Seafarer: The Ship Sim news & patch notes

Ahoy, Seafarers!

After its time in Open Beta, our fourth major Early Access Update is now available on the main branch.

First of all, thank you to everyone who jumped into the public_beta, tested the new systems, reported issues, and shared feedback with us. Your input gives us a clearer picture of what to keep improving as development continues throughout Early Access.

The Career Update is all about giving progression in Seafarer more structure and making your own ships feel more connected to your long-term journey. This update introduces the new My Career system, expands the campaign with new missions, replaces EXP with reputation, improves inspection gameplay, and adds new features to make your time at sea feel more varied.

For existing save games, this does not mean losing your progress. Existing levels will be transferred directly into the new reputation system, so if you’re at level 10, you will start at reputation level 10. Content that you’ve already unlocked or purchased will remain available. However, which contracts and opportunities are available may change as part of the new progression system.

Before we get into the details, check out the release trailer:

🧭 New Campaign Missions 4-6

The next three campaign missions continue Teddy’s story and bring this chapter to its conclusion.

Without going into spoilers, you can expect new story moments, high-stakes situations, firefighting operations, and intense action at sea. These missions add more depth to Teddy’s journey and bring new dramatic moments to the world of Seafarer.

After completing the campaign, you can of course continue your sandbox career.

💼 My Career Rework

The Career Update introduces My Career, a major rework of the current gameplay structure.

Your own ships now play a bigger role in your personal progression. The new system creates a clearer difference between mission gameplay and your long-term career as an independent captain.

You can trade goods, make use of trading opportunities, and use your ships outside of classic missions. Instead of only waiting for a contract, you’ll have more freedom to observe ports, buy goods, store them, transport them, and sell them later for a profit.

For the start, this system focuses on container trading. It gives owned ships a stronger purpose and adds a new layer to the overall gameplay loop. Your ship becomes more of an investment, a useful tool, and a personal project that can grow over time. Also: no more random containers on your ships!

Some operations now also become longer-running workflows within the game world. Freighters can be loaded over several days, routes can be prepared, and transports can move through different stages. You can take part in these processes, but you do not always have to complete every step yourself.

The goal is to make it feel more like you are building your own career at sea. You get to choose!

Some operations now also become longer-running workflows within the game world. Freighters can be loaded over several days, routes can be prepared, and transports can move through different stages. You can take part in these processes, but you do not always have to complete every step yourself.

The goal is to make it feel more like you are building your own career at sea. You get to choose!

🌟 Reputation System

The previous EXP system has been replaced with a new Reputation System.

You now earn reputation with individual harbors, unlocking new ships, missions, and opportunities as your standing grows. Local harbor reputation also contributes to your global reputation, which gradually opens up more of the world and replaces the previous player level system.

As your reputation grows, the world will begin to react to you differently, making progression feel more connected to what you do in the Seafarer world.

🚨 Improved Inspection Gameplay

Inspection gameplay has been expanded into a deeper and more interactive experience.

Inspections now involve more steps and more ways to understand what is happening on board. You can check documents, inspect technical areas, speak with crew members, look into safety concerns, and gather information before completing the job.

This makes inspections feel more connected to the world and gives them a stronger role within the overall career experience. They are no longer just a quick task, but a more detailed activity that asks you to look closer, pay attention, and piece together the situation on the vessel.

🚁 Drone Gameplay

A new unlockable drone gives you another way to explore the world from above.

The drone can be used on almost all ships and provides a helpful new perspective for exploration and rescue missions. It is especially useful in rough weather, heavy seas, or situations where spotting shipwrecked people or points of interest from your vessel can be difficult.

The drone has a limited range and cannot be used in certain harbor areas due to no-fly zones, but it adds a new way to look around and take in the scale of the world.

🧽 Deck Cleaning

Bulk ships now feature optional deck cleaning gameplay.

When loading bulk cargo, your ship’s deck can become visibly dirty from dust and cargo residue. You can clean it manually whenever you like, creating a calm maintenance activity between missions.

Deck cleaning is fully optional and mainly focused on immersion and atmosphere. It gives you another small way to take care of your ship and make it feel more like your own.

⚙️ What this update adds

With the Career Update, career progression, reputation, owned ships, inspections, and trading are now more closely connected.

Together, these changes give your own ships and your reputation a bigger role in how you progress through Seafarer.

The update also moves the game another step toward a broader maritime sandbox career, while still building on the existing mission-based structure.

Several of the features in this update are based on community feedback, especially around career progression, owned ships, inspections, and a more active sandbox world.

🎥 New Dev Diary

Want to learn more about the Career Update? In our newest dev diary, the development team talks about the ideas behind Update 4, the new My Career system, the Reputation System, and how these changes give your own ships a bigger role in your progression through Seafarer.

Watch the dev diary here:

🧭 Changelog

Patch #4.0 - Version 0.4.0.2096 (Steam)

Release Notes:

My Career

• Start your own career as a captain. Trade containers with different goods independently, earn money outside of missions, and turn your ships into long-term investments.

Reputation Instead of XP

• The new reputation system replaces levels and experience points. Earn the trust of ports and unlock new ships, regions, and opportunities.

A Living World

• Cargo ships are now loaded over multiple days, and port operations continue independently of the player. With the new shift system, you decide how actively you want to participate.

Inspection Rework

• Inspections have been expanded into a deeper gameplay experience featuring document checks, technical inspections, crew and safety controls.

Campaign 4-6

• Teddy's story reaches its conclusion.

• Look forward to:

  • Dramatic rescue operations

  • Intense story moments

  • Unexpected twists

  • The grand finale of the campaign

• The final missions bring the story to an emotional and unforgettable climax.

Drone

• Use an unlockable drone on almost all vessels

Deck Cleaning

• Keep your bulk carrier decks clean for an even more immersive experience

Vessel Editor Enhancement

• Equip your ship with a flag of your choice

___________________________________________________________________

Known Issues:

Chapter 04 - Steel Inferno

• In some scenes the lipsync does not align with the animation

• Some cutscenes are very much unpolished

Chapter 05 - Off the Record

• In some scenes the lipsync does not align with the animation

• Some cutscenes are very much unpolished

Chapter 06 - Hell or High Waters

• In some scenes the lipsync does not align with the animation

• Some cutscenes are very much unpolished

• Some cutscenes currently have only English or German VO

Inspection

• The mission "Inspection" will reroll its current variant per ship after reloading the game

Search and Rescue

• Sometimes the castaways can also spawn outside of the marked area

• When rescuing a castaway with the Grace the camera will lock itself in the latest position until the player leaves the rescue net

• After quitting and entering the game again a castaway might appear on deck

Loading Bulk

• Due to some backlog problems the bulk loading is disabled temporarily

My Career - Free Trade

• Bulk Willy and LNG Nordic Duchess will be available in a later patch for the My Career / Free Trade system

Reputation

• The reputation balancing is not final yet. Therefore in some cases the reputation gain or loss will be much higher or lower than anticipated

Menues

• The job menu is currently displaying a wrong number of rewards for credits and experience gain due to the change towards the reputation system

Vessel Editor

• The performance in the vessel editor can be low

Drone

• Currently the drone can clip through all player vessels

Ships

• Flag physics on some ships are janky

• When swapping to another vessel the player can sometimes spawn under deck instead of on the bridge

Follow our social channels and join the conversation on Discord to stay up-to-date,

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

We’re excited to hear what you think now that the Career Update is live on the main branch.

