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A stagnant sea is a dead one. Alas, worry not, the Maelstrom waters remain ever-flowing and ripe with robust violence! The winds of change bring more than just salt-stung eyes - the team works with their every breath, and today they announce these major updates coming soon.

• Matchmaking Improvements: We’ve optimized matchmaking to significantly reduce wait times and improve synchronization of players within the same power pool. We have fully rebuilt the source code to make matchmaking move quickly and more efficiently. Teams will now be better aligned with matching power levels for a more balanced experience.
  
• Boat Shake Fix: The boat shake issue caused by Dwarves and Orcs has been addressed. While it may still occur in rare edge cases, it will now correct itself within 1-2 seconds.

What was once the lair of the Vile Serpent, a terror to all misfortunate sailors, is now nothing more than the beast’s watery tomb. The serpentine monstrosity is believed to have perished mysteriously during The Great Sundering. But the true danger lies within the heart of these putrid waters: a colossal maelstrom, a vortex of destruction.





The docks are ready! You’ll find your entire fleet on full display in all their splendor.




Note: some elements are still subject to change.

The Phoenix Empire rises, born anew and prepared to reduce all in their path to ash. The Phoenix Empire has new remastered boats as well as new skins coming soon!




You’ve come to wage war, and it’s war you shall wage. The choice of how is now yours to make.

The new Custom Lobby allows for you to create epic 15-player matches, with up to 5 teams of 3 players each. Gather your friends and jump into the action, where you can team up with full squads or even mix things up with bots for a dynamic experience. Not only that, but we’ve added the ability for two players to spectate the battles live – giving you the perfect opportunity to watch the chaos unfold without directly participating.

You can choose the map you want to play on, including some of our most popular old seasonal maps, bringing a whole new layer of strategy and nostalgia to your custom matches. The possibilities are endless, rally your crew, and sail to battle!



The journey ahead bears fruit! We’ve swabbed the deck and I think you’ll find an air of clarity as you make your way around. Once more the call to battle returns and there’s loot to be had! Take part as we celebrate an eastern moon along with ships of glinting treasure.




Two new battle passes are on the way: the Free and Premium Battle Passes, featuring exciting themes like Treasures and Lunar New Year! Fear not! Existing battle passes will still be available and you can continue working to complete them!

The shipwrights at Maelstrom conjure much below the decks, for now, take heed of what’s to come...

Some of the new updates include:

• Sail in style! New store to purchase new cosmetic items and skins.
  
• Bigger treasure needs a bigger net! New pickup ranges for all boats.
  
• (Pre)set sail! Save multiple captain, crew, and equipment loadouts per boat.
  
• Bigger booty (no really)! Pickups for boons and treasure are larger and easier to identify.
  
• Quests are back in a revamped HUD! New player HUD with a larger focus on gameplay space.
  
• Even keel! Rebalanced values for Undead boats (e.g. armor versus hull) with new turning speeds and radii.

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And there you have it. Whether you be warmongers or seafarers, a cheers in your name. There will be more, in time, but until then…the blue wastes await.

