Development Roadmap
Our 18-month voyage to legendary status!
Our 18-month voyage to legendary status!
SEAS OF SOLANA
Development Roadmap
18-Month Phased Implementation Plan
Version 2.0 — Updated July 2026 to reflect the implemented state
1. Executive Summary
This roadmap outlines an 18-month development plan divided into five distinct phases. Each phase builds upon the previous, gradually expanding the game ecosystem while maintaining playability and community engagement throughout development.
Development has outpaced the original phase order: the core game loop is now fully playable end-to-end in the current build. Items below are tagged Shipped when implemented, Next for the immediate devnet push, and Planned for genuinely future work.
1.1 Phase Overview
| Phase | Timeline | Focus |
| Phase 0: Foundation | Months 1-2 | Infrastructure, smart contracts, core systems Shipped |
| Phase 1: Voyage MVP | Months 3-5 | Basic gameplay loop, NFT integration Shipped — token launch Next |
| Phase 2: Cove Economy | Months 6-8 | Resource production Shipped — buildings, marketplace Planned |
| Phase 3: Combat & PvP | Months 9-12 | Naval combat, NPC raids, boarding Shipped — PvP, territory control Planned |
| Phase 4: Social & Scale | Months 13-18 | Alliances, seasons, mobile, governance Planned |
1.2 Where We Are Today
The following systems are fully implemented and playable in the current build:
Core voyage system — Patrol, Trade Run, Exploration, Raid, and Treasure Hunt voyages with resource costs, crew-driven success odds, ship durability, and rewards Shipped
Combat engine — server-simulated deterministic ATB battles with statuses, crits, cooldowns, and a full battle replay/log viewer Shipped
NPC enemies — 5 arena tiers from the Wharf Rats to the Ghost Fleet, with boss signature moves at tier 3+ Shipped
Boarding mechanics — raid voyages resolve through a real boarding battle at claim time Shipped
Loot distribution — doubloon bounties, JP, XP, and resource loot tables Shipped
Job & progression system — "Corsair Tactics": 10 jobs, 40 abilities, JP-based progression with primary/secondary job mechanics Shipped
Cove resource production — Timber, Rum, Iron, Gunpowder, and Gold produced from cove traits Shipped
NFT integration — full trait mapping of all three original collections (Sea Rovers, Crypto Captains, Crypto Coves) with real NFT art rendered in-game Shipped
Wallet auth — replay-proof Sign-In-With-Solana (SIWS) with server-issued sessions Shipped
On-chain token program — Anchor program for $DBLN mint/burn via a one-time delegate approval, live on Solana devnet with the full stack (game → API → chain) verified end-to-end Shipped
1.3 Key Milestones
Done: $DBLN Anchor program deployed to Solana devnet (program, mint, and config PDAs live) Shipped
Done: Test NFT collections minted for devnet play Shipped
Next: Open the public devnet beta Next
Harbor model contracts — lock-up vault, treasury ("Royal Mint"), and token-program reserve bank deployed and initialized on devnet; full loop verified live (lock → harvest → yield sync → conversion → funded reserve). See Tokenomics §1.3 Shipped
Harbor gameplay live — in-game Harbor tab (lock / unlock / withdraw), berth tiers gate concurrent voyages and arena entries, rewards now pay from the yield-backed reserve (verified: zero new supply minted), scheduled harvest/conversion crank, public Royal Ledger solvency dashboard Shipped
Next: Mainnet staking adapter per ADR-001 (jitoSOL via SPL stake pool) Planned
Later: Mainnet launch, token TGE, marketplace Planned
Later: PvP raids, seasons, mobile, DAO governance Planned
2. Phase 0: Foundation (Months 1-2)
Establish the technical foundation and prepare for community building.
2.1 Technical Infrastructure
| Task | Duration | Dependencies |
| Set up development environment Shipped | Week 1 | None |
| Deploy cloud infrastructure (Fly.io, containerized) Shipped | Week 1-2 | Dev environment |
| Set up CI/CD pipelines | Week 2 | Cloud infra |
| Deploy PostgreSQL (Drizzle ORM, release migrations) Shipped | Week 2 | Cloud infra |
| Set up monitoring (Datadog/Grafana) | Week 3 | Cloud infra |
| Configure Solana devnet RPC | Week 1 | None |
2.2 Smart Contract Development
| Contract | Duration | Priority |
| NFT integration (reads all 3 original collections, full trait mapping) Shipped | Weeks 1-3 | Critical |
| corsair_token ($DBLN SPL token, Anchor program) Code complete Devnet next | Week 2 | Critical |
| corsair_staking (basic staking) Planned | Weeks 3-4 | High |
| Voyage logic (implemented server-authoritative) Shipped | Weeks 4-6 | Critical |
| Internal security review Next | Weeks 7-8 | Critical |
2.3 Community & Marketing Prep
Launch Discord server with role structure
Create Twitter/X account, begin content calendar
Develop brand assets (logo, color scheme, templates)
Write whitepaper and litepaper
Reach out to OG NFT holders for snapshot coordination
Begin KOL outreach for testnet coverage
Phase 0 Deliverables
Production-ready infrastructure Shipped
Core smart contracts on devnet Next
Community channels live with 1,000+ members
Published whitepaper
3. Phase 1: Voyage MVP (Months 3-5)
Launch the minimum viable product with the core voyage gameplay loop.
