yes, through the Steam Early Access release. |
| Can a crew use a dedicated server? | Yes. Use the official server tool flow and keep the invite code available to players. |
| Should old preview copy drive setup decisions? | No. Verify the current server build, join flow, and save path before maintenance. |
Release-Era Watchpoints
- Match client and server versions after Steam updates.
- Keep a dated backup before a world transfer or hotfix.
- Test the invite code after restarts instead of assuming a server browser listing.
- Use the safe update guide for maintenance windows.
Use exact dates when they exist. If the official Steam page or announcements publish a newer build or release note, update the server documentation before changing customer-facing claims.
Need a persistent world now? Windrose server hosting handles provisioning, backups, restarts, and the invite-code join path.