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At Gamescom 2025, I had the opportunity to meet with Crosswind producer Philip Molodkovets following the announcement of the game’s early access debut planned for sometime next year. Originally intended as a free-to-play MMO, Crosswind has been retooled into a premium ‘survival adventure game’ with online co-op support. The studio plans between twelve and eighteen months of early access on Steam before releasing version 1.0, which will also be available on consoles.
Philip explained that the current build combines features from Alpha tests along with ongoing development work. The goal is to release Crosswind in early access in 2026.
**Base Building:**
Base building is a key feature and is entirely done using in-game tools and resources. The system allows for extensive creativity, with dozens of building blocks and styles to mix as desired. A colleague noted that the system should be flexible enough to build a Millennium Falcon from Star Wars, which was accomplished within the game.
**Naval and Crafting:**
The naval part of the game is heavily inspired by Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag, considered one of the best pirate games ever made. Since Alpha tests, significant improvements have been made. The crew can be lost in combat, and they will help during boarding actions. Water physics have also been reworked for a more realistic feel.
**Maps and Procedural Generation:**
The first map is an archipelago with procedurally generated terrain and island layouts combined with handcrafted points of interest such as temples, dungeons, and bandit camps.
**Player Progression:**
Players can craft and upgrade all types of gear, including armor, weapons, and jewelry. Character stats correspond to different damage and protection values, allowing customization for various play styles like long-range musketeers or close-quarters combatants.
**Voyage Tool:**
The voyage tool allows travel between different biomes, such as the Ashlands, a volcanic region with unique exploration mechanics requiring players to dig through ash to uncover secrets. This biome is currently in development and will introduce new enemies, resources, recipes, and a boss fight.
**Combat System:**
The combat system is called Soulslite, inspired by Souls games but not as challenging. It includes light attacks, heavy attacks, blocks, parry, dash, and combo chains.
**Tortuga:**
Tortuga serves as an outpost where players can receive quests and sell goods. The city is under attack from zombies, making it a besieged area with a small tavern at its center led by the survivor leader. Various NPCs provide services like improving alchemy or increasing woodcutters’ efficiency.
**Survival Elements:**
Crosswind incorporates survival elements but keeps them less hardcore compared to games like Valheim. Players won’t die of starvation, and tools don’t degrade.
**Co-Op Support:**
The game supports groups of up to four players in co-op sessions, with plans to expand this number as development progresses.
**Narrative and Story:**
Crosswind begins with the player as a freelance courier tasked with transporting an artifact back to London. The ship is intercepted, cargo lost, and the player attacked by Blackbeard pirates, leading to a stranded situation on an island. The story will eventually involve conflicts between empires and different factions.
**Gamepad Support:**
The game supports controllers through the UI, though not yet perfect. Alpha testers played with controllers, indicating a strong focus on supporting both mouse/keyboard and controller inputs.
**Early Access Details:**
Crosswind is set for early access in 2026, but the exact release window will be announced based on development progress.
Philip thanked me for my time.
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