Two million copies in a single month. That's the number Kraken Express just dropped for Windrose, the open-world multiplayer pirate game that's been quietly dominating Steam since its Early Access launch.
Windrose open-world sailing
The milestone was announced by the studio in a Steam news post, where the developers reflected on how far the game has come since launch. "When we first set sail, we could only hope that our game would find such a passionate and dedicated community," Kraken Express wrote. "Seeing so many of you exploring the seas, sharing your stories, creating content, reporting issues, and supporting us every step of the way means more than we can properly express."
From 1 million to 2 million: how fast the seas filled up
The pace of growth here is worth putting into context. Windrose hit 1 million copies in less than a week after launch, peaked at over 220,000 concurrent Steam players, and then kept climbing. Reaching 2 million by the one-month mark shows the player base didn't just spike and evaporate. The game held its audience, which is the harder part.
For a pirate survival game from a studio that wasn't a household name before launch, that kind of retention is the real story.
Kraken Express has not announced a release date or detailed scope for the next major update. The studio confirmed it is still being discussed internally, so a timeline could be months away.
Bug fixes first, then the big stuff
Before the major update arrives, Kraken Express is keeping its focus where it matters most right now: stability. The studio confirmed another patch is coming soon to address common issues flagged by the community. Only once that's shipped will full production on the next major content update officially begin.
"We're planning to release another patch soon to address several common issues reported by the community. After that, we begin full production on the next major update," the developers stated.
This is the same measured approach Kraken Express has taken since launch. The studio previously said a major update wouldn't land for at least six months, prioritizing fixing what already exists before building on top of it. That philosophy hasn't changed.
Windrose talent upgrade screen
What "full production" actually means for players
Here's the thing: "full production" doesn't mean the update is close. Kraken Express was direct about that, noting the scope is still being discussed internally. Players shouldn't expect a reveal imminently. What this does signal is that the studio has cleared enough of its bug backlog to shift engineering attention toward new content rather than firefighting.
The key here is that 2 million paying players creates both pressure and resources. More sales means more runway to build something substantial. It also means a larger, more vocal community with higher expectations for what that first major update delivers.
"Our goal remains the same: to continue expanding the experience in meaningful ways and make the wait worthwhile," the studio added.
If you're jumping in while waiting for that update, the Windrose best talents to level up first guide is worth bookmarking to get your build sorted before the seas get even busier.
