Playtest season has arrived for many survival games, and Windrose is no exception. The developers have just rolled out a public demo as part of this year’s Steam Next Fest.

The demo is described as a focused slice of the full game, meant to introduce core systems and give players a clear feel for the loop. It offers around 4 to 6 hours of content for a typical run, and longer if you take your time.

You can expect to visit the first 3 islands of the archipelago and get your first ship. The slice includes basic naval combat and boarding, early quests and survival mechanics, a selection of weapons and enemies, and the building and crafting that sit at the heart of the experience.

If you plan to play with friends, note that co-op in the demo runs through player-hosted sessions and supports up to 4 people. Dedicated servers are not part of the demo build and will come later with Early Access. The developers also note that progress made in the demo does not carry over to the Early Access version.

Some players have reported connection problems while trying co-op sessions, and the studio has acknowledged that disconnects and other network issues are affecting a portion of the player base. The team says it is looking into the matter and aims to fix those problems. If you run into trouble, checking the game’s Discord channel or Steam announcements is a good first step.

As a small gift, it also includes a participation reward. Launching the demo grants you a decorative spyglass that will appear in your account when Early Access arrives.

The demo is available on Steam and comes with a new trailer. It should give players a good look at what the developers have built before they jump into Windrose, coming later this year.