Thank you for being part of the journey.

See you on the horizon, Your Seafarer Team 🚣

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We’re back with our fourth major Early Access Update – and you can jump in right now to test it!

The Career Update is all about giving progression in Seafarer more structure and making your own ships feel more connected to your long-term journey. This update introduces the new My Career system, expands the campaign with new missions, replaces EXP with reputation, and adds a few new features to make your time at sea feel more varied.

For existing save games, this does not mean losing your progress. Existing levels will be transferred directly into the new reputation system, so if you’re at level 10, you will start at reputation level 10. Content that you’ve already unlocked or purchased will remain available. However, which contracts and opportunities are available may change as part of the new progression system.

The update is now available on the public_beta branch. If everything goes well, we’re planning to release it on the default branch on June 30.

Before we get into it, here’s a quick announcement teaser:

🧭 New Campaign Missions 4-6

The next three campaign missions continue Teddy’s story and bring this chapter to its conclusion.

Without going into spoilers, you can expect new story moments, high-stakes situations, firefighting operations, and intense action at sea. These missions add more depth to Teddy’s journey and bring new dramatic moments to the world of Seafarer.

After completing the campaign, you can of course continue your sandbox career.

💼 My Career Rework

The Career Update introduces My Career, a major rework of the current gameplay structure.

Your own ships now play a bigger role in your personal progression. The new system creates a clearer difference between mission gameplay and your long-term career as an independent captain.

You can trade goods, make use of trading opportunities, and use your ships outside of classic missions. Instead of only waiting for a contract, you’ll have more freedom to observe ports, buy goods, store them, transport them, and sell them later for a profit.

For the start, this system focuses on container trading. It gives owned ships a stronger purpose and adds a new layer to the overall gameplay loop. Your ship becomes more of an investment, a useful tool, and a personal project that can grow over time. Also: no more random containers on your ships!

Some operations now also become longer-running workflows within the game world. Freighters can be loaded over several days, routes can be prepared, and transports can move through different stages. You can take part in these processes, but you do not always have to complete every step yourself.

The goal is to make it feel more like you are building your own career at sea. You get to choose!

🌟 Reputation System

The previous EXP system has been replaced with a new Reputation System.

You now earn reputation with individual harbors, unlocking new ships, missions, and opportunities as your standing grows. Local harbor reputation also contributes to your global reputation, which gradually opens up more of the world and replaces the previous player level system.

As your reputation grows, the world will begin to react to you differently, making progression feel more connected to what you do in the Seafarer world.

🚁 Drone Gameplay

A new unlockable drone gives you another way to explore the world from above.

The drone can be used on almost all ships and provides a helpful new perspective for exploration and rescue missions. It is especially useful in rough weather, heavy seas, or situations where spotting shipwrecked people or points of interest from your vessel can be difficult.

The drone has a limited range and cannot be used in certain harbor areas due to no-fly zones, but it adds a new way to look around and take in the scale of the world.

🧽 Deck Cleaning

Bulk ships now feature optional deck cleaning gameplay.

When loading bulk cargo, your ship’s deck can become visibly dirty from dust and cargo residue. You can clean it manually whenever you like, creating a calm maintenance activity between missions.

Deck cleaning is fully optional and mainly focused on immersion and atmosphere. It gives you another small way to take care of your ship and make it feel more like your own.

⚙️ What this update adds

With the Career Update, career progression, reputation, owned ships, and trading are now more closely connected.

Together, these changes give your own ships and your reputation a bigger role in how you progress through Seafarer.

The update also moves the game another step toward a broader maritime sandbox career, while still building on the existing mission-based structure.

Several of the features in this update are based on community feedback, especially around career progression, owned ships, and a more active sandbox world.

🎮 Try the Update early

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Ahoy, Seafarers!

Early Access Update 3, the Immersion Update, is now live on the default branch!

Thanks to everyone who joined the open beta and shared their thoughts along the way.

Before we dive into the details, take a look at our release trailer:

🎬 The Immersion Update

With this update, Seafarer takes a strong step forward in how it feels to play. The Immersion Update focuses on making the world more alive, responsive, and engaging, while also expanding the campaign experience.

Teddy has received a full overhaul, now appearing as a more rugged and experienced seafarer, complete with new voiceovers. He now adds more authenticity to our setting the newly reworked campaign, guiding you more naturally through your journey.

Missions 1 and 2 have been fully reworked with new animation sequences and improved storytelling, while Mission 3 continues the narrative with a brand-new chapter. Together, these changes significantly enhance the flow and presentation of Seafarer’s story.

Beyond the campaign, new systems deepen the overall experience. Inspection gameplay has been expanded with more interaction and structure, forming the foundation for future extensions across vessels and mission types.

The new radio system brings communication to life. You can now contact harbour authorities to request docking, call for towing assistance when needed, and receive event missions directly through radio chatter, making the world feel more connected.

Daily Challenges introduce fresh objectives on a regular basis, encouraging you to return to the sea and take on new tasks. Smaller immersive touches, such as alarm lights during emergency states and cinematic signature scenes when acquiring new vessels, further enhance the atmosphere and presentation of your journey.

As always, this update also includes a wide range of fixes, polish, and quality-of-life improvements.

🎥 New Dev Diary

We’ve also released a new Dev Diary, giving you a closer look at the team and the ongoing development of Seafarer.

Watch it here:

🧭 Early Access Roadmap Update

With Update 3 now released, here’s what’s coming next for Seafarer.

Next up is Early Access Update 4: The Career Update, currently planned for Q2. This update will introduce a “My Career” feature alongside new campaign missions, expanding your long-term progression and goals within the game.

Following that, Update 5 is planned for Q3 and will focus on introducing co-op multiplayer, allowing you to take to the seas together with other players. This update will also introduce new missions.

Looking further ahead, the next phase, our Course to Release, will guide Seafarer toward its full launch, bringing everything together into a complete experience.

