Independent developer Crosswind Crew has announced Crosswind, a new free-to-play survival MMO set in an alternate Age of Piracy.

Crosswind is in development for Windows PC (via Steam) with an early access release now set for sometime in 2026.

Here’s a rundown on the previously announced game, plus a new trailer:

Crosswind’s new action-packed trailer gives an early peek at what Crosswind Crew is working on and some of what players can anticipate in early access and beyond. Discover the Ashlands, a dangerous new biome taken over by undead and covered in volcanic ash. Other additions players can look forward to include Tortuga, an outpost under siege by undead enemies, as well as ship customization, crew battling alongside you on the top deck, and crew recruitment.

Crosswind will launch into Steam Early Access in 2026 as a paid product focused on PvE, either solo or with friends, and creating a highly polished player experience. Although originally announced as a F2P survival MMO, this transition to a more traditional multiplayer survival game comes after a survey of closed Alpha players’ preferences and behaviors.

The team is excited for the future of Crosswind and aim to implement and enrich new content, features, and gameplay based on continuing player feedback. They are also exploring new options available thanks to the transition to a paid experience, like the potential for mods and dedicated servers.