Today, Misc Games announced that Update v0.8.7, the biggest Early Access update yet for its open-world maritime simulator, Ships At Sea, will launch July 3 at 15:00 CEST / 9:00 AM EDT / 6:00 AM PDT for Windows PC via Steam.

Set around Norway’s Lofoten Islands, Ships At Sea lets players build a career through commercial fishing, cargo transport, and maritime service work while progressing from small boats to larger, more advanced ships.

Update v0.8.7 expands the game from operating individual boats to coordinating larger offshore operations across multiple vessels. At its center is the IMT 9604, the game’s first Class 4 vessel—a large offshore service ship that acts as a mobile base at sea. Players can launch and recover two smaller playable boats from its deck and take on the game’s first offshore wind farm jobs.

Play Ships At Sea for 40% off on Steam through July 9, available now for $14.99.

The IMT 9604 is based on licensed real-world vessel designs and equipment from Longitude Engineering, Z-Bridge, and Steerprop. Their designs are reflected in the in-game crew-transfer and propulsion systems players use during offshore work.

The update also doubles dedicated server capacity to 16 players, giving larger groups more room to build companies, manage several ships, and work together in the same maritime world.

Update v0.8.7 Highlights

• Run one operation across three vessels: Keep part of the crew aboard the IMT 9604 while other players deploy its two support boats to complete nearby jobs. Solo players can operate the same systems independently.
• Keep the main ship steady: Dynamic Positioning automatically maintains the vessel’s position and heading against wind, waves, currents, and drift, helping players launch support boats, transfer crew, and work around offshore structures.
• Take on offshore wind farm jobs: Tow replacement turbine blades using new equipment, introducing a new line of maritime work that will expand in future updates.
• Play with up to 16 players: Dedicated servers now support larger crews and can be hosted on Windows or Linux. Players can self-host or set up a server through 4Netplayers, GPORTAL, or BisectHosting at launch.
• Explore an improved Shipyard and Dry Dock: The returning Shipyard and redesigned menus make it easier to preview vessels, customize colors, review upgrades, and sell ships.
• Enjoy smoother, more realistic maritime gameplay: Update v0.8.7 improves vessel handling, buoyancy and water simulation, fishing systems, multiplayer synchronization, performance, and stability.

Jerry Paxton

A long-time fan and reveler of all things Geek, I am also the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of GamingShogun.com