I didn’t expect Enshrouded’s water update to be this big, and the director says 1.0 is on for 2026

Why this update actually matters for Enshrouded players

Water sounds simple until a survival game tries to add it. Enshrouded’s Wake of the Water update doesn’t just flip a switch for swimming; it reshapes how you build, explore and plan bases. This caught my attention because Enshrouded’s world always looked gorgeous but oddly thirsty. Now, with swimming and water physics in play, the game finally closes one of its most noticeable gaps-right as the team doubles down on a 1.0 launch targeted for 2026.

• Swimming and water physics add traversal, risk and creative base-building possibilities.
• 1.0 is “very good to go” for 2026, with console versions in the plan.
• Better onboarding, combat tweaks and camera/control polish are in the works.
• Easier sharing of player creations is a priority beyond the current save-file workaround.
• Keen Games has doubled to ~80 devs and says support will continue post-1.0 for years.
• It’s 20% off on Steam until Monday, November 24.

Breaking down Wake of the Water

Enshrouded’s water update is more than a checklist feature. Swimming expands traversal, opening up routes that gliding or cliff-parking never could. “Water physics” is the key phrase here-if water behaves like a system (not a static texture), it changes how we think about moats, cliffside builds, and the safety of low-lying bases. I’m not expecting boats or fishing tomorrow, but adding a fluid simulation layer tends to be a foundation for future systems if the studio chooses to go there.

The timing is smart. Survival games typically see huge re-engagement when a major system lands, and Enshrouded is no exception: the update pulled concurrent player counts into the 30-50k range, then settled back to a healthy baseline near 10k. That’s the perk of being PvE-focused-your fun isn’t hostage to matchmaking lobbies. You can jump in solo or with a couple friends and still feel like you’re progressing.

The real story behind the 2026 1.0 target

Creative director Antony Christoulakis says the team is “very good to go” for a 2026 1.0 launch, and the context matters. Keen Games has grown from roughly 40 developers to around 80 since early access kicked off, which is a meaningful upgrade in capacity without ballooning into an unwieldy mega-team. In a year where layoffs have hit studios across the board, that kind of measured expansion—and the confidence to slow hiring to protect efficiency—bodes well for actually shipping.

The studio’s priorities line up with where Enshrouded needed love: onboarding that doesn’t hurl new players into the deep end, combat that feels tighter, and camera/controls that behave on both mouse/keyboard and a controller. Console versions are part of the plan too. They haven’t detailed timing or cross-play, so temper expectations—but the fact it’s on their plate heading toward 1.0 tells me this isn’t a “PC forever” project.

Sharing builds is the missing piece (and it’s coming)

Here’s where Enshrouded can leapfrog competitors: creation sharing. Right now, fans trade entire save files on Discord to show off those wild Lord of the Rings landmarks and mega-citadels. It works, but it’s clunky. Christoulakis calls better sharing “one big thing” the team is actively working on. If Keen delivers blueprint-style sharing that’s simple and safe—ideally in-game, with console parity later—that’s a huge win for the community and the game’s long-term life.

The devs are clearly listening. Their public “feature wish” board has tens of thousands of ideas, and separate quest progression in co-op—so you don’t miss unlocks if you weren’t online—arrived because players pushed for it. That’s the kind of quality-of-life fix that turns a weekend dabble into a long-term server with friends.

Industry context: what Enshrouded is doing right

Survival games thrive on cadence and trust. Valheim kept momentum with biome drops, V Rising hit 1.0 by tightening combat and progression, and No Man’s Sky proved that big systemic updates can rewrite a game’s identity. Enshrouded is following the playbook: add a foundational system (water), fix onboarding and combat friction, and empower the builders who keep the subreddit alive between patches. The studio also says post-1.0 support will continue “for years,” and it has no new project brewing. That single-project focus is refreshing—and frankly, wise.

My only skepticism: “very good to go” isn’t a date. 2026 is realistic, but survival games slip, and console releases add complexity. None of that is a red flag; it just means you should enjoy the ride now and let the 1.0 launch be a bonus rather than a finish line.

Should you dive in during the sale?

If you bounced off early because the world felt dry or the onboarding was rough