3.1 Backend Development
The production backend is implemented as a server-authoritative Node/TypeScript API (Hono + Drizzle ORM + PostgreSQL), containerized and deployable to Fly.io. Every cost and reward is validated server-side, with rate limiting and an exactly-once settlement ledger.
| Feature | Duration | Status |
| Auth service (SIWS integration) Shipped | Week 1-2 | Required |
| Asset indexer (NFT sync + trait mapping) Shipped | Week 2-3 | Required |
| Voyage service (core logic) Shipped | Week 3-6 | Required |
| Reward distribution system Shipped | Week 5-7 | Required |
| WebSocket notifications Planned | Week 6-8 | Required |
| Basic leaderboard system Planned | Week 8-9 | Nice-to-have |
3.2 Frontend Development
| Feature | Duration | Status |
| Wallet connection UI (Phantom/Solflare) Shipped | Week 1-2 | Required |
| Dashboard (asset overview, real NFT art) Shipped | Week 2-4 | Required |
| Voyage selection interface Shipped | Week 4-6 | Required |
| Ship/crew assignment UI Shipped | Week 5-7 | Required |
| Voyage progress tracking Shipped | Week 7-9 | Required |
| Reward claim interface Shipped | Week 8-10 | Required |
| Basic mobile responsive | Week 10-12 | Required |
3.3 Token & NFT Launch
The token program (Anchor: initialize, mint, spend/burn, admin) is code complete and integrated with the game backend. The launch sequence is now reframed around the devnet push:
Step 1: Deploy the $DBLN Anchor program to Solana devnet Next
Step 2: Mint test NFT collections on devnet Next
Step 3: Public devnet beta opens Next
Step 4: Smart contract audit completion Planned
Step 5: OG holder snapshot, $DBLN Token Generation Event (TGE) Planned
Step 6: Mainnet game launch Planned
Phase 1 Deliverables
Playable voyage system Shipped (dev build; devnet beta next)
$DBLN token program integrated (one-time delegate approval; backend pays all fees) Shipped
All NFT collections minted Planned
5,000+ active wallets Planned
4. Phase 2: Cove Economy (Months 6-8)
Expand the game with resource production, cove management, and player-to-player trading.
4.1 Cove Management System
Cove resource production is live: Crypto Cove traits drive off-chain production of Timber, Rum, Iron, Gunpowder, and Gold (treasure accessories trickle Gold), with island classes granting 2–10 building slots. Building construction and upgrades remain planned.
| Feature | Duration | Complexity |
| Resource production engine (trait-driven) Shipped | Weeks 1-3 | High |
| Building construction system Planned | Weeks 2-5 | High |
| Building upgrade paths | Weeks 4-6 | Medium |
| Resource storage limits | Week 5 | Low |
| Crew assignment to coves | Weeks 6-7 | Medium |
| Production boost mechanics | Weeks 7-8 | Medium |
4.2 Marketplace Development Planned
The player marketplace has not been started and remains a future feature.
| Feature | Duration | Priority |
| Resource trading smart contract | Weeks 1-3 | Critical |
| Order book system | Weeks 3-5 | Critical |
| Marketplace UI | Weeks 4-7 | Critical |
| Price history charts | Weeks 7-8 | High |
| Trade notification system | Week 8-9 | Medium |
| NFT marketplace integration | Weeks 9-12 | High |
4.3 Enhanced Staking Planned
Cove staking with yield based on rarity
LP staking for DBLN/SOL pairs
Compound staking options
Staking dashboard with analytics
Phase 2 Deliverables
Full cove management system
Live player marketplace
Staking with real yields
$100K+ daily trading volume
5. Phase 3: Combat & PvP (Months 9-12)
Introduce competitive gameplay with naval combat, raiding, and territory control.
