A New Era for Rust’s Oceans
For years, Rust’s ocean was little more than empty travel space. The Naval Update changes that completely.
The sea is no longer something you simply cross. It is now a battlefield, a loot frontier, and a place to build, fight, and survive. With custom-built ships, hostile AI fleets, massive floating monuments, and a brutal Deep Sea biome, Rust is expanding far beyond its shorelines.
What the Naval Update Actually Adds
At a high level, you are getting:
- Fully buildable, modular player ships
- A dangerous Deep Sea biome with unique loot
- The Floating City ocean monument
- AI-controlled Ghost Ships and patrol boats
- True naval combat where ships can sink
This is not just new content. It is a new way to play Rust.
Building Your Own Warship
The days of relying on simple RHIBs and rowboats are over.
In the Naval Update, you design and construct your own vessel from the ground up.
How shipbuilding works
- Place a Boat Building Station in shallow water
- Create a Boat Plan, similar to a blueprint
- Assemble modular pieces:
- Hull sections for size and layout
- Engines or sails for speed versus efficiency
- Mounted weapons such as turrets, cannons, and guns
- Storage containers, anchors, and respawn points
Once your ship is finalized, it is permanent. If you want major changes, you must rebuild from scratch.
Think of your ship as a mobile base. Bring fuel, spare loot, respawn bags, and backups.
The Kinds of Ships You’ll See
You can expect four main playstyles at sea:
- Scout Skiffs, fast hit-and-run vessels
- Gunboats, turret-heavy floating firepower
- Haulers, slow but armored loot carriers
- Floating Bases, full mobile compounds on water
Crossing Into the Deep Sea
Beyond the main island lies the Deep Sea, a harsh and unpredictable zone unlike anything Rust has had before.
What makes Deep Sea different
- Poor visibility and rough conditions
- Constant threat from AI and players
- Roaming events like Ghost Ships
- Exclusive high-tier loot
This is not just bigger water. It is Rust’s new ocean endgame.
The Floating City — Rust’s First Ocean Monument
At the heart of the Naval Update sits the Floating City, a massive sea-based hub that mixes commerce, chaos, and combat.
What you’ll find there
- Vendors selling gear, diving kits, and ship parts
- Greenhouses for farming at sea
- A gambling hall with slots and games
- Quests like scientist hunts and deliveries
- Recycler and workbench access
Important: the Floating City is not safe. PvP is fully enabled.
Naval Combat and AI Threats
Rust’s ocean is now actively hostile.
New AI enemies
- Ghost Ships, roaming and heavily armed vessels
- PT Patrol Boats, fast strike craft that attack on sight
- Scientist RHIBs used for quick-response ambushes
How ship battles work
- Every ship has global health
- Fire and explosions impact control and speed
- Ships can fully sink
- Once sunk, they are gone with no salvage
Smart PvP tactics
- Run two-ship squads with one tank and one interceptor
- Use fog, storms, and night for surprise attacks
- Choose between boarding or total destruction
Release Date and Early Testing
Official launch
The Rust Naval Update is scheduled for February 5, 2026.
It was delayed from December to improve performance, AI behavior, and stability.
Want to try it early?
You can play on Rust Staging right now.
How to join:
- Right-click Rust in Steam
- Open Properties, then Betas
- Select aux01 prestaging
- Download and launch
Expect bugs. That is the purpose of staging.
How This Changes Rust Forever
The Naval Update reshapes the entire meta.
Gameplay shifts
- Less inland camping and more ocean conflict
- New raid routes along coastlines
- Offshore bases become viable
- Large-scale naval battles emerge
Economic impact
- Fuel and engine parts become critical resources
- Scrap management matters more than ever
- Some groups will specialize in land warfare, others in naval warfare
FAQ — Quick Answers
Can I edit my ship after building it?
No. You must rebuild it.
Is the Floating City safe?
No. Expect fights.
Will this hurt server performance?
Yes, at least early on.
Do ships have upkeep?
Yes. Fuel, damage, and decay all matter.
Ready to Set Sail?
The Naval Update does not just expand Rust. It transforms it.
The ocean is no longer empty. It is dangerous, rewarding, chaotic, and alive.
If you want to rule the seas, prepare your crew, build your ship, and get ready. Rust is going naval.