Ahoy Captains,
Public Test for v0.8.1132 is here, bringing the highly anticipated Tier 3 ships along with a massive overhaul of the game’s core systems. To provide a more optimized and immersive experience, we undertook an extensive refactoring of the entire game—a crucial step to improve stability, address key player-reported issues, and enhance performance.
This refactoring also lays the foundation for future expansions, ensuring that
Ships At Sea remains a long-term, evolving project with new features, content, and gameplay mechanics to come. By strengthening the core systems now, we are setting the stage for an even deeper and more engaging maritime experience in the future. However, due to the extensive scope of the refactoring, this version of v0.8 does not yet include all the planned features.
While you are testing and providing us valuable feedback, we will continue working on improvements and completing the remaining planned features for v0.8 through monthly patches! We didn’t want to keep you waiting any longer, so we’re releasing this update now, with more content and refinements to follow.
[h2]Backup Your Savegame[/h2]
To avoid any potential issues, we strongly recommend that you back up your save files before switching to the
Public Test version v0.8. Save games from version 0.7.5 should automatically upgrade when you load them. However, there may be some edge cases. Please let us know if you experience any problems while loading your save game from version 0.7.5!
Originally posted by author
To find your Steam for Ships At Sea saves:
- Press Win + E
- Paste %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Local\Sas\Saved\SaveGames into the search bar.
To try the PUBLIC TEST, please follow these steps:
- Open Steam
- Right-click on Ships At Sea in your library
- Select Properties
- Go to the Betas tab
- Enter the password: SaSPublicTest
- Choose "public_test" from the "Beta participation" drop-down list
- Wait for the game to update the files (if nothing happens, restart the Steam client)
- Launch the game
[h2]What’s New & Ready to Test?[/h2]
This update brings major graphical and lighting enhancements, improved weather effects, upgraded AMD FSR 3.1, and support for five languages. Additionally, it features a fully reworked cargo and mission system, an overhauled savegame system, and a refined inventory system, delivering a smoother, more immersive, and polished gameplay experience.
Here’s what you can explore and test right now in v0.8:
- 5 Supported Languages – French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Russian, and Spanish.
- All Tier 3 Ships Available – Unlock cargo, service, and fishing vessels from the shipyard.
- Tier 2 Crane – Equipped on the cargo ship, with the option to upgrade to a second crane.
- Fully Completed Interiors – Including the wheelhouse, cabins, and technical rooms. Some rooms remain empty for additional features coming in future updates.
- New and Improved Cargo & Mission System – Completely reworked for better gameplay flow.
- Longline Fishing & Fish Production Line – Now implemented on the Tier 3 fishing ship.
- Improved Longline & Net Fishing Mechanics – Enhancements for a more refined experience.
- New Autopilot System with Three Distinct Modes:
- STBY Mode: Autopilot is on but allows free steering
- AUTO Mode: Maintains direction automatically without a plotted route
- NAV Mode: Follows a plotted route. The map now features two types of markers:
-- Player Markers: Allow free route planning.
-- Autopilot Path Markers: Show the current route the autopilot is following.
- Radar Overhaul – Now supports EBL (Electronic Bearing Line), providing a second line alongside the heading line, allowing players to measure the bearing to specific targets or locations relative to the ship's position.
- New Lighthouse Docking Location – Players can now dock and enter at the lighthouse. (Work in progress – more exciting features to come.)
- New Searchlight System – Players can switch between multiple searchlights and control them independently via the searchlight control panel in the wheelhouse.
[h2]Missions[/h2]
Your first mission are now automatically activated when accepted. You can manage active missions in your logbook under Company -> Missions. All missions are now tracked, and you'll receive both money and XP upon delivery. Currently, only cargo missions are available at ports. Additional mission types, including burning boats, towing, and trash collection, will be introduced in a future update.
[h2]Upcoming Improvements[/h2]
Future v0.8 updates will introduce several new features, including:
We have additional wheelhouse improvements planned for future patches. The steering wheel on Tier 3 cargo and service ships will be replaced with a steering joystick, and navigation screens will be optimized for better usability. Camera zoom on instruments will also be improved, and the interaction system will be overhauled to provide a better experience when interacting with controls. Thrusters will also be introduced for Tier 3 ships to enhance manoeuvrability. Additionally, we are completely reworking the UI, both visually and functionally. The new HUD is already in place, and further UI enhancements across all areas will be rolled out in stages.
- Skip time in multiplayer
- Boat capacity management
- Boat painting customization
- Fish unloading for the Tier 3 fishing vessel
- New cargo items for the tier 3 cargo ship
- Purse seine fishing
- Crew and passenger management systems
- Introducing gameplay feature technical room
- Introducing gameplay feature lighthouse
[h2]Full Changelog[/h2]
- Added missing radio in Fixer
- Added new HUD - UI is a work in progress!
- Added new and improved autopilot
- Added a new and improved boat light system with more flexibility
- Added new and improved cargo and mission system
- Added new and improved inventory system
- Added new fish production line on Tier 3 fishing boat
- Added new lighthouse for players to dock at - Work in progress!
- Added a new searchlight system with the ability to switch between multiple searchlights and adjust brightness
- Added new switchgear system for electrical issues on ships - Work in progress!
- Added new Tier 2 crane on Tier 3 cargo ship
- Added stairs to enter compass lookout south in port of Røst
- Added support for French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Russian and Spanish languages
- Added three new Tier 3 ships, Turbo, Nordland and Skomcat
- Corrected a typo in the radar interface
- Adjusted collision at piers in Røst
- Fixed issue where the Intel XeSS upscaler was not functioning correctly
- Fixed issue with no reflection from the sun and moon in the ocean
- Fixed issue with calendar, causing the game to crash at specific dates
- Fixed issue with key bindings not working as it should
- Fixed issue with longlines and nets not being saved when set in the ocean
- Fixed some texture glitches on buildings in Røst and Kveldsbeita
- Improved character animations
- Improved light on flashlight for player
- Improved logic for measurement unit conversion
- Improved longline and net fishing mechanic
- Improved multiplayer logic when creating, joining and leaving a session
- Improved post-processing as no lights were working during daylight
- Improved player profile system when loading and saving
- Improved radar functions
- Improved searchlights with boosted light intensity
- Improved shop and fishery logic when buying and selling fish or items
- Refactoring codebase
- Removed animation when opening and closing the fuse cabinet. Future improvements for animations in general are planned.
- Issues related to out-of-memory have been addressed through performance enhancements and memory optimizations.
- Updated help text in the logbook to reflect new features
- Updated FSR3.0 to FSR3.1 upscaler
Please note that some translations may not be fully accurate, and stability testing is still in progress. Additionally, certain balancing changes are experimental and subject to further adjustments. If you encounter any issues, please let us know!
To join the discussion, please visit the official
Discord server. There, you'll find a dedicated channel for conversations about the ongoing public_test branch.
Set sail, explore, and conquer the new update!
- Team Misc Games