- The Old Mariner

~~~

Keep sending us your reports—we appreciate and are always reading your feedback!

Until Next Time,
The Maelstrom Community Team

• Follow the Maelstrom Development Team and our friends at Forthright Entertainment on X (formerly Twitter) for more updates and announcements!
  
• Join us in the Forthright Entertainment Discord Server for lively discussions and camaraderie!
  
• Don’t miss Community Game Night (NA) every Tuesday!
  
• For Stormers across the pond, catch us for Community Game Night (EU)!

Pull up a chair, warm your hands, and let me spin you a tale of the latest tidings from the high seas. Fortune favors you, for the holiday update has arrived! From decks dressed in festive finery to a brand-new tropical haven and some nasty goblin mischief, there’s plenty to keep even the saltiest sea dog entertained this season. As they say, the devil’s in the details—let’s dive in.

The chill in the air is sharp, but the spirit of the season warms even the coldest waters. The seas are dressed for the occasion, with snow falling gently on the decks, twinkling lights in every corner, and cheerful snowmen keeping watch. Trees adorned with ribbons and finery dot the horizons, adding a festive sparkle to your adventures. Whether you’re plundering or celebrating, there’s no mistaking the festive magic in the air.



If the frost has you yearning for warmer shores, rejoice! The tides have unveiled a vibrant NEW tropical haven—crystal-clear waters, lush greenery, and terrain ripe for exploration and conquest. But beware, Captain, this paradise won’t be yours alone. Others will be drawn to its treasures, eager to stake their claim. The question is, will you prevail?



Trouble brews on the horizon. Those goblins, cunning and relentless as ever, have unleashed a NEW menace upon the seas. Goblin Bombers—small but deadly—have joined the fray, adapting their PvE tricks for PvP battles. These explosive pests will test your tactics and shake your resolve. Watch your stern, or it might be the last thing you see.



A fine ship should look the part, and this season, there’s no finer way to make your mark. Some NEW holiday-themed skins have surfaced, adorned in festive finery. Take it, and let the seas know who commands their waves.



The horizon holds promise, and the crew has grand plans for what’s to come. Stay vigilant for upcoming announcements and surprises—there’s plenty in store!

For now, we raise a toast to you, brave Stormers. Your passion and determination keep this world spinning, and it’s a privilege to have you aboard.

Keep sending us your reports—we appreciate and are always reading your feedback!

Until next time,
The Maelstrom Community Team.

• Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter) for more updates and announcements!
  
• Join us in the Forthright Entertainment Discord Server for lively discussions and camaraderie!
  
• Don’t miss Community Game Night (NA) weekly on Tuesdays!
  
• For Stormers across the pond, catch us for Community Game Night (EU) weekly on Wednesdays!
  
• ake on the devs in Community vs. Devs | Game Night, held monthly on Thursdays!

There’s magic in the frosty air and secrets beneath the waves. A special winter surprise is just around the corner. Keep your course steady, for the next chapter of adventure is fast approaching ...

Hi Stormers,

The servers will need to be taken offline and will undergo an emergency fix until 2:00PM EST.

We apologize for the temporary interference of gameplay, but we will see you again soon in the afternoon!

Thank you,

Forthright Entertainment & The Tideturners

• Brought back the counts for Bounties, Gold, and Enemies left in a match.
  
• Rearranged and resized existing UI elements.
  
• First steps on resolving bug with language options.

We are aware that there is some irregularity with fonts, and that there might be some incorrect translations. With further patches this will be improved / fixed. For the time being, we wanted to make sure that languages were up ASAP again, so we ask for your continued patience on resolving this!

NOTE - TRANSLATIONS ARE DONE VIA GOOGLE TRANSLATE AND WE ARE FORMALLY GETTING THEM DONE PROPERLY BUT WANTED TO PROVIDE SOME SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY.

LANGUAGES ADDED

ArabicBulgarianChinese (Simplified)Chinese (Traditional)CzechDanishDutchEnglishFinnishFrenchGermanGreekHungarianIndonesianItalianJapaneseKoreanNorwegianPolishPortuguesePortuguese-Brazil (Brazilian Portuguese)RomanianRussianSpanish (Spain)Spanish (Latin America)SwedishThaiTurkishUkrainianVietnamese

• Additional improvements to UI, including adding quests back in.

• Issues with languages, regarding scale, fonts, and getting a proper professional pass on all translations.
  
• "Screen shake" bug.

Thank you Stormers! Continue to leave us feedback in the comments and in the Forthright Discord server!

• Brought back the counts for Bounties, Gold, and Enemies left in a match.
  
• Rearranged and resized existing UI elements.
  
• First steps on resolving bug with language options.

We are aware that there is some irregularity with fonts, and that there might be some incorrect translations. With further patches this will be improved / fixed. For the time being, we wanted to make sure that languages were up ASAP again, so we ask for your continued patience on resolving this!

• Additional improvements to UI, including adding quests back in.

• Issues with languages, regarding scale, fonts, and getting a proper professional pass on all translations.
  
• "Screen shake" bug.

Thank you Stormers! Continue to leave us feedback in the comments and in the Forthright Discord server!

