Windrose just launched into Steam Early Access on April 14, 2026, and console players are already asking the most important question: when does it hit PS5?
The pirate survival RPG dominated Steam Next Fest with nearly 900,000 demo players and sat among the top wishlisted games on Steam before launch. With that kind of momentum, it is only natural that PS5 players want in. However, the honest answer right now is: not yet, and here is everything confirmed.
Windrose Platform Status Overview
| Platform | Status |
| PC (Steam) | Available now in Early Access |
| PC (Epic Games Store) | Available now |
| PC (Stove) | Available now |
| PS5 | Not available, no confirmed release date |
| Xbox Series X/S | Not available, no confirmed release date |
| Nintendo Switch / Switch 2 | Not available, no confirmed release date |
Is Windrose Coming to PS5?
Right now, Windrose has no confirmed PS5 release date. The developer, Kraken Express (formerly Windrose Crew), has not announced any plans for a PlayStation port at this stage. The studio has acknowledged strong community interest in console versions but has confirmed it is focusing solely on the PC Early Access period for now.
This is a common pattern with PC-first Early Access games. Shipping frequent updates through Sony’s certification process while the game is still in active development is a significant technical challenge, and most studios hold off on console versions until the game is content-complete or close to it.
Windrose is currently expected to remain in Early Access for approximately 1.5 to 2.5 years, which puts the earliest realistic window for a full 1.0 release somewhere between late 2027 and 2028. A PS5 version, if it happens at all, would most likely follow after that.
Worth noting is that the core gameplay loop — third-person action combat, naval battles, and base building — fits the PS5 experience well in terms of format. However, until the developer makes a public announcement, a console version remains unconfirmed.
What About Xbox and Nintendo Switch?
The situation on Xbox Series X/S mirrors PlayStation exactly. Windrose has not been announced for Xbox, and no roadmap mention of a console port exists at this time.
Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 face an even steeper challenge. Windrose is a large-scale open-world survival game featuring a 50 to 70-hour campaign, three distinct biomes, approximately 30 islands, and nearly 100 points of interest. Optimising that scope for Switch hardware while the game is still being built adds a layer of difficulty that makes a Switch version the least likely of the three console options in the near term.
What You Can Play Right Now on PC
If you have a gaming PC, Windrose is available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Stove. The Early Access launch build is substantial, and it is not a barebones preview.
What the Early Access version includes:
- A fully playable campaign estimated at 50 to 70 hours
- Three unique biomes with procedurally generated islands and hand-crafted dungeons
- Naval combat with cannon fire, boarding mechanics, and multiple ship classes including ketches, brigs, and frigates
- Co-op for up to 8 players (4 recommended for best experience), with shared ship control added based on direct community feedback
- Fort and base building, including the ability to recruit NPCs for farming and production
- Souls-lite ground combat featuring sabers, rapiers, muskets, and unique special moves per weapon class
- Solo offline play as well as online co-op
The game also launches with a 10% discount during its first week.
Windrose Pricing
| Edition | Price |
| Standard Edition | $29.99 |
| Supporter Bundle | $39.99 |
The Supporter Bundle includes the game alongside a soundtrack recorded by Seán Dagher, wallpapers, and additional extras. The developer has confirmed that the price will increase for the full 1.0 release, so jumping in during Early Access locks in a lower rate.
Early Access Launch Times (April 14, 2026)
| Region | Launch Time |
| US (PT) | 1:00 AM |
| US (ET) | 4:00 AM |
| UK (BST) | 9:00 AM |
| Germany (CEST) | 10:00 AM |
| Australia (AEST) | 6:00 PM |
| Japan / Korea (JST / KST) | 5:00 PM |
| China (CST) | 4:00 PM |
How Has Windrose Been Received So Far?
The reception on PC has been strong. IGN’s early access review, published after approximately 30 hours of play, praised the ground combat as the standout element, highlighting the responsive parry system, weapon variety, and boss design. The reviewer also noted positives in the wave modelling and world scale, while flagging ship controls and the lack of wind direction mechanics as areas to improve.
Community reaction on Reddit and Steam threads has been broadly positive, with many players drawing comparisons to Valheim for its biome-based progression and to Assassin’s Creed: Black Flag for its naval combat feel. The demo alone attracted nearly 900,000 players during Steam Next Fest, and that momentum carried over into the Early Access launch.
Will Windrose Ever Come to Consoles?
Nothing rules it out permanently. Games like Valheim and Subnautica both started as PC-only titles before eventually arriving on PlayStation and Xbox after reaching 1.0. If Windrose builds a strong enough player base on PC during Early Access, a console port becomes a realistic possibility once the full game ships.
However, that scenario depends on the game’s commercial performance and the developer’s available resources after launch. Kraken Express has confirmed it is not pursuing console ports during the Early Access period. For now, the only confirmed platforms are PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and Stove.
Console players looking to keep track of any announcements can follow the developer on their official Steam page and Discord channel, where all major updates are communicated directly.
Key Takeaways
- Windrose launched on PC via Early Access on April 14, 2026, with no confirmed PS5 release date
- The developer is Kraken Express (formerly Windrose Crew), focusing solely on PC during Early Access
- The game is currently available on Steam, the Epic Games Store, and Stove
- Early Access is expected to last 1.5 to 2.5 years, with full 1.0 release likely in 2027 or 2028 at the earliest
- Console ports (PS5, Xbox, Switch 2) remain unconfirmed and would realistically come only after the full 1.0 release
- The standard edition costs $29.99, with a Supporter Bundle at $39.99 — price will increase at full launch
- The Early Access build already includes a 50 to 70-hour campaign, three biomes, naval combat, and co-op for up to 8 players
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