Why Early Access?

“Ship of the Line* is a deep tactical wargame of 17th–19th century naval warfare. Its battles — where wind and sail, broadside volleys, and fleet formations all interlock — are best refined through the many different strategies that real players bring to them.

We want to evolve the ship balance, the AI's decision-making, the multiplayer experience, and the historical scenarios to come alongside genuine feedback from the community. In particular, this PC version introduces keyboard-and-mouse controls and new rendering, so working together with players to raise its quality before full release is, we believe, essential.”

Approximately how long will this game be in Early Access?

“We are planning on roughly 6 to 12 months. That said, this timeframe may be adjusted flexibly depending on the pace of content additions, stabilization, and how community feedback is incorporated. Rather than simply running out a set period, our goal is to release when the game has reached a level of quality worthy of a full launch.”

How is the full version planned to differ from the Early Access version?

“For the full version, we aim to deliver a richer and deeper experience, and are currently planning the following directions:

- Additional historical naval scenarios, ships, and ship classes
- Expansion of the multiplayer modes (e.g., matchmaking, spectating, and records — under consideration)
- More refined AI tactics and ship balance
- Improvements to the UI, accessibility, and quality-of-life features, along with more supported languages

All of the above are directions we are currently planning, and their priority and scope may be adjusted based on community feedback.”

What is the current state of the Early Access version?

“The current version is fully playable from start to finish.

- **19 historical naval battles** — real engagements from the Kentish Knock (1652) through Trafalgar (1805) and Navarino (1827), including a Spanish Armada (1588) skirmish
- **8 tutorials** — step-by-step lessons on sailing, wind, gunnery, and formations
- **AI solo play** and **real-time multiplayer**
- Hex-based tactical combat governed by wind and sail angle, broadside volleys, and fleet formations
- Per-scenario best scores and trophies
- Korean, English, and Japanese language support

This engine is built on a core already released and proven on mobile (iOS), with the PC version adding a desktop interface and new rendering.”

Will the game be priced differently during and after Early Access?

“Yes. The game will be available at a lower price during Early Access, and the price may gradually increase as new content and features are added on the way to full release. Players who join during Early Access will receive the full game and all future updates at no additional cost. A single purchase unlocks everything — there are no in-app purchases, subscriptions, or loot boxes.

”

How are you planning on involving the Community in your development process?

“We plan to communicate directly with players through the Steam Community Hub and discussion boards⟨, as well as an official Discord⟩.

- Gathering suggestions and opinions on balance, AI, and new scenarios, and reflecting them in our update priorities
- Running a bug-report channel with prompt responses
- Sharing patch notes summarizing changes with each major update
- Listening to which historical battles players would like to see next

We believe the knowledgeable insight of those who love the subject of naval warfare in the age of sail is exactly what will drive this game forward the fastest.”