As development continues, some updates may be released in phases. This allows us to bring features to you as soon as they’re ready, rather than waiting for a larger release. We've also updated the Early Access Roadmap on Trello: https://trello.com/b/zO1F3oJg/seafarer-the-ship-sim-early-access-roadmap

🧭 Changelog

Patch #3.0 - Version 0.3.0.1797 (Steam) / 0.3.0.1799 (EGS)

Release Notes:

Campaign Missions 1-3

• Campaign Missions 1 and 2 have been reworked. Including new animation sequences and story driving characters (Teddy, Butch)

• Campaign Mission 3 has been added and the story has been extended by this new chapter

Teddy 2.0

• The character model of Teddy has been replaced by a more realistic model, adding authenticity to our naval setting. Also now integrated in the reworked campaign missions.  

New Inspection Gameplay

• Inspection Gameplay has been reworked and implemented in the Patrol Mission - inspectable ships Tug Boat, Ferry and LNG Carrier. There are now 2 different kinds of inspection: Security and Environment.  

Radio System

• you can request a docking slot at the Harbour Master when entering a harbour (Enquire mooring). 

• you can request Towing Service to get dragged to the parking slot. 

• you can request to get dragged out of the harbour. 

• Event Missions will now get triggered by the radio. 

Daily Challenges

• Players will now have the opportunity to complete daily challenges.

Alarm Lights

• When a Boat is in shut down / emergency state - the alarm lights will switch on

Signature Scenes

• When purchasing a new vessel, a camera flight will introduce the new ship to the player  

___________________________________________________________________________________________________ 

Known Issues

We are aware of the following issues and are actively working on fixes:

• Camera shake during cutscenes In some cases, the camera may shake unexpectedly during cutscenes.

• Missing voiceover in cutscenes Occasionally, voiceover audio may not play during cutscenes. Workaround: Return to the main menu or restart the game, then continue your savegame.

• Chapter 2 – Incorrect voice output during ship inspection Voice lines may not match the selected character gender (male/female).

• Crash on startup (NVIDIA GPUs) Some users may experience crashes or even system restarts when launching the game. Workaround: Delete the NVIDIA shader cache:

  • Via NVIDIA Control Panel, or

  • Manually delete the contents of: %localappdata%\\NVIDIA\\

Follow our social channels and join the conversation on Discord to stay up-to-date,

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

We’re incredibly grateful for your support throughout Early Access. Your feedback continues to shape Seafarer as we move forward.

See you on the horizon, Your Seafarer Team 🚣

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We’re back with our third major Early Access Update – and you can jump in right now to test it!

The Immersion Update focuses on making Seafarer feel more alive. We’ve reworked the campaign, added a new mission, introduced new inspection gameplay, and expanded how the world reacts to you at sea.

The update is now available on the public_beta branch. If everything goes well, we’re planning to release it on the default branch on April 30.

Before we get into it, here’s a quick announcement teaser:

🎬 Reworked Campaign + New Campaign Mission 3

We’ve gone back and reworked Missions 1 and 2 with new animation sequences and more story-driven moments. On top of that, Mission 3 continues the story with a new chapter.

Overall, the campaign should feel more cohesive and better paced now.

🧔 Say Hello to Teddy 2.0

Your trusted guide, Teddy, has received a complete overhaul. With a more rugged, experienced look and a new voiceover, he now fits the world better and plays a bigger role throughout the updated campaign.

🔍 New Inspection Gameplay

Inspection gameplay has been reworked to feel more interactive and alive. It is now part of the Patrol Mission for the Tug Boat and introduces different types of inspections like Security and Environment with more to come in future updates. This system will expand to other missions and vessels over time.

📻 Radio System

You can now contact the Harbour Master when entering a port to request a docking slot. If needed, you can also request towing assistance to get in or out of harbour. Event missions are now triggered via radio as well, making the world feel more connected and responsive.

📅 Daily Challenges

Daily Challenges are now available, giving you new objectives to complete each day. Better check back in regularly to take on new tasks! 🫡

🚨 Alarm Lights

When things go wrong, your ship lets you know. In shutdown or emergency states, alarm lights kick in, bathing the vessel in flashing warnings and adding tension to critical moments.

🎥 Signature Scenes

Purchasing a new vessel is now a moment to remember. Each new ship is introduced with a cinematic camera flyby, giving your fleet the spotlight it deserves.

⚙️ More to come

We’re continuing to work on core systems in the background, with more visible changes coming in the next updates.

We’ll also be sharing more about the rest of our Early Access roadmap soon.

Alongside the new content, this update includes a wide range of bug fixes, polish, and quality-of-life improvements to ensure smoother sailing.

Learn more in the patch notes below!

🎮 Try the Update early

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We've moved patch 0.2.6.1649 to the Default Branch.

Patch Notes for Version 0.2.6.1649

•  Landscape Update

• New Mission: Flaming Flotsam

• New Mission: Medical Assistance

• New Gameplay: Distribute thermal blankets to rescued survivors

• New Gameplay: Currents affecting the speed of the boat, including a visual Current Map on the navigation map

• New clothing colour variants in Character Editor

• NPCs now have lip sync when talking

• Pile simulation for bulk cargo

• Flickering lights on ships during collisions

• Aim Assist on Bridge

• 3D Navigation Marker for Waypoints

• Improved Echo Sounder

Performance Improvements:

• Reworked Blueprint for Big Trip

• Disabled certain shadow castings

• Reworked harbours

Known Issues:

• Female Captain without VO, shivers

• Shipwrecked people cannot currently be rescued if the Grace is not at a full stop

• Some dialogues in the Crescentport Logistics Tutorial are only displayed in English

• The engine repair icons are currently quite blurry

• During the Crescentport Logistics Tutorial, the engine room may incorrectly indicate that the engine is properly maintained

As always, your reports help us make Seafarer better for everyone. Thank you for your support and patience!

See you on the horizon,

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

P.S.: You can also join the conversation across our socials and on Discord.

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

Ahoy, Seafarers!

Patch 0.2.6.1649 is now available on the Public Beta Branch.

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

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Ahoy, Seafarers!

We have another patch for you, just in time for the weekend. It is now available on the Public Beta Branch.

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We've moved the latest beta patch onto the default branch!

Patch Notes for Version 0.2.1.1539

Mission Fixes

• Resolved a blocker in the Inspection Mission related to the Fire Hose Box

• Fixed an issue where the Fire Hose Box interaction was not functioning correctly

UI/UX Fixes

• Fixed a bug where the tablet could no longer be opened after completing container missions

Vehicle Fixes 

• Fixed an issue where a truck could get stuck during container unloading in Drachdelen, preventing further offloading

• Improved truck positioning behavior in Drachdelen – vehicles now maintain proper distance from the dock

• Fixed an issue where trucks would stop driving after their container was loaded onto the ship

As always, your reports help us make Seafarer better for everyone. Thank you for your support and patience!

See you on the horizon,

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

P.S.: You can also join the conversation across our socials and on Discord.

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

Ahoy, Seafarers!

Thanks for all your feedback for the Rescue Update! We have a small patch for you today, out now on the Public Beta Branch.

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

Ahoy, Seafarers!

