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The Ashlands is a planned biome for Windrose, first revealed in the August 2025 Devblog #5 announcement. It is NOT available at the April 14, 2026 Early Access launch; it is the most prominent planned post-launch biome. The Ashlands represent a scorched, volcanic region covered by ashfall from a major eruption 100 years ago, tied narratively to the game's supernatural corruption plotline.

The three biomes shipped at Early Access launch are Coastal Jungle, Foothills, and Cursed Swamps. The Ashlands will be added during Early Access as part of the roughly 50 percent content expansion planned before the 1.0 release (a 1.5 to 2.5 year roadmap).

Current Status

Theme and Setting

The Ashlands are described as a scorched, volcanic biome covered by ashfall from an eruption 100 years prior to the game's events. Players will use pickaxes to dig through volcanic ash to uncover secrets and treasures buried under it. The biome ties into the supernatural corruption spreading through the world, suggesting the eruption was not purely natural. Community speculation connects the Ashlands to real-world inspirations like the Soufrière Hills volcano on Montserrat in the Caribbean.

Planned Content

• High-tier resources buried under volcanic ash, requiring pickaxes to extract

• Expansive dungeons with new quests and challenging boss encounters

• Corrupted enemies — supernatural variants with new abilities

• Skeleton enemies — particularly vulnerable to Crude damage (clubs, halberds, maces)

• New story content extending the Columbus's Book of Prophecies and supernatural corruption plotlines

Historical Context

The Ashlands was originally part of the Crosswind-era design before the pivot. It was revealed in the August 2025 Devblog #5 that announced the pivot from free-to-play MMO to buy-to-play PvE co-op, alongside the Tortuga redesign as "a besieged outpost." Kraken Express has consistently kept the Ashlands on the roadmap across the Crosswind → Windrose → Kraken Express studio renaming periods, signaling the biome remains a committed part of the 1.0 vision.

Narrative Connection

The Ashlands are described as "tied to the supernatural corruption spreading through the world." Exactly how this connects to Blackbeard's pact with dark powers, the Columbus's Book of Prophecies treasure, and the Cursed Swamps plague is part of the story that will unfold when the biome releases. The gameplay loop (digging through ash for high-tier resources) suggests a unique exploration mechanic distinct from the other three biomes' more open terrain.

Timing Expectations

Kraken Express has not committed to a specific release date for the Ashlands during Early Access. Given the 1.5 to 2.5 year Early Access window and the priority of polishing the three launch biomes, players should expect the Ashlands to arrive via a major content patch at some point during 2026 or 2027 rather than immediately after launch. Watch the Steam news feed and community hub for announcements.

See Also

• Procedural Biomes — full biome progression including launch biomes

• Cursed Swamps — the final launch biome before Ashlands content arrives

• Roadmap — Early Access content plans

• Supernatural Forces — dark powers lore connecting the Ashlands

• Crosswind — development history including the August 2025 Ashlands reveal