Windrose Ashlands expansion adds volcanic islands, ships

Kraken Express announced the Ashlands expansion as the first major post-launch update for Windrose. The studio plans to add volcanic-ash islands, new factions, a larger main story and side quests, new enemies, items and recipes, a major boss encounter, and upgrades to ship combat, AI and base-building. Windrose launched in April and has sold more than two million copies. Development on Ashlands is in its early stages and plans may change.

The Ashlands will be set among the ruins of a long-forgotten Spanish colony. The developer explained that an artifact called the Obol has altered landscapes already affected by volcanic activity. Volcanic ash in the region will preserve relics and secrets beneath the surface. The new region will include multiple islands with distinct resources and challenges for players.

Kraken Express said it intends for the update to expand the game’s narrative and survival systems. The studio wrote, “We have always wanted Windrose to be a survival adventure with a strong narrative layer,” and added the main story and side quests will “grow significantly in scope.” The team also plans to test new biome mechanics so each region feels and plays differently.

On naval features, the developer is investigating at least one additional ship class and faction-specific variants. Work is already underway on brigantine, fluyt and galleon models. The studio plans improvements to ship combat and AI so NPC ships behave more naturally and can operate in formations. The team noted wind-based sailing is a popular request and will be explored, while keeping control systems simple: “let us be crystal clear: we want it to be fun and simple,” the developers wrote.

Additional changes on the roadmap include a larger selection of sea shanties, more decorations and functional additions for base-building, and quality-of-life improvements for construction. Kraken Express said community feedback and creative player builds shaped priorities for new decorations and items. The studio invited further suggestions from players and said it will share more development details and an estimated release window as work progresses.