Our second major Early Access Update for Seafarer: The Ship Sim has officially set sail on the default branch. Thank you to everyone who has already tried out the new features during the Open Beta and left feedback! 🫶

The Rescue Update expands the world of Seafarer with search and rescue gameplay and adds two dedicated rescue vessels to your fleet for this purpose.

Before we dive in, check out our release trailer:

🛟 Answer distress calls with the Tide Guard

With this update, the Tide Guard – Seafarer’s coastguard faction – expands with search and rescue gameplay. Distress calls can come in at any moment, tasking you with locating shipwrecked survivors, assisting people overboard, and transporting them safely back to port.

⛑️ Meet Salvation – The rescue flagship

To aid with search and rescue missions, the Rescue Update adds two dedicated rescue vessels. Salvation serves as the primary search and rescue vessel of the Tide Guard. As one of the most modern and capable coastguard ships in the world of Seafarer, she is built for coordinated emergency response.

Salvation is prepped for the rescue, especially with her daughter boat Grace on board.

🚤 Meet Grace – The daughter boat

Working alongside Salvation is her daughter boat, Grace – a fast and highly maneuverable rescue craft designed to safely approach people in the water. Whether navigating debris fields or reaching survivors in rough conditions, she allows you to get closer, faster – and with greater precision.

Grace is equipped with a rescue net to recover individuals who have fallen into the water.

🆘 Introducing rescue gameplay

Search and rescue missions are a core responsibility of the coastguard. And when a distress call comes in, every second matters. Head to the scene of the accident, locate survivors in the water, and act quickly before the sea claims its victims.

Use lifebuoys to stabilize people in the water, or deploy Grace’s rescue net to recover shipwrecked survivors safely and efficiently.

Out there, hesitation can mean the difference between rescue and tragedy –  so be ready to respond fast.

⚓ New missions & dynamic events

The Rescue Update expands Seafarer with additional mission types and a broader range of dynamic events at sea. You may be tasked with transporting fragile or unusual cargo between ports.

Rescue situations can now occur dynamically during your voyages. While navigating the open waters, you might suddenly come across shipwrecked survivors in need of immediate assistance. Every vessel is equipped with lifebuoys, ensuring you’re always prepared to respond when the unexpected happens.

🎨 Customize your vessels

This update introduces the first iteration of our vessel editor, giving you more control over your fleet’s identity. Rename your vessels, add predefined logos, and adjust colors for most ships to create a look that truly represents your company on the water.

⚙️ New ship features & improvements

Windshield wipers, previously introduced on select vessels, are now also available on Nordic Duchess, Big Trip, and Bulk Willy.

In addition, bow thruster mechanics have been added to Lancer, Nordic Duchess, Big Trip, and Willy, enhancing precision during docking, harbor maneuvers, and other low-speed operations where control matters most.

🛠️ Fixes & Improvements

Alongside the new gameplay features, this update includes numerous bug fixes, performance improvements, balance adjustments, and quality-of-life improvements to further refine the Seafarer experience.

You’ll find the full list of changes in the patch notes below.

🧭 Changelog

Patch #2 – Version 0.2.0.1526 (Steam) / Version 0.2.0.1528 (EOS)

Rescue Gameplay

Vessel Editor

• Name

• Logo

• Color

Fleet Update

• Player Ship: Grace

• Player Ship: Salvation

New Missions

• Rescue

• Practice course: Rescue

• Undercover

• Pilot service

• Event mission: Rescue shipwrecked

• Event mission: Delivery

Thrusters

• for ships Lancer, Nordic Duchess, BigTrip, Willy

• Note: only functionality / visuals will be done at a later stage

Wipers

• for ships Nordic Duchess, BigTrip, Willy

Fixes and improvements

Bug Fixes & Stability

• Improved scanning of castaways (addressed beta feedback)

• Improved physics for Archer and Rigid 

• Fixed multiple crashes and softlocks, including issues in menus and interaction states

• Resolved cases where players could get stuck in UI screens

• Fixed problems with input handling and key bindings being incorrectly marked as invalid

• Corrected several character and object interaction issues

• Addressed various spawn, loading, and state transition bugs

Gameplay & Systems

• Improvements to crew assignment and behavior

• Adjustments and fixes to ship and vehicle systems

• Resolved issues with key mapping

• Fixed problems with water, terrain, and environmental visuals

• More stable system behavior during interactions and menu changes in the fleet menu

• Improved various sound effects accross the game

Visual improvements

• Improved menu navigation and responsiveness

• Fixed display issues in multiple in-game menus

• More consistent behavior for hotkeys and shortcuts

• Various localization fixes in across all given languages

• Reworked Salavation and Grace appearance

Technical Improvements

• The game now looks significantly better when using Medium graphics settings. We’ve improved visual quality while maintaining performance balance.

• Internal system clean-ups to help prevent future issues

Performance Optimization

• Memory & VRAM Optimization

  • Significantly reduced VRAM usage This results in noticeably lower memory pressure and improved frame rates.

  • Reduced texture sizes where possible

  • General texture and material optimizations (including landscape materials – ongoing improvements) → Lower overall RAM and VRAM requirements → Improved performance on GPUs with 8 GB VRAM or less → Better scalability on mid-range hardware

  • New single-sample anti-tiling for ship surfaces → Improved visual quality → Minimal performance cost compared to traditional anti-tiling methods

• Rendering & GPU Performance

  • Optimized shadow updates Sun and moon movement is now quantized, reducing unnecessary shadow recalculations. → More stable GPU performance and reduced shadow rebuild cost.

  • Crane render targets now created only when needed → Lower VRAM spikes → Reduced rendering overhead

  • Optimized wind physics in particle effects → Lower CPU/GPU cost in VFX-heavy scenes

  • Smarter splash effect activation Based on camera angle, distance and movement → Reduced unnecessary particle simulation

  • Chimney smoke optimization Multiple smoke emitters now reuse simulation data where possible → Significantly lower simulation and rendering cost

  • Removed unnecessary splash occluder meshes → Lower Custom Depth cost → Improved highlight/outline stability → Slight performance gain

• Animation & NPC Improvements

  • General NPC animation performance improvements → Lower CPU animation cost and more stable performance

  • Rescue NPC mesh optimization (Master Pose setup) Attached meshes now inherit animation from a single rig → Reduced animation overhead

• Platform-Specific Improvements

  • Fixed AMD-related issues during firefighting and thunderstorm scenarios → Improved stability and performance on AMD hardware

• Asset & Scene Optimization

  • Optimized Chemical Plant areas

  • Ongoing optimization of NPVs

  • Major foliage optimization:

    • Reduced polygon counts

    • Reduced material complexity

    • Disabled shadows for small foliage

Known Issues 

• Vessels (player ships and NPVs) generate splashing wave effects when they are re-centered on screen after being offscreen.

• The rescue area displayed on the minimap does not accurately reflect the slightly larger actual rescue area size.

