The World of Ships At Sea Is Setting Sail!

Ahoy Captains!

Remember those sailboats and motorboats we introduced with Update v0.8.7? Until now, you've mostly seen them sitting safely in harbour, enjoying a rather peaceful existence.

Well, their days of sitting around at the harbour are coming to an end!

With Update v0.8.8, they're finally setting sail as we introduce the first iteration of our NPC vessel traffic system, bringing more movement and life to the waters of Ships At Sea .

Our NPC vessels can now navigate autonomously and react naturally to the water and waves, just like player vessels. As they travel through the water, you will see splash effects, and they will also generate wake effects, adding to the realism of maritime traffic. And the sailboats aren't simply moving across the water with static sails either — their sails dynamically respond to the wind, bringing another layer of realism to the world.

As you travel between ports, complete contracts or explore the coastline, you'll begin encountering different types of maritime traffic, from sailboats and motorboats to fishing and other vessels. This is only the beginning. We're building the NPC traffic system as a foundation for future expansion, allowing us to introduce more vessel types, behaviours and interactions as development continues.

Note: Wake effects for moving NPC vessels are also planned for Update v0.8.8 but are not yet visible in this gameplay footage.

Keep an Eye on the Traffic!

Of course, with more vessels moving around the world, you'll probably want to know who's out there.

Alongside the new NPC traffic system, we're improving the World Map, allowing you to track vessels in a way inspired by real-world maritime vessel-tracking systems.

NPC vessels are represented by white vessel icons, while your own vessels are highlighted in blue and vessels belonging to other players appear in yellow, making it easier to distinguish between different types of maritime traffic.

Selecting an NPC vessel opens its Vessel Information window, displaying details such as the vessel type, rigging information where available, and the maritime company it belongs to. Additional details can also be expanded.

Whether you're curious about a sailboat passing nearby or want a better overview of the traffic around you, the World Map makes it easier to see which vessels are operating in the area.

Building a More Active World

Bringing NPC vessels to life is another important step toward making the world of Ships At Sea feel more active and immersive.

With autonomous vessel movement, dynamic sail behaviour, and improved vessel tracking, the waters around you are becoming a more lively environment to explore. And this is only the beginning. Our NPC traffic system is designed as a foundation for future expansion, allowing us to introduce additional vessel types, behaviours, and interactions as development continues.

There's still plenty more to improve, and your feedback throughout Early Access continues to help us shape these systems.

Fair winds and following seas, Captains!

— The Misc Games Team