Forthright Entertainment and Gunpowder Games are inviting all fearless captains to raise anchor and take on The Gauntlet, an epic new solo and co-op challenge set on the waters of the Abyssal Ocean in Maelstrom on Steam. Play Maelstrom alone or with friends in this massive free expansion to the hit fantasy naval combat, providing entirely fresh gameplay, alongside a new upgrade system gives players even more tactical options than before.

Accepting the Gauntlet’s challenge will see players take on five progressively challenging PVE encounters either alone or in a flotilla of up to four friends. Each run of five stages pits these captains against fearsome dangers that lurk above and below the surface of the Abyssal Ocean’s dark waters. Encounters feature primary and secondary objectives which tie together into a larger themed mission.

One encounter revolves around the Hunt, where players must sail between islands and sink pirate ships to lure out an elusive pirate captain, all while trying not to get sunk. Players will be awarded loot at the end of each run, depending on their performance. The loot can then be used to upgrade their ships to better face the challenges that lie ahead. All improvements can be carried into both the PVP battle-royale and Gauntlet modes, so players can play and level-up as they choose and won’t need to miss a beat when moving between modes.

Gain a new level of tactical flexibility with the Maelstrom: Gauntlet update, with the introduction of Captains’ Traits. Only ships could be upgraded previously, but now Captains will have the ability to gain power to supercharge them and turn the tide of naval battles.

As an example, Axton Harrowfel from the Phoenix Empire now has a skill tree offering a range of buffs including faster cannon reloads and improved ship acceleration. The new Captains’ Traits ensures that there are now even more ways to customize and upgrade your Ship, Crew and Captain.

Maelstrom can be downloaded for free on Steam. Players that begin their adventure today can launch directly into the classic PVP mode or jump into the PVE Gauntlet update solo or with friends.