Skip to main content
Join The Community
- Join our community
Commenting
Join the discussion
Exclusive Articles Coming Soon
Member-only articles
Weekly Newsletters
Weekly gaming & entertainment news
Member Badges
Earn badges as you go
Exclusive Competitions
Members-only prize draws
Curated Deals Coming Soon
Tech and gaming deals worth grabbing
GET COMMUNITY ACCESS QUICK
For the quickest way to join, simply enter your email below and get access. We will send a confirmation and sign you up to our newsletter to keep you updated on all your gaming news.
By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
FIND OUT ABOUT OUR MAGAZINE
Want to subscribe to the magazine? Click the button below to find out more information.
Find out more
GET Community ACCESS QUICK

Join the GamesRadar community for quick access. Enter your email below and we'll send confirmation, and sign you up to our newsletter.

By submitting your information, you confirm you are aged 16 or over, have read our Privacy Policy and agree to the Terms & Conditions. Geographical rules apply.

Welcome to GamesRADAR+ Community !
Hi ,

Your membership journey starts here.

Keep exploring and earning more as a member.

MY ACCOUNT

Earn your first badge
Read 1 article to unlock your first badge.
Keep earning badges
Explore ways to get more involved as a member.
Latest Games News

Latest Games News

Breaking gaming news and updates

Read Now
Latest Games Reviews

Latest Games Reviews

Expert verdicts on the newest releases

Read Now

See what you’ve unlocked.

Explore your membership benefits.

Explore
Member Exclusives

Stay Ahead with GamesRadar+

Get the biggest gaming news, reviews, and releases straight to your inbox.

Explore

Sign Out
GamesRadar+
US EditionUS CA EditionCanada UK EditionUK AU EditionAustralia
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
  • Games
    • Game Insights
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
    • Genres
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
    • Franchises
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • Insights
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
    • Computing
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
    • Accessories & Tech
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Edge
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
  • Home
  • Games
    • View Games
      • Games News
      • Games Features
      • Games Reviews
      • Games Guides
      • Big in 2026
      • Big Preview
      • Future Games Show
      • Golden Joystick Awards
      • Action Games
      • RPGs
      • Action RPGs
      • Adventure Games
      • Third Person Shooters
      • FPS Games
    • Platforms
      • View Platforms
      • PS5
      • Xbox Series X
      • PC
      • Nintendo Switch
      • Nintendo Switch 2
      • Tabletop Gaming
      • Grand Theft Auto
      • Pokemon
      • Assassin's Creed
      • Monster Hunter
      • Fortnite
      • Cyberpunk
      • Red Dead
      • The Elder Scrolls
      • The Sims
  • Entertainment
    • View Entertainment
    • TV Shows
      • View TV Shows
      • TV News
      • TV Reviews
      • Anime Shows
      • Sci-Fi Shows
      • Superhero Shows
      • Animated Shows
      • Marvel TV Shows
      • Star Wars TV Shows
      • DC TV Shows
    • Movies
      • View Movies
      • Movie News
      • Movie Reviews
      • Big Screen Spotlight
      • Superhero Movies
      • Action Movies
      • Anime Movies
      • Sci-Fi Movies
      • Horror Movies
      • Marvel Movies
      • DC Movies
    • Streaming
      • View Streaming
      • Apple TV Plus
      • Disney Plus
      • Netflix
      • HBO
      • Amazon Prime Video
      • Hulu
    • Comics
      • View Comics
      • Marvel Comics
      • DC Comics
  • Hardware
    • View Hardware
      • Hardware News
      • Hardware Reviews
      • Hardware Features
      • Buying Guides
      • Desktop PCs
      • Laptops
      • Handhelds
    • Peripherals
      • View Peripherals
      • Headsets & Headphones
      • TVs & Monitors
      • Gaming Mice
      • Gaming Keyboards
      • Gaming Chairs
      • Speakers & Audio
      • Gaming Controllers
      • Tech
      • SSDs & Hard Drives
      • VR
      • Accessories
      • Retro
  • Deals
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • Lego
    • Dungeons and Dragons
    • Merch
  • Video
    • View Video
    • Videos
    • GR+ Replay - Submit Your Clips
    • G+RLS Podcast
  • Edge
  • Newsletters
    • Quizzes
    • About Us
    • How to pitch to us
    • How we score
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
Trending
  • EDGE GTAVI exclusive
  • Join our monthly RPG Club
  • Golden Joystick Awards 2026
  • Deal of the Day
  • Countdown to GTA 6
  • RPG Hub
  • G+RLS Podcast
  • Submit your clips. Win prizes
Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more


By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

You are now subscribed

Your newsletter sign-up was successful


Want to add more newsletters?