… to the Dark Hallows. Echos in the wind warn of familiar waters turned evil. A witch can be heard cackling in the distance, the eerie tangles of a spider’s web draw near, all while restless souls seek vengeance …

You’ll be delighted to find that spooky themed decor has been scattered across levels. The seas have taken on a haunting new appearance as well. Be wary of what lurks in the waters this time of year … your eyes may play tricks on you!







Our artists have been hard at work on visual updates to the Human and Dwarf ships! These updates will allow further customization in the future, and we hope that you enjoy these teasers in the meantime!



For this update, we’ve also done a first pass on UI/UX improvements. A big ask was to help readability, and clutter around the screen while in-game. If you have any suggestions for us, please let us know in our discord server linked below!



The devs are still working on previously mentioned tasks, including the New Game Mode (inspired by capture the flag), the New map, and internal PvP improvements testing. We can’t wait until we get a chance to show you!

As always, thank you for being part of this incredible community. Your feedback and enthusiasm keep us motivated and inspired!

• Follow us on X (Formerly Twitter) for more updates and announcements!
  
• Meet the team in the Forthright Entertainment Discord Server!
  
• Join us Weekly on Tuesdays for Community Game Night!
  
• Join us Bi-Weekly on Thursdays for Community vs. Devs | Game Night!

We’re thrilled to give you a sneak peek of some exciting updates we've been working on. As we continue to shape the game, your support keeps us going, and we can’t wait to show you what’s next!

Our seasonal content is in the works! You’ll find some spooky themed decor scattered across levels. The seas have taken on a haunting new appearance as well. Be wary of what lurks in the waters this time of year … your eyes may play tricks on you!



Behind the scenes, the devs have been working on something we think you all would like a teaser on – a new game mode, inspired by capture the flag! Initial internal testing has begun, and with steady progress, we hope that you all will get to play it soon! This new mode is focused on strategic play, and we’re excited to bring some fresh new content to the game!



Our dev team is hard at work crafting an all-new map: Bombardment Bay! This new battlefield is designed for PvP, but it will also be enjoyable in other game modes. Keep an eye out for more details to come!



Speaking of PvP, we’re working on some exciting new features. These updates are currently undergoing internal testing, and while we can’t say much yet, we can say that it’ll breathe some fresh life into the game.

Plus, brand new player titles and other fun themed cosmetics will be coming soon! Definitely stay tuned!

That’s all for now! We hope you’re as excited as we are about these updates. As always, thank you for being part of this incredible community. Your feedback and enthusiasm keep us motivated and inspired!

• Follow us on Twitter for more updates and announcements!
  
• Meet the team in the Forthright Entertainment Discord Server!
  
• Join us Weekly on Tuesdays for Community Game Night!
  
• Join us Bi-Weekly on Thursdays for Community vs. Devs | Game Night!

Forthright Entertainment is thrilled to announce that it will be taking over the development and future of the critically acclaimed naval combat game, Maelstrom, from Gunpowder Games. This new chapter for Maelstrom promises to bring exciting updates and fresh content, as Forthright Entertainment focuses on enhancing the gameplay experience and expanding the game’s reach. As part of this transition, Forthright Entertainment will introduce additional content and a new season pass in the coming months, ensuring that players have even more to look forward to in the world of Maelstrom. The new content will bring fresh challenges, rewards, and gameplay mechanics, keeping the experience engaging and dynamic for both new and returning players.
We are happy to introduce our development partner on the project, the Tideturners team.
A fresh squad of industry vets from various companies. Between them, they’ve helped bring some of your favorite games to life—Halo, Fortnite, League of Legends, Marvel’s Midnight Suns, and Rocket League. They have even been part of creating real-world experiences like Super Nintendo World. Now, they’re coming together to create something even bigger! We are thrilled to be partnering with Tideturners on reviving Maelstrom and breathing new life into the game.

As part of the announcement Forthright will be hosting an AMA live on Steam hosted from ‘Permanent Vacation’ in Florida to chat with the community.

Hello everyone. My name is Blaine Smith. I'm the CEO of Gunpowder Games and the creator of Maelstrom.

I want to inform our players that Gunpowder's time with active development & support on the original Maelstrom has come to a conclusion. The development and live operations of the game has been taken over by Forthright, and we wish them the best in their future endeavors with our studio's flagship title.

The world of Maelstrom, and especially its players, is very dear to us so we have high hopes that the game continues to satisfy as Forthright takes over and works to improve the game.

For any of you wondering, Gunpowder does indeed have plans of revisiting the world of Maelstrom with a new game in the future. We look forward to seeing you all then!

Sincerely,
Blaine Smith - "theRotmaw"
CEO, Gunpowder Games