Image credit: Windrose Crew

Windrose has hit a big milestone, topping 1 million Steam wishlists after Windrose Steam Next Fest demo.

Windrose Surpasses 1 Million Steam Wishlists After Next Fest Demo

This level of support shows just how much early interest the pirate-themed survival crafting game is generating, with fans eager to explore its open seas and survival challenges. The strong community response also highlights the growing hype and momentum ahead of its planned 2026 launch.

Windrose: Steam Next Fest Trailer

Fans are definitely excited! What about you? Are you ready to join them and add Windrose to your Steam wishlist?

Steam Next Fest Momentum

Windrose is quickly emerging as an indie open world breakout title, showing strong early performance during its Steam Next Fest demo. The game’s reception highlights just how much interest there is in its pirate-themed survival crafting gameplay. The most essential Steam Next Fest performance metrics from the demo include:

  • It launched on February 17 during this festival and quickly drew thousands of players.
  • It reached 22,000 concurrent players at its peak.
  • The wishlist count exceeded 1 million shortly after the demo went live.

The demo also helped build strong early access community momentum, with players actively engaging, sharing feedback, and spreading the word ahead of the 2026 launch.

Developer Response

The Windrose team thanked the community for such strong support during the Steam Next Fest demo, calling the response both exciting and motivating.  According to the team, player feedback from the demo will play a key role in shaping the game’s development roadmap.

They plan to refine core gameplay systems, improve balance and performance, and address community suggestions to ensure the full release meets player expectations and builds on the strong early momentum.

What Is Windrose?

Windrose is a pirate-themed open-world survival game with a focus on exploration and player-driven adventure. Set on dangerous open seas and mysterious islands, the game challenges players to gather resources, survive harsh conditions, and carve out their own path in a living world shaped by risk and reward.

Windrose Gameplay on Ship

The most important features:

  • Pirate-themed open-world survival PvE gameplay focused on exploration and environmental challenges.
  • Deep crafting and base-building systems that allow players to shape their own experience and create safe havens.
  • An exploration-driven gameplay loop that rewards curiosity, discovery, and venturing into the unknown.
  • The game was announced during the PC Gaming Show Most Wanted reveal.
  • It is currently targeting a 2026 release, giving the team time to polish core systems, expand content, and refine the overall experience.

Set Sail

If you’re excited by what you’ve seen, now is the perfect time to add Windrose to your Steam wishlist.

One thing’s clear: Windrose is already building serious momentum, and 2026 could be its year!