• In rare cases, rescued castaways may become stuck in their animation states.

• The warning vests of some castaways are currently clipping through their regular clothing.

• It is currently not possible to complete certain "Inspection" missions that need to inspect "Fire Hose Boxes"

📺 Early Access Update #2 Release Livestream

In case you missed it, we just had a release livestream for Early Access Update #2, the Rescue Update, hosted by GametechUK. Check it out!

Follow our social channels and join the conversation on Discord to stay up-to-date,

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

We’re excited to see your rescue operations in action and hear your thoughts as we continue shaping Seafarer throughout Early Access. In the following weeks, we will reveal more of our plans for the near future, stay tuned!

Thank you once again for being part of our voyage.

See you on the horizon, Your Seafarer Team 🚣

Ahoy, Seafarers!

Join GametechUK for the Early Access Update 2 release livestream of 𝐒𝐞𝐚𝐟𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐫: 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐒𝐢𝐦 – showcasing the brand-new 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐜𝐮𝐞 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞.

📅 February 19, 2026 ⏰ 4 PM CET 📺 Live on YouTube

Don’t miss your first look at the new content coming aboard!

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We have a small patch for you today, out now on the Public Beta Branch.

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We’re back with our second major Early Access Update – and you can jump in right now to test it!

The Rescue Update introduces search and rescue gameplay, two dedicated rescue vessels, and a range of new missions, events, and improvements. From pulling castaways out of the water to customizing your vessel’s appearance, this update expands life at sea in meaningful new ways.

The update is now available for testing on the public_beta branch. If everything goes smoothly, the full release on the default branch is planned for February 19.

Before we dive into the details, enjoy our small announcement teaser:

🛟 The Rescue Update

This update expands the Tide Guard, the coastguard faction of Seafarer, with two new vessels and search and rescue gameplay. Whether it’s a distress call nearby or a shipwrecked survivor spotted on the horizon, it’s your job to respond and bring everyone home safely.

⛑️ Meet Salvation

Salvation is a dedicated rescue vessel designed for deployment during emergencies at sea. As one of the largest and most modern coast guard ships in the world of Seafarer, she serves as the primary vessel for search and rescue missions. Recover survivors from the water, provide initial care on board, and transport them safely to the nearest port.

🚤 Meet Grace

Grace is Salvation’s daughter boat and is designed for speed and precision. Smaller and more maneuverable, she excels at close-range rescue operations, allowing you to approach people in the water where larger ships cannot safely operate.

Together, Salvation and Grace form the backbone of Seafarer’s new rescue gameplay, giving you the tools to respond effectively when distress calls come in.

🆘 Introducing Rescue Gameplay

Search and rescue missions are an essential part of coastguard duties. These missions task you with responding quickly to emergencies at sea: head to the scene of the accident, locate and rescue people from the water, provide emergency rations and warm blankets, and safely transport everyone to the nearest port.

And finally, there’s a use for all those lifebuoys on board. 🛟

⚓ New Missions & Events

The Rescue Update not only adds new mission types to the game, but also expands the range of random events you may encounter at sea. Occasionally, you’ll be asked to transport fragile or unusual cargo between ports. Rescue situations can now also appear as random events during your travels at sea. Every ship is equipped with lifebuoys, allowing you to assist shipwrecked people you encounter unexpectedly on your journeys.

🎨 Customize your Vessels

This update includes a first iteration of our vessel editor. Feel free to change your vessels’ names and add predefined logos to make your ships truly your own and give your fleet a unique identity on the water. Additionally, you can adjust the colors for most vessels!

⚙️ New Ship Features & Improvements

With one of our previous updates, we introduced windshield wipers for some vessels. These are now also available on Nordic Duchess, Big Trip, and Bulk Willy.

We’ve also heard your feedback regarding bow thrusters. With this update, thruster mechanics have been added to Lancer, Nordic Duchess, Big Trip and Willy, improving control during docking, harbor navigation, and other low-speed maneuvers.

🛠️ Fixes & Improvements

Alongside the new content, this update includes a wide range of bug fixes, tweaks, and quality-of-life improvements to ensure smoother sailing.

Learn more in the patch notes below!

🎮 Try the Update early

Ahoy, Seafarers!

After our winter break, we’re back on deck – and we want to start by saying a huge thank you to everyone who has supported Seafarer since our Early Access launch in October.

Your support, feedback, and patience have helped guide development over the past months, and to show our appreciation, we’re introducing something special for those who have already joined us on this journey at sea.

⚓ Free supporter content for current owners

While we’re constantly working on our next big update with further optimization, additional content and expanded gameplay, we’d like to officially introduce the Supporter Edition and Supporter DLC for Seafarer: The Ship Sim.

However, the most important part of this announcement is this:

If you already own Seafarer at the time of this announcement, all supporter content is completely FREE for you. 🎁

This content is our way of giving back to the players who believed in Seafarer early, jumped into Early Access, and helped shape the game through reports, feedback, and discussion. Thank you for your time, for playing the game, and for sticking with us through the rough seas of development.

If you currently own the game, the supporter content will be added automatically, no additional purchase or action required.

For new players joining in the future, the Supporter DLC, Supporter Edition (bundled with the main game and soundtrack), as well as the Soundtrack will be available as an optional purchase as a way to support the ongoing development. See the Supporter DLC content in action:

🚤 What do you get?

As current owners of the game, you will get the Supporter DLC and the Soundtrack for free. The Supporter DLC adds new content to Seafarer:

🚤 Meet Gull

The Gull is a small vessel similar in size to the Rigid. It comes with drone equipment, opening new ways to explore the sea.

🛰️ Drone gameplay

Deploy and control a drone to explore the surrounding area and experience the seas of Seafarer from a new perspective. This is a first iteration of drone gameplay.

👤 Additional player customization

We’ve expanded the player customization wardrobe with 2 new hats, 2 new jackets, and 2 new pairs of pants.

🎵 Original Soundtrack

The official Seafarer: The Ship Sim soundtrack is included as part of the Supporter Edition, alongside the main game and Supporter DLC. And of course, free for all of you who already own the game. New players can purchase it separately.

🚨 What’s coming up next

With development fully resumed, we’re now heading toward Early Access Update #2: The Rescue Update. This upcoming update reinforces the Tide Guard fleet with Salvation and Grace, two new police ships, and introduces rescue gameplay. Additionally, there will be some much-requested additions like the bow thruster mechanic added to the largest vessels, as well as a first iteration of a vessel editor. We’re excited to share more details with the official announcement (and open beta start) very soon.

Once again, thank you for supporting Seafarer. It keeps us moving forward, and we’re proud to have you aboard.

See you on the horizon,

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

P.S.: You can also join the conversation across our socials and on Discord.

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

Ahoy, Seafarers!

As the year comes to a close, we’re stepping away from the bridge for a little winter break. We’ll be back early 2026 (around January 5) – rested, refreshed, and ready to keep steering Seafarer forward.