5.1 Combat System
The PvE combat system shipped ahead of schedule: server-simulated, seeded deterministic ATB battles (statuses, cooldowns, crits, counters) with the client acting as an animated battle replay player — HP bars, floating damage numbers, speed controls, and re-watchable battle history.
| Feature | Duration | Complexity |
| Combat engine (server-simulated ATB) Shipped | Weeks 1-4 | Very High |
| NPC enemies (5 arena tiers, tier 3+ bosses) Shipped | Weeks 3-5 | High |
| Combat reward settlement (bounties via token program) Shipped | Weeks 4-6 | High |
| Boarding mechanics (raid voyages) Shipped | Weeks 6-8 | Medium |
| Loot distribution system Shipped | Weeks 7-9 | Medium |
| Combat replay/log viewer Shipped | Weeks 9-11 | Medium |
5.2 PvP Features Planned
Current raids target NPC fleets. Player-versus-player raiding, defense, and ranking remain future work:
| Feature | Duration | Priority |
| Player raid system Planned | Weeks 8-11 | Critical |
| Cove defense mechanics Planned | Weeks 9-12 | Critical |
| Matchmaking system Planned | Weeks 10-12 | High |
| Ranking/ELO system Planned | Weeks 11-13 | High |
| Revenge/bounty system Planned | Weeks 13-15 | Medium |
5.3 First Season Launch Planned
Season 1: "Rise of the Corsairs" (3 months)
Leaderboards: Combat, Trading, Exploration
Season pass with exclusive cosmetics
End-of-season rewards (DBLN + NFTs)
Phase 3 Deliverables
Complete PvE combat system with replays Shipped
PvP raids and defense Planned
Season 1 launched Planned
15,000+ active players Planned
6. Phase 4: Social & Scale (Months 13-18) Planned
Build social features (alliances/factions), launch mobile, and transition to community governance. Nothing in this phase has been started.
6.1 Alliance System
| Feature | Duration | Complexity |
| Alliance creation/management | Weeks 1-3 | Medium |
| Alliance chat integration | Weeks 2-4 | Medium |
| Shared treasury system | Weeks 4-6 | High |
| Alliance wars declaration | Weeks 6-9 | High |
| Territory control system | Weeks 8-12 | Very High |
| Alliance leaderboards | Weeks 10-11 | Low |
6.2 Mobile Development
| Milestone | Timeline | Platform |
| React Native setup | Weeks 1-2 | Both |
| Core UI port | Weeks 2-6 | Both |
| Solana Mobile SDK integration | Weeks 4-7 | Android |
| Mobile Wallet Adapter | Weeks 5-8 | Both |
| Push notifications | Weeks 8-10 | Both |
| iOS TestFlight beta | Week 12 | iOS |
| Android beta release | Week 12 | Android |
| App Store launch | Week 16-18 | Both |
6.3 DAO Transition
Month 14: Deploy governance smart contracts
Month 15: Launch governance forum and proposal system
Month 16: First community votes on minor parameters
Month 17: Treasury management transferred to DAO
Month 18: Full governance activation
Phase 4 Deliverables
Alliance system with territory control
Mobile apps on iOS and Android
Active DAO governance
50,000+ registered players
7. Team & Resource Requirements
7.1 Core Team Structure
| Role | Count | Key Responsibilities |
| Project Lead | 1 | Vision, roadmap, stakeholder management |
| Smart Contract Dev | 2 | Solana programs, security, audits |
| Backend Developer | 2-3 | Game server, APIs, databases |
| Frontend Developer | 2 | Web app, mobile, UI/UX implementation |
| Game Designer | 1 | Balance, mechanics, progression |
| Artist/Designer | 1-2 | UI design, NFT art, marketing assets |
| Community Manager | 1-2 | Discord, social media, support |
| Marketing Lead | 1 | Growth, partnersea rovers, KOLs |
7.2 Budget Estimates (18 months)
| Category | Estimate | % of Total |
| Team Salaries/Contracts | $800K - $1.2M | 55-60% |
| Infrastructure (hosting, RPC) | $80K - $150K | 8-10% |
| Smart Contract Audits | $50K - $100K | 5-7% |
| Marketing & Community | $150K - $300K | 15-20% |
| Legal & Compliance | $30K - $50K | 3-5% |
| Contingency | $100K - $150K | 10% |
| TOTAL | $1.2M - $2M | 100% |
8. Risk Management
8.1 Technical Risks
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
| Smart contract vulnerability | Medium | Multiple audits, bug bounty, gradual TVL increase |
| Scalability issues | Medium | Load testing, horizontal scaling, caching strategy |
| Solana network congestion | Medium | Priority fees, transaction batching, off-chain fallbacks |
| Key person dependency | High | Documentation, knowledge sharing, backup hires |
8.2 Market Risks
| Risk | Likelihood | Mitigation |
| Crypto market downturn | Medium | Focus on gameplay value, treasury diversification |
| NFT market fatigue | High | Utility-first design, avoid speculative messaging |
| Competitor launches | High | Differentiation, community focus, rapid iteration |
| Regulatory changes | Medium | Legal monitoring, flexible token design, geo-restrictions |
8.3 Success Metrics
| Metric | Month 6 | Month 12 | Month 18 |
| Registered Wallets | 5,000 | 20,000 | 50,000 |
| Daily Active Users | 1,000 | 5,000 | 15,000 |
| Daily Transactions | 5,000 | 25,000 | 100,000 |
| Marketplace Volume (USD) | $50K | $250K | $1M |
| Discord Members | 10,000 | 30,000 | 75,000 |
| Twitter Followers | 15,000 | 50,000 | 100,000 |