ShipShaper Sets Sail for Steam Early Access on 3 September
ShipShaper will launch in Steam Early Access on 3 September 2026. Independent publisher Wired Productions and BAFTA-nominated solo developer Tomas Sala revealed the date during today’s opening presentation for Six One Demo Days, hosted by Six One Indie.
The announcement marks the latest step for ShipShaper under Wired’s colours, backed by a seven-year creative partnership that first took flight with The Falconeer and went on to rebuild civilisation in Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles.
ShipShaper is built around one beautifully simple idea: designing ships should feel good. At the helm, Tomas Sala is doing what he does best: taking a deeply personal creative obsession and turning it into an invitation for everyone else to create something of their own.
There is no combat, management or prescribed way to build. No intimidating 3D tools, rigid grids or correct answers. Players simply pull, push, bend and shape forms into fishing vessels, tall ships, ironclads, submarines or glorious nautical creations no sensible shipyard would ever approve.
Early Access expands the current demo with the ability to take creations onto the water and sail them, plus new historical weapons and turrets, propulsion options, sail types, lighting, props and more flexible shaping tools.
Once a vessel is ready to leave the shipyard, players can admire it bobbing on the horizon, place it inside a bottle or handcrafted diorama, export it into Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles or take the complete 3D model into another creative project. Models can also be exported and prepared for 3D printing using external software, depending on the design and printing method.
ShipShaper’s free commercial licence allows developers, modders, makers and other creators to use their designs in personal and commercial projects. Models are already appearing in small independent games.
Many of ShipShaper’s features have grown directly from player requests, including historical additions suggested through a dedicated channel on Tomas Sala’s Discord. Early Access opens that conversation further, with feedback helping guide what comes next.
“I can build ships all day, but the real magic happens when I hand the tools to players and they make something I would never have thought of,” said Tomas Sala. “ShipShaper has already gone in wonderfully unexpected directions. Early Access is about throwing the shipyard doors open, adding more tools and seeing just how far people can take it.”
KEY FEATURES
Build without boundaries: Pull, push, bend and shape ships using approachable tools, with no previous 3D design experience required.
More ways to shape and sail: Expand your fleet with new building parts and historical details, then take finished creations onto the water.
Bottle and display your fleet: Place finished ships inside decorative bottles and handcrafted dioramas, then capture them in photo mode.
Take creations beyond ShipShaper: Export models for use in other projects, prepare them for 3D printing using external software, or bring vessels directly into Bulwark: Falconeer Chronicles. A free commercial licence supports personal and commercial use.
Help shape the voyage: Share requests and ideas through Tomas Sala’s Discord and help influence what he builds next.
The ShipShaper demo is available now on Steam. Wishlist the game and prepare to set sail when ShipShaper launches in Steam Early Access on 3 September 2026.