Before we go, we wanted to take a moment to look back at the voyage we’ve shared this year – from our first reveal in March to the Early Access launch, and everything that’s happened since.

💨Where the winds have carried us

When we announced Seafarer back in March, we were so excited to finally share what we’d been working on. We knew there were people out there who loved ships, simulation games, and life at sea – and we hoped our game would resonate with them.

And it did.

You showed up. You wishlisted the game, joined our Discord, followed our social accounts…. You asked questions and followed our development updates on Steam and watched our reels and trailers. And some of you even shared personal stories about your time at sea, giving us a glimpse of the experiences we hoped to capture in the game.

By the time October 7 rolled around and Seafarer finally launched into Early Access, it didn’t feel like we were releasing the game into the void. It felt like we were sharing it with a community that had already helped shape it.

🌊What the sea has taught us so far

Having Seafarer out in the world has been a gift. We’ve watched you take command of the vessels, navigate the seas, and dive into missions head-on.

Since release, you’ve given us a ton of feedback – thoughtful feedback, constructive feedback, and sometimes even wonderfully passionate feedback. You’ve helped us understand where the game shines, where it needs time, and where we can improve.

We learned a lot about the kinds of experiences players are looking for, how we can incorporate those experiences in the game – and sometimes, where we can’t.

🧭 Setting expectations before you set sail

One thing we’ve always been adamant about is communicating transparently.  So here’s a reminder of what kind of game Seafarer is – and the kind it isn’t.

Seafarer is a game. A ship-handling simulation game, yes – but still a game, designed to be enjoyable, atmospheric, and accessible.

Our world is fictional by choice, inspired by the Baltic and North Sea but built to give us creative freedom. We’re not aiming to be a training simulator or the maritime equivalent of Microsoft Flight Simulator – we’re not simulating the real world in all its complexity.

Instead, we’re focused on:

• Ships that feel authentic “under your feet”

• A handcrafted world with its own character

• Gameplay moments that feel good – without being technically inaccurate

We are very much focused on realism in certain respects: ship handling should feel authentic, the sea and dynamic weather should truly affect your navigation, and storms should give you a sense of awe at the power of natural forces. We’re also planning on adding options for experts to dive deeper into certain simulation systems.

Seafarer is a space where realism and creativity meet – and where we can grow the game alongside you.

Because the game relies heavily on physics-driven simulation, meeting minimum hardware requirements is really important to enjoy the full experience – smooth waves, realistic ship behavior, beautiful graphics, and stable gameplay. We’ll continue improving performance, but being upfront ensures new seafarers know what to expect before setting sail.

This is a game about ships, maritime occupations, and life at sea, where the ocean feels alive, the weather can humble you, and every voyage brings moments of awe – all without leaving the safety of your keyboard.

🎁 ‘Tis the season for gifting

As a thank-you for being with us throughout this year – from announcement to launch and beyond – we’ve put together a bundle of high-resolution Seafarer wallpapers captured by the team.

📥 Download the wallpaper pack:

https://my.hidrive.com/share/8qf5-mbim4

Additionally, we’re running a screenshot contest. Share your favorite screenshot and Seafarer story and win one of five Seafarer goodie bags!

How to participate:

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We have another small patch for you today, out now on the Default Branch.

Patch Notes for Version: 0.1.2.1324

Player-Facing Fixes & Improvements

Controls & Gameplay

• Improved Bulk Crane Left / Right controls for more reliable operation.

• Adjusted Shovel Crane gamepad movement to feel less rigid and overly sensitive.

UI & Localization

• Fixed missing localization strings for bulk deliveries to:

  • Mettington

  • Drachdelen

  • Crescentport

• Resolved multiple localization issues across the game.

• Improved Graphics Settings descriptions with clearer explanatory text.

Stability & Performance

• Integrated GPU (iGPU) startup crash prevention:

  • Added detection for integrated GPUs.

  • Players are now informed via an on-screen warning when running on unsupported hardware, preventing crashes on startup.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed an issue where interacting with an NPC officer steering the vessel could cause them to clip into the ship.

• Fixed an issue where the assigned officer could clip into the steering wheel.

• Resolved several localization issues across select missions.

• Improved and polished multiple lighting sources on the Lancer.

As always, your reports help us make Seafarer better for everyone. Thank you for your support and patience!

See you on the horizon,

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

P.S.: You can also join the conversation across our socials and on Discord.

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

The Steam Winter Sale has begun – and with it some absolutely amazing offers from the entire astragon lineup! Celebrate the coziest season of the year with our awesome deals! 🎄

➡️ Check out out all deals here!

From now until January 5th, you can embark on the ultimate maritime experience at an awesome price: Save 40% on Seafarer: The Ship Sim!

One bundle, multiple heroes: Discover our amazing bundles containing Seafarer: The Ship Sim and other amazing titles 🎁

Here are some of our highlights:

You may also want to check out the other discounted games from our fantastic astragon library:

• Firefighting Simulator: Ignite – 40% off

• Police Simulator: Patrol Officers – 66% off

• Construction Simulator – 60% off

• Bus Simulator 21 Next Stop – 65% off

• Storage Hunter Simulator – 35% off

➡️ Check out out all Winter Sale Deals here!

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We have a small patch for you today, out now on the Public Beta Branch.

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We just released the latest patch on the Default branch, adding new machine-translated languages, interactable windshield wipers, and additional fixes. The issue with the mission Chapter 01: Helping Hands has also been resolved.

🧭 Full Changelog

New Features

• Added interactable windshield wipers to Bernhard, Rigid, Density, Archer, Lancer, and Herbert, allowing players to choose between different wipe zones and speeds. (More for Willy, NordicDuchess, and BigTrip coming in the next update)

• Added 9 new languages: Dutch, Italian, Spanish (Spain), Polish (Poland), Turkish (Turkey), Danish, Swedish, Russian (Russia), and Korean. (ML Translated. Native proofreading will happen later)

• Added visible mission difficulty indicators.

Bug Fixes

• Fixed Container Load mission not loading in Quickplay.

• Fixed Chapter 02: Breadcrumbs for Breakfast canceling after fast travel.

• Fixed mission markers not disappearing in bulk missions.

• Fixed yellow Compendium notification not clearing.

• Fixed players spawning above BigTrip and adjusted its traversal distance.

• Fixed collisions and lighting issues on BigTrip.

• Fixed lightning flashes appearing inside ship interiors.

• Fixed broken meshes on some NPV tugboats.

• Fixed missing SFX on shovel cranes.

• Fixed bulk hatch animations on Willy.

• Fixed unbounded text in several languages.

• Fixed character sprinting while walking sideways.

• Fixed interaction lock after filling LNG tanks.

• Fixed input display issues when switching between gamepad and keyboard.

• Replaced doors on NordicDuchess for improved navigation.

• Cleaned unused graphics in the challenge system.

• Improved LNG animations and added control guidance.

• Fixed issue where the mission Chapter 01: Helping Hands may cancel automatically.

🌍 New Languages added

With this update, we’re adding several machine-translated languages to Seafarer. We want to be completely transparent about this: these translations were created with machine assistance so we could deliver them quickly to the many players in our community who have been asking for them. We hear you, and we wanted you to have access to the game in your language as soon as possible.

Because these translations haven’t gone through full human proofreading yet, you may notice mistakes or odd phrases. If you spot anything that looks off, please let us know! Your feedback will help us improve accuracy and polish over time.

Going forward, we will have these machine-translated languages reviews and refined by a localization studio so they can reach the same quality as our fully localized languages.

The following languages have been added: Dutch, Italian, Spanish (Spain), Polish (Poland), Turkish (Turkey), Danish, Swedish, Russian (Russia), and Korean.

🛠️ Interactable windshield wipers

We’ve also added interactable windshield wipers to Bernhard, Rigid, Density, Archer, Lancer, and Herbert – including multiple wipe zones and speed options for better visibility and immersion.

More wiper features for Willy, Nordic Duchess, and Big Trip are coming in the next update!

💻 System requirements & ongoing performance improvements

We also want to address performance and stability. We continue to investigate crashes, freezes, and performance issues, but to solve them effectively, we need your help.

Please send crash reports whenever they occur – they give us crucial data to track down what’s going wrong.

If your system meets the minimum specs required to play Seafarer and you’re experiencing issues, please reach out to us at:

📩 [email protected]

Additionally, here's a heads-up about integrated GPUs:

https://steamcommunity.com/app/2582140/discussions/0/684113723162497055/

Here are the minimum system requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

• OS: Windows 10 64-Bit

• Processor: Intel Core i3-12100F (3.3Ghz) or AMD Ryzen 3 3100 (3.6 Ghz)

• Memory: 16 GB RAM

• Graphics: GeForce GTX 1080TI (11GB) or AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (8GB)

• DirectX: Version 12

• Storage: 40 GB available space

Here are the recommended system requirements:

• Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system

• OS: Windows 10 64-Bit

• Processor: AMD Ryzen 9 7900 (12 Core) or Intel equivalent

• Memory: 32 GB RAM

• Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 (12GB) or AMD Radeon RX 7000 (16GB)

• DirectX: Version 12

• Storage: 40 GB available space

As always, your reports help us make Seafarer better for everyone. Thank you for your support and patience!

See you on the horizon,

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

P.S.: You can also join the conversation across our socials and on Discord.

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We’re back with another patch, fixing some reported issues and bringing in a few new additions.

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

Ahoy, Seafarers!

The first major Early Access Update for Seafarer: The Ship Sim has just docked on the default branch. A huge thank you to everyone who explored the LNG & Bulk Update during the Open Beta and already left feedback for us! 🫶

The LNG & Bulk Update is our biggest update yet, delivering three new vessels, new cargo gameplay, new events at sea, and lots of improvements and fixes thanks to your community feedback.

Before we dive in, check out our release trailer:

📦 The LNG & Bulk Update

This update expands the cargo and logistics gameplay for the Crescentport Logistics faction with three new vessels and two new cargo operation types. Let’s take a closer look!

🛳️ Big Trip – Container shipping just got bigger

Meet Big Trip, the largest container vessel in the world of Seafarer.

Take command of towering container stacks and experience large-scale container logistics like never before.

⚓ Bulk Carrier Willy – Old-School, reliable, sturdy

Bulk Willy introduces the world of bulk cargo to Seafarer. Transport unpackaged granulated materials, walk the deck, and operate bulk hatches as you learn the ins and outs of bulk handling.

🏗️ The world of bulk cargo

Bulk operations are now part of the game: Open the ship’s hatches, position the mobile harbor crane, and load bulk materials into the holds. Just like in real life, each hold must contain only one type of material.

⛽ Nordic Duchess – Enter the LNG era

Say hello to Nordic Duchess, our LNG tanker. This heavy-duty vessel is your gateway to the new LNG operations gameplay, featuring manifold operations, pressure management, and MLA alignment.

🔥 LNG Operations – Complex cargo, authentic handling

LNG logistics are intricate in the real world – and now in Seafarer too. You’ll loosen and tighten manifold flange bolts, align and connect the Marine Loading Arm (MLA), monitor pressure systems, and safely complete LNG transfers at the pier.

🌊 New random events at sea

Life at sea is now more dynamic. While traveling, you may encounter:

🚢 A stranded ship requiring assistance 📸 A sightseeing moment with a unique landmark 🗑️ Floating debris

More events will come in future updates as we continue enriching your seafaring life.

⚓ New Challenge System

(WIP) We’ve added a brand-new challenge system. Complete tasks and objectives across different gameplay areas to earn rewards, giving you more passive things to accomplish while exploring the open seas. You can track your progress at any time through the in-game User/Progress menu, making it easy to see what you’ve completed and what’s next.

🌐 New Languages

Seafarer now speaks your language! Early Access Update #1 adds support for Japanese, French, Spanish-LATAM, and Brazilian Portuguese (PT-BR), so even more players can enjoy life at sea in their native tongue.

🧭 Changelog

• Fleet update - 3 new ships

  • LNG Nordic Duchess

  • Container Big Trip

  • Bulk Willy

• enhanced Crescentport Logistics gameplay

  • new container gameplay for bigger ships and bigger containers including special cranes and operations 

  • all new Bulk gameplay, with special shovel cranes and bulk materials

  • introduction of LNG gameplay, including pressure handling and special Manifold charging and discharging operations

• Added progression system

  • The progress screen tracks your progress in a number of tasks ranging across the different areas of the game.

• More jobs

  • Container delivery (Container ship)

  • Gas delivery

  • Bulk cargo delivery

  • Drachdelen: Highlight of the year

  • Practice course: Firefighting

  • Tug operations (update)

• Introduction of Event Mission system, to enrich immersion while on high seas 

  • Event: Stranded

  • Event: Sightseeing

  • Event: Debris

• Bug Fixes and Improvements

  • Implementation of 4 new languages (Japaneses, French, Brazilian Portugese, Latin American Spanish)

  • NPV density option in graphics options menu 

    • allows players to adjust the amount of non player vehicles in the game world to improve the performance

  • Rebalanced rewards for cargo route jobs

  • Fixed ship swapping in the fleet menu (incl auto-purchase and FPS Drops)

  • Improved gameplay and sound FX in bulk missions

  • Generall UI fixes and polishing

  • graphical animation issues on some female NPC faces has been fixed

  • fixed visual bugs with tug boat NPV

  • fixed visual bugs with big trip

  • addressed user feedback on inspection gameplay

🛠️ Status Update from the Devs

We also want to take a moment to tell you a bit more about what’s happening behind the scenes.

