Every player in Maelstrom commands their own customized warship with a handpicked captain, crew and equipment offering a range of special advantages. From fast Orc raiders focused on ramming and boarding to mighty Human battleships decked out with cannons and armor for a long ranged brawl, there are extensive choices to be made even before a ship hits the water.

With wind in the sails (or stoked boilers if piloting a Dwarven steamship) it's a battle to the depths, where the last ship sailing claims victory and a wealth of upgrades. Mind the cannon’s firing angles, keep the ships strongest armor towards the enemy, and avoid (or utilize) the numerous dangers of the sea; especially the enormous leviathans lurking the waters.

Players begin each battle on the outskirts of a large map filled with fog banks to hide in, swift currents, deadly maelstroms and monsters. By sinking NPC ships or other warships, players collect treasure and powerups (called boons) which grant significant combat bonuses for the rest of  the battle. When a ship is sunk, its loot bobs to the surface, to be snagged by whoever can swoop in fastest! 

As more players sink, the monster infested ‘Dead Waters’ encroach on the outer areas of the map, reducing the play area and forcing a climactic showdown. Entering Dead Waters is not an instant death sentence, but no captain can avoid the wrath of the beasts which lurk there for long. Only one ship will be left afloat. All players receive rewards based on the gold collected during battle, bounties claimed by sinking others, and how long they survived

Publisher Forthright Entertainment announced that it has signed a deal with developer Gunpowder Games to publish Maelstrom on PC.

Forthright Entertainment and Gunpowder Games promise to deliver a treasure trove of regular content updates to Maelstrom fans including purchasable DLC containing new vessels, captains and crew all with unique abilities. Kicking these off is the ‘Season of the Undead’ featuring three bundles of content from the brand new Undead race whose ships offer little armour but regain health when they deal damage. One of these bundles is the Wraith, a sloop-of-war that can briefly become “Ghostly” after being struck by cannon fire, granting a window of invincibility. Helming the Wraith is Captain Merriden Windreaper Harrowfel whose “Darkest Door” ability allows players to teleport their ship forward. By adding this fourth Undead race into the mix, Maelstrom offers its fans brand new ways to evolve their playstyle from the current Dwarf, Human and Orc crews.

Players will also be able to take advantage of season passes to boost their rewards, earning skins, in-game currency, titles and more as they progress. Even more maps and monsters will further expand the world of Maelstrom for captains fearless enough to brave them. The upcoming PVE co-op adventure mode will also introduce a brand new way to play, enabling captains to join forces and take on even greater challenges for more sweet loot. 

 

Players can buy the first two Undead DLC bundles (Wraith and Dread) for $19.99 each. More updates (paid and free) are set to follow.

New ships and upgrade options are purchased with gold, while mates and captains will be attracted by the infamy of those who perform well in battle. Before each battle, players choose one of nine ships, each of which has different strengths, weaknesses, and a unique passive ability. They can then customize it with up to three crew mates offering stat boosts, a captain providing a signature special ability, and a number of feature choices which can change everything from how the cannons work to providing a speed or maneuverability advantage. 

Key Features

• Tactical Combat: Positional damage, ammo types, and special captain abilities
• Monsters and Maelstroms: Survive a magical ocean and its deadly creatures
• Loot and Plunder: Power up your ship with loot from sinking enemy ships
• Customization and Progression: Pick a captain and crew that fit your combat style
• Fast-paced Action: Use cannons, ramming and boarding to sink opponents
• Solo or Team Modes: Go it alone or team with friends
• Battle Pass system featuring one of the most generous free tracks around with rewards at every level!
• Customize the look of each ship with the new cosmetics system featuring Ship Skins, Cannon Tracers, Wind Trailers, Lifeboats & Titles!
• Always something to chase with the Quest system, Daily Bonus rewards and Epic Quests
• A massively improved and updated mate upgrade system allowing players to upgrade mates with Gold
• A new matchmaking system that enforces fair matches with players of similar strength and orneriness!
• A medal system that rewarding players for thrilling gameplay moments

Maelstrom is available for PC (Steam) and is free to play.