GamesRadar+

Every Friday

GamesRadar+

Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.

GTA 6 O'clock

Every Thursday

GTA 6 O'clock

Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.

Knowledge

Every Friday

Knowledge

From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.

The Setup

Every Thursday

The Setup

Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.

Switch 2 Spotlight

Every Wednesday

Switch 2 Spotlight

Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.

The Watchlist

Every Saturday

The Watchlist

Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.

SFX

Once a month

SFX

Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!


Join the club

Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards.


An account already exists for this email address, please log in.
  1. Games
  2. Open World Games

Windrose sells 500k copies in 48 hours, proving the hunger for piracy is alive and well ahead of Ubisoft's Assassin's Creed Black Flag remake

News
By Scott McCrae
Published 16 April 2026

Sails milestone

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Woman wearing bandana appears up-close in front of rocky waters and shipwrecks
(Image credit: Windrose Crew)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Pinterest
  • Flipboard
  • Email
Share this article
2
Join the conversation
Follow us
Add us as a preferred source on Google
Subscribe to our newsletter

Pocketpair Publishing has announced that over 500,000 players have picked up Windrose in the first two days, as it continues to tear up the Steam charts.

Last week, it was confirmed that the co-op pirate adventure game Windrose would enter early access on April 14, and after an extremely popular Steam Next Fest demo, all signs pointed to it popping off when that day arrived.

And unsurprisingly, that's exactly what happened, as the game has made its mark on the Steam charts with almost 100,000 concurrent players (and given most games tend to hit their peak in the first weekend after release, that 100,000 seems likely to get surpassed). In fact, it's been so popular that the devs are asking fans if they know anyone at a major ISP to help with server issues.

Latest Videos FromGamesRadar+
Watch full video here:

Over 500,000 pirates have set sail for the Caribbean in just 48 hours! 🏴‍☠️ A massive thank you for the incredible support for Windrose.We wish you fair winds and following seas on your legendary journey.Enjoy the voyage!Check below for details. pic.twitter.com/PvYWyIPk9fApril 16, 2026

Pocketpair Publishing – the publishing arm of Palworld developer Pocketpair – has taken to Twitter earlier today to confirm that in the first 48 hours of Windrose's Early Access release, over 500,000 players have voyaged to the Caribbean, saying "A massive thank you for the incredible support for Windrose. We wish you fair winds and following seas on your legendary journey."

Assassin's Creed: Black Flag Resynced is rumored to be announced any day now, and after months and months of rumors about a remake of what the Windrose devs call "the best pirate game of all time," it's clear the hunger for a good piracy sim is there. But some may not need Assassin's Creed to scratch that itch anymore thanks to Windrose, which currently has a "Very Positive" review score on Steam.

You may like
  • Phantom Blade Zero screenshot shows protagonist Soul looking forward. Phantom Blade Zero has sold 4 million copies in 3 days, with a peak Steam player count of 820,000
  • Phantom Blade: Zero Phantom Blade Zero immediately tops over half a million concurrent Steam players
  • Palworld trainer pointing Pocketpair lead thought if Palworld 1.0 hit 200k players, "that'd be party time" – it passed 900k

"It would just be Palworld 2": Pocketpair says adding a feature from the viral game it's publishing is impossible.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Platforms
Scott McCrae
Scott McCrae
Social Links Navigation
Contributor

Scott has been freelancing for over four years across a number of different gaming publications, first appearing on GamesRadar+ in 2024. He has also written for the likes of PC Gamer, Eurogamer, VG247, Play, TechRadar, and others. He's typically rambling about Metal Gear Solid, God Hand, or any other PS2-era titles that rarely (if ever) get sequels.

