Today, Misc Games launched the next major update to its hit sea-faring simulation title, Ships at Sea update v0.8.5.
Ships at Sea update v0.8.5 is yet another major update, focusing heavily on making ships feel more realistic and natural on the water, with major improvements to buoyancy, steering, engine behavior, separate thrusters, and overall handling. This is technically Part 2 of our Buoyancy and Ship Physics Overhaul, all of which are listed below:
- More natural wave response with reduced bouncing and jittering
- Improved buoyancy and wave interaction in rough seas
- Improved steering and maneuverability at both low and high speeds
- Smoother acceleration and more controlled deceleration
- Resolved overly aggressive instant turning behavior
- More accurate weight distribution, engine, and propeller force simulation
- Support for multiple engines and rudders
- Refined wave height transitions between open ocean and calmer areas
- Reduced water flow disturbance effects on some boats — propellers and keels are no longer visibly exaggerated
- Optimized water shader and overall performance improvements
Ships at Sea update v0.8.5 also introduces the Sea Taxi system for faster travel between locations and company-owned ships, the new Burning House mission, and numerous quality-of-life, UI, stability, and performance improvements.
For the Sea Taxi System, you can jump between locations within Port Røst, for example, between the main port and Port Glea, improving navigation in larger harbor areas. You can even teleport with your entire ship and crew with your handheld radio, though it is going to cost you.
The Burning House is a fully dynamic emergency event, playable in both single-player and co-op, as buildings will now progress through multiple stages of fire and destruction, creating a more reactive and realistic firefighting scenario. Completing these missions results in higher payouts and better rewards, reflecting the increased risk and effort involved. Water cannon pressure has also been adjusted to help fight more difficult fires.
Level design and enhanced lighting have also been implemented, as nighttime and winter scenes feel more atmospheric and areas like Dry Dock have been teased to get more updates in later patches. Other additions like Class 3 Service Ship fridge storage and a new Captain’s Chair are just one of the many other adjustments, which you can see detailed in the official patch notes here.
After update v0.8.5, the next steps will focus on building further and faster, introducing larger ship classes, expanding gameplay, and deeper systems that fully utilize the improved technology. Since Ships at Sea originally launched back in 2023, 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 v0.8.5, as well as previous patches like the Lighthouse Beacon, be sure to check back to Simulation Daily.
