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 studio announced the milestone in a Steam news post, reflecting on how the game has grown 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 here matters. Windrose crossed 1 million copies in under a week, peaked above 220,000 concurrent Steam players, and kept climbing to 2 million by the one-month mark. The player base didn't just spike and vanish. It stuck around, 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 tells the real story.
Bug fixes first, then the big stuff
Before the major update arrives, Kraken Express is keeping its focus where it matters: stability. The studio confirmed another patch is coming soon to address common issues players have flagged. 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 the community has brought up. 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 shifted.
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.