You must confirm your public display name before commenting

Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.

Read more
Phantom Blade Zero screenshot shows protagonist Soul looking forward.
Action RPGs Phantom Blade Zero has sold 4 million copies in 3 days, with a peak Steam player count of 820,000
 
 
Phantom Blade: Zero
Action RPGs Phantom Blade Zero immediately tops over half a million concurrent Steam players
 
 
Palworld trainer pointing
Survival Games Pocketpair lead thought if Palworld 1.0 hit 200k players, "that'd be party time" – it passed 900k
 
 
A woman holds up a document sternly in a screenshot from Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown.
Open World Games Crimson Desert DLC debuts to positive Steam reviews, but it hasn't done much for PC player count
 
 
Arc Raiders Frozen Trail screenshots of new player armor
Third Person Shooters Arc Raiders hasn't had player counts like this in months: Steam flies past 125,000
 
 
A masked man carries a baby on his back in Phantom Blade Zero
Action RPGs Phantom Blade Zero will already be "well past" 1 million copies sold, analyst says
 
 
Latest in Open World Games
Crimson Desert protagonist Kliff
Open World Games Crimson Desert studio Pearl Abyss now implementing AI "throughout our entire development pipeline"
 
 
Kliff smolders into the camera
Open World Games Crimson Desert is overshadowed by "the same safe, conventional AAA games," says Palworld lead
 
 
Crimson Desert
Open World Games Crimson Desert players share money making tips after the new DLC added a ridiculously expensive ship
 
 
A woman holds up a document sternly in a screenshot from Crimson Desert: Charting the Unknown.
Open World Games Crimson Desert DLC debuts to positive Steam reviews, but it hasn't done much for PC player count
 
 
A Crimson Desert villain snarls at the camera
Open World Games Crimson Desert DLC is "effectively an epilogue" so you have to beat the main game first
 
 
Ghost of Yotei Atsu holding katana
Open World Games Ghost of Yotei developer Sucker Punch reportedly hit with layoffs
 
 
Latest in News
Key art for Resident Evil Requiem showing Grace with a flashlight, with a larger image of Leon in shadow behind her against rainy streets
Resident Evil Resident Evil Requiem star says Grace Ashcroft's story arc still has "a long way to go"
 
 
A black and white picture of the Dragonborn during Skyrim.
The Elder Scrolls Skyrim lead regrets the RPG’s level cap because players "didn't want" to just start new characters
 
 
Xanthe, one of the lieutenants in The Blood of Dawnwalker
RPGs The Blood of Dawnwalker is getting New Game+ next week
 
 
A GTA 6 promo image next to a best buy logo and a Nacon RXU controller
Gaming Controllers Best Buy launches its Black Friday doorbuster sale, but this is the only deal we’d recommend the weekend before GTA 6
 
 
Peter Parker and Miles Morales talk in Marvel's Spider-Man 2, with the former in the Iron Spider suit and the latter in the Spider-Cat suit
Hardware Sony's base PS5 AI upscaling tech is making that $900 PS5 Pro price look worse
 
 
Crimson Desert protagonist Kliff
Open World Games Crimson Desert studio Pearl Abyss now implementing AI "throughout our entire development pipeline"
 
 
LATEST ARTICLES
  1. "She's never going to be badass, you know, doing roundhouse kicks"
    1
    Resident Evil Requiem star says Grace Ashcroft's story arc still has "a long way to go"
  2. 2
    Quote of the Day by GTA 6 CEO: "Grand Theft Auto franchise is probably the most valuable IP"
  3. 3
    Best Buy launches its Black Friday doorbuster sale, but this is the only deal we’d recommend the weekend before GTA 6
  4. 4
    Skyrim lead regrets the RPG’s level cap because players "didn't want" to just start new characters
  5. 5
    The Blood of Dawnwalker is getting New Game+ next week

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

Add as a preferred source on Google Add as a preferred source on Google
  • About us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...