Short-term improvements: Right now, we’re tackling issues we can fix quickly, while also moving forward with our content roadmap. These smaller improvements still impact your seafaring experience, and we’re working hard to make your voyages smoother and more enjoyable.

Long-term goals: Some challenges are more complex and will take time, planning, and careful implementation. Deep improvements to gameplay depth and performance cannot be rushed without risking the quality you deserve. Certain systems can only be improved in gradual steps, but rest assured, these are priorities we’re committed to resolving over the long term.

We’re actively listening to the community and are now slowly reaching a stage where we can introduce deeper simulation elements and enhance the seafarer experience to better reflect the journey of expanding your business and mastering the seas. We know some of you are eager for rapid fixes and fully fleshed-out gameplay. Please show us a little mercy — we’re navigating a huge, complex ocean of ships and systems, and every improvement takes careful steering. Your continued feedback, bug reports, and patience are what keep Seafarer afloat and growing. We’re incredibly grateful to have you in our community! 🫶

📺 Early Access Update #1 Release Livestream

In case you missed it, we just had a release livestream for Early Access Update #1, the LNG & Bulk Update, hosted by GametechUK and our devs. Check it out!

Follow our social channels and join the conversation on Discord to stay up-to-date,

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

We’re very excited to hear your feedback on our very first Early Access Update. Your input helps guide our course – thank you once again for being part of the voyage!

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We rolled out Beta Hotfix #5 last night to address some reported issues. Thank you to everyone testing the Open Beta and sending in feedback – it really helps us keep Seafarer sailing smoothly! 🫶

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

Ahoy, Seafarers!

Join GametechUK and the dev team for the Early Access Update 1 release livestream of Seafarer: The Ship Sim – showcasing the brand-new LNG & Bulk Update. The devs will also be answering your community questions live.

📅 Tuesday, November 25, 2025

⏰ 3 PM CET

📺 Live on YouTube:

Don’t miss your first look at the new content coming aboard!

Your Seafarer Team 🚣

Ahoy, Seafarers!

We’ve just rolled out Beta Hotfix #4 to address some reported issues. Thank you to everyone testing the Open Beta and sending in feedback – it really helps us keep Seafarer sailing smoothly! 🫶

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch

Ahoy, Seafarers!

Our first major Early Access Update has arrived on the horizon – and you can start testing it right now!

The LNG & Bulk Update, adding new gameplay to the Crescentport Logistics faction, is now available on the ‘public_beta’ branch. If everything goes smoothly, the full release will arrive on the default branch on November 25.

Before we dive into the details, enjoy our announcement teaser:

📦 The LNG & Bulk Update

This update expands the cargo side of Seafarer with three new vessels and two new cargo operation types. Let’s take a look at what’s entering the port!

🛳️ Meet Big Trip

Big Trip is a giant on the seas – fittingly named the largest container ship in the world of Seafarer. Command its immense deck, handle huge stacks of containers, and experience large-scale container shipping like never before.

⚓ Meet Bulk Carrier Willy

Reliable, sturdy, and a little old-fashioned, Bulk Willy transports unpackaged granulated goods such as building materials like sand.

Explore the rear-mounted bridge tower via its staircase, walk the upper deck, and access the cargo hatches on foot as you learn the ropes of bulk operations.

⛽ Meet Nordic Duchess

Nordic Duchess is an LNG tanker; a heavy-duty vessel built for the safe transport of liquefied natural gas. This ship is your entry point into the new LNG gameplay.

🔥 Introducing LNG Operations

LNG handling is one of the most intricate processes in maritime logistics, and with this update it becomes an immersive new gameplay type in Seafarer.

Once you’ve accepted an LNG transport assignment, it’s time to prepare the ship for loading. LNG tankers use a manifold, a set of hose loading nozzles sealed with flange plugs. Before and after loading, you‘ll need to loosen and retighten the securing bolts on the manifold flange. This opens the connection for fueling and locks it again once the transfer is complete.

At the pier, you’ll guide the shore-based Marine Loading Arm (MLA) into position. After aligning it with the manifold, clamp the systems together and start the LNG transfer. As loading progresses, you’ll monitor the terminal’s pressure controls and keep the system within safe limits.

🏗️ Introducing Bulk Transports

Bulk Carriers like Willy transport unpackaged materials such as sand. Before loading, open the cargo hatches. At the terminal, a mobile harbor crane with interchangeable attachments is used to fill the holds – and just like in real-life operations, you must never mix different bulk materials within the same hold.

Once loading is complete, simply close the cargo hatches to secure the cargo and prepare the ship for departure.

🌊 New random events at sea

This update also introduces a few new random events on the open seas, adding more variety to your voyages.

You may encounter a ship in distress needing repairs – jump in to assist and get them seaworthy again.

Or you might enjoy a peaceful break with a bit of sightseeing, inviting you to take a photo of a unique landmark or point of interest you discover along your journey.

More events will follow in future updates as we continue expanding life at sea.

🎮 Try the Update early

Ahoy, Seafarers!

The crew is back for the new week with Hotfix #3 which has now been moved from the Public Beta branch to the Default branch – thank you all so much for your support, feedback, and patience!

As mentioned in our previous post, this update brings a handful of community-requested improvements, fixes, and quality-of-life updates to make your time at sea smoother.

🧭 Changelog

Bug fixes - reported by community

• Inspection

  • Fixed issues that made it impossible to complete the mission

• Escort

  • Fixed issue that the escorted ship was very slow or even stopped moving

• Hull damage

  • Fixed issue that ships took damage without reason

• Borderless Window Mode becomes default

  • This should avoid several resolution issues that users have reported

  • Alt+Enter to activate/deactivate full-screen mode now also works in menus (try this if parts of the screen are black or cut off).

• Chinese Localisation

  • Fixed some localisation bugs in the chinese version

• Crashes

  • Several fixes on random crashes that have reached us thanks to the community

• Controls

  • Fix for menu navigation using only the keyboard

Known Issues

• In Inspection mission the “Dock next to ship and board it” task is not getting ticked off from the todo list, but this is just a visual issue and does not prevent the completion of the mission.

🌊 Thank You, Seafarers

As always, thank you for your reports, suggestions, and patience. We’re already hard at work on the next wave of improvements and are excited to share more information about that and more soon – the first large Early Access Update is already in development.

See you on the horizon, Your Seafarer Team 🚣

P.S.: You can also join the conversation across our socials and on Discord.

🌐 www.seafarergame.com 📸 Instagram 📘 Facebook 🐦 X 🎥 TikTok 💬 Discord

Ahoy, Seafarers!

The crew is back with Hotfix #3, now available for testing on the Beta Branch! This latest update continues our efforts to address community-reported issues and fine-tune your gaming experience on the seas.

We’d love for you to give this build a try before it sets sail for all players on the Default Branch.

⚓ How to Access the Beta Branch