The recent update, Enshrouded: Wake of the Water, has drawn players back to one of the most acclaimed survival games in recent memory, introducing a refreshing aquatic element to the gameplay. As Keen Games approaches the two-year milestone since the game’s launch, I had the opportunity to speak with creative director Antony Christoulakis about the company’s evolution, its ambitions for the future, and the roadmap leading to the anticipated 1.0 release in 2026.
Reflections on Growth and Success
Christoulakis shared insights into the journey of Keen Games since the game’s debut. With the two-year anniversary approaching in January, he expressed how the team has been “quite overwhelmed” by the game’s success, noting that player numbers have surged to over four and a half million. “It’s really crazy,” he remarked, reflecting on the unexpected scale of their audience.
During this period, the development team has expanded significantly, growing from around 40 to approximately 80 members, alongside some outsourced work. “Everything’s going fine, but we want to slow that [expansion] down now,” Christoulakis explained. “We feel it’s important that the team works efficiently.” He acknowledged the fortunate position of being able to hire talent during a challenging time for the industry, where many companies are facing layoffs.
Looking ahead, Christoulakis confirmed that the team has a target date for the 1.0 release but is not yet ready to disclose specifics. “I think we are very good to go for release next year, but there are still bigger challenges,” he noted, highlighting ongoing plans for a console version and various enhancements.
Community Engagement and Player Experience
One of the key areas of focus for the team is improving how players share their creations. “Sharing your creations with other people is one big thing that we are actively working on already,” Christoulakis stated. He also mentioned other planned features for the full release, including onboarding improvements, combat enhancements, and adjustments to player controls and camera functionality.
Since the update, player engagement has surged, with active counts ranging between 30,000 to 50,000. Even during quieter periods, the game maintains a stable player base of around 10,000. “I think that’s rather stable already,” he commented, emphasizing the community’s strength. “It’s totally cool that we have a big community around the game already, and the amount of time people invest in building incredible things that I honestly didn’t imagine.” He noted the impressive structures players have created, including landmarks inspired by popular culture, which are shared across various platforms, bringing joy to the development team.
To facilitate better sharing of player creations, Keen Games has implemented a ‘feature wish’ board where players can suggest and vote on ideas. “There have been tens of thousands of ideas and upwards on these things,” Christoulakis chuckled, acknowledging the challenge of keeping up with the community’s enthusiasm. The team reviews these suggestions daily, striving to prioritize the most impactful changes, although the volume of requests can be overwhelming.
Looking Beyond 1.0
Christoulakis assured me that the launch of Enshrouded 1.0 will not signify the end of development. “We plan to support the game with new content for years to come,” he affirmed. “There’s no reason for us to stop after 1.0 now that the game is finished. We will continue to work on it full force.” He emphasized that there are no plans for new projects at this time, as the team’s focus remains solely on enhancing the Enshrouded experience.
Enshrouded is currently available at a 20% discount on Steam until Monday, November 24, priced at just .99 / £19.99. For those who have been contemplating joining the adventure, now may be the perfect opportunity to dive in.
