I must admit, I was completely caught off guard. I’ve been so focused on the recent Rust meta-shifts and the ongoing workbench changes that I missed the early buzz about the true game-changer: the Naval Update. To be frank, I’ve been so buried in production for A Christmas Carol—Acts 1 and 2 are now streaming for free wherever you listen to music or podcasts—that I haven’t had time to check the Staging Branch. I’ve been so out of touch I haven’t really focused on any announcements or hype at all.
Now that I’ve seen what Facepunch is planning, it’s clear this is not just a standard monthly patch; it’s an entirely new chapter for the game. The sheer scope of this project is so vast that it has caused a significant delay, pushing the launch back to February 5, 2026. Facepunch COO Alistair McFarlane offered a straightforward explanation, admitting, “We took on too much.” While delays sting, the reason is fantastic: they would “feel worse shipping something half baked,” confirming they are going all-out on a monumental feature set.
And frankly, now that I see what’s being planned, the salt-hearted pirate in me is super excited.
Sailing into a New Era: The Alleged Features
The two-month delay is a trade-off for an update that will completely rework and expand the entire ocean environment. This is far beyond adding a new fishing boat; it is about building an entirely new domain for PvP and base-building.
Here is a breakdown of the alleged content that is fueling all this hype:
Modular, Player-Built Boats: This is the most exciting piece of news. Players will gain the ability to use Boat Building Stations to construct custom vessels from the keel up. This involves placing modular components like hulls, sails, engines, and anchors, allowing groups to design specialized ships for different purposes—from fast raiders to lumbering cargo haulers. Forget the floating 2×1; we’re talking full naval bases.
The Deep Sea and Floating City: The map’s edges are no longer a boundary. The update introduces a massive new Deep Sea region, accessible by sailing past the island’s edge. This new realm will house unique monuments, including a colossal Floating City. This ocean monument has been described as a massive floating hub—a mix of Outpost, Bandit Camp, and Fishing Village—creating an instant, major new target for server control.
Cannons and Naval Combat: The dream of pirate warfare is finally becoming a reality. The patch will introduce craftable Cannons that can be mounted directly onto player-built ships. This new ordnance, combined with upgrades to the hostile AI Patrol Fleets (which now use PT Boats and RHIBs with mounted guns and coordinated behavior), promises intense, cinematic ship-to-ship firefights.
Ghost Ships: These are new AI-controlled vessels that will roam the Deep Sea, acting as dynamic events. Crewed by scientists, these Ghost Ships will be a dangerous but rewarding target for those willing to venture into the rougher waves.
The commitment from Facepunch to push the game’s boundaries with modular construction, sinking mechanics, and an entire deep-sea biome confirms this update will be worth the wait.
The official release is set for February 5, 2026. I’m already clearing my schedule for that wipe. This feels like the biggest shift in Rust since the introduction of electricity.
You can read more on the FacePunch official blog.