Today, Misc Games launched a public test for the next major update to its hit sea-faring simulation title, Ships at Sea update v0.8.4.
Ships at Sea update v0.8.4 is set to be the game’s biggest update yet, introducing an entirely new map with a refreshed environmental approach, overhauled graphics and lighting, improved weather, the first part of the boat physics rework, and a fully accessible Dry Dock to accommodate upcoming larger ships.
The new map is 50x50km in size, featuring major upgrades to level design, lighting, graphics, weather, and performance. Houses, industrial buildings, and offices will now reflect the new environmental design approach, featuring different levels of maintenance—from freshly painted and well-kept to weathered and aged by the elements. You can see the biggest chagnes to ports below:
- Upgraded Ports: Røst • Vedøya • Kveldsbeita • Lyngvær • Kårøya • Stavøya • Måstad • Værøy • Teist Hammeren • Mosken
- New Ports Added: Bodø • Fenes • Helligvær • Moskenes • Reine • Sørvågen • Å
- Ports Removed: Ellevsnyken • Skomvær
To accommodate the new map, weather is getting a complete overhaul, from heavy rain and clear skies to lightning and intense storms, the atmospheric immersion will be deeper than ever. Dry Docks will now be fully accessible, complete with their own control room to accommodate upcoming large ships as we move toward version 1.0 and beyond.
Speaking of accessibility, Ships at Sea Update v0.8.4 takes another step forward in expanding immersion by making the Office, Tools & Supply, and Fishery areas fully accessible. You’ll have your own Fish Shop, Maritie Service Office, and a fully revamped inventory system to explore, which you can see in the short video here:
Another new feature coming as a part of the Ships at Sea update v0.8.4 public test is Boat Weight Capacity Part 1. The Boat Weight Capacity system determines how much each vessel can realistically carry in total, whether it’s cargo, rigging, upgrades, or fish. Boat Ownership is also expanded, making for a smoother co-op experience.
From a visual perspective, it will also add performance enhancements and expanded onboard operations, such as a working kiosk on the Class 3 Service Ship. Other quality-of-life changes include moving away from the old “Tier” naming and introducing the new “Class” system for ships, reflecting how it appears on each vessel’s official certificate, as well as bug fixes, optimizations, accessible offices and shops, a revamped inventory and UI with added functionality.
Last but not least, the Onboard Kiosk got an update, and The Lighthouse: Repair Electricity mission is now fully implemented. You can check out the full blog post detailing all of the official changes coming alongside the test here.
Ships at Sea originally launched back in 2023. Since then, Misc Games has added new content to the game monthly, with three significant additions since August: tier 2 cranes, the MacDuff partnership, and tier 3 fishing vessels.
The game is available in early access via Steam starting at $24.99. For more information on update v0.8.4, as well as previous patches, like the Lighthouse Beacon, be sure to check back to Simulation Daily.