A pirate ship usually takes you from one adventure to another. In Keelblade pirate RPG, it is also the place you build, upgrade and return to after surviving dangerous islands. That idea sits at the heart of a much bigger transformation: an indie game originally designed for three players has become an open-world adventure for crews of up to six.
Developed and self-published by Digital Confectioners, Keelblade is heading to PC in 2027. Following its appearance at October’s Steam Next Fest, the project offers an interesting combination of tactical boss fights, unrestricted cooperative exploration and a floating home that grows alongside its crew.
Why Keelblade pirate RPG became a different game
Before adopting its current identity, Keelblade was known as Triarchy. Its original concept revolved around three powerful rulers, three major bosses and cooperative gameplay limited to three participants. It was a considerably narrower adventure than the one currently being developed.
However, monthly public playtests throughout 2026 changed the studio’s priorities. Players enjoyed the combat encounters and challenging bosses, yet repeatedly asked for more opportunities to explore. Rather than simply adding extra islands, Digital Confectioners redesigned the world as an interconnected archipelago, introduced customizable ships and doubled the maximum crew size.
On September 4, the studio officially renamed the project Keelblade. Within its fantasy setting, that word represents a legendary title coveted by pirates across the islands. The change therefore reflects more than new branding: the adventure is no longer defined primarily by three enemies, but by the journey players undertake to build their reputation.
A pirate ship that becomes your workshop, shelter and home
Perhaps the most distinctive feature is how Keelblade treats its ship. Instead of functioning exclusively as transportation, the vessel becomes a customizable base. Players can build directly on its deck, creating workshops, storage areas, kitchens, research spaces and shelters according to their needs.
That design gives exploration a practical purpose. A journey to a remote island might uncover valuable treasure, unfamiliar monsters or resources needed for an important upgrade. Even something as ordinary as chopped wood can contribute to researching blueprints and crafting new equipment for the crew or its ship.
Furthermore, the archipelago becomes increasingly dangerous as players travel farther from safer waters. Trolls, giant crabs and formidable bosses stand between pirates and their next discovery. Official footage includes a cannon-carrying sea creature, a shark-like monster covered in harpoons and a dragon attacking a ship with fire. There is even a giant turtle serving as a blacksmith.
The concept recalls the freedom of Sea of Thieves, although Keelblade places greater emphasis on character progression and demanding combat. It also shares the appeal of open-ended exploration found in No Man’s Sky’s expansive adventures, while concentrating its progression around a single evolving pirate vessel.
Six-player co-op without the usual soulslike restrictions
Keelblade’s combat takes inspiration from FromSoftware’s action RPGs. Players must study enemy attacks, dodge or roll away from danger, parry incoming strikes and break defenses before committing to an offensive. Positioning matters, particularly against large enemies capable of punishing careless attacks.
Nevertheless, Digital Confectioners describes its approach as soulslite. Weapons, equipment, dual-wield combinations, abilities and a talent tree featuring magical powers allow players to develop different fighting styles. One pirate might specialize in absorbing damage, while another supports allies with complementary abilities.
Its cooperative structure could prove equally important. Keelblade supports full solo play alongside online crews of up to six players. There is no summoning system that separates participants after defeating a boss, and entering another area does not automatically end the session.
More importantly, there is no tethering between crew members. Friends can explore separate islands, collect resources independently and reunite later. Quest progress is also shared across the crew, removing a common frustration when groups attempt to advance through a lengthy RPG together.
This approach offers a different cooperative philosophy from many boss-focused action games. For comparison, FromSoftware’s multiplayer-focused The Duskbloods represents another direction for challenging online experiences. Keelblade instead places uninterrupted shared exploration at the center of its design.
What happens after Steam Next Fest and when is release?
Keelblade’s demo was playable during Steam Next Fest starting October 19, 2026. On October 27, Digital Confectioners confirmed on Steam that the demo was no longer available. The studio says it is returning to development with feedback gathered from the demo and earlier playtests.
Digital Confectioners intends to improve existing systems, expand the available content and refine the overall experience before release. Its willingness to rethink Triarchy after testing provides useful context, although the final quality of Keelblade’s expanded world remains to be demonstrated.
According to its official Steam listing, Keelblade launches in 2027 for Windows and Linux. No specific release date has been announced, and there is currently no confirmation of PlayStation, Xbox or Nintendo versions.
The Steam page also lists full controller support, including DualShock and DualSense, Steam Cloud, adjustable difficulty and several accessibility options. Text localization covers numerous languages, including Spanish, while voice acting is available in English.
Although speculation about a possible FromSoftware pirate project continues to circulate, no such game has been officially confirmed. Keelblade should therefore be judged on its own ambitions rather than treated as a substitute for an unannounced title.
Ultimately, the appeal of Keelblade pirate RPG lies in how its systems connect: challenging encounters encourage preparation, exploration supplies materials, and those materials transform the ship that carries everyone into the next adventure. Whether Digital Confectioners can make that entire loop satisfying will be one of the most interesting questions ahead of its 2027 release.
Creator of the website, Pokemon trainer by nature. Trying to report on everything related to the world of video games, series and movies. Yu-Gi-Oh is my weakness, collecting cards since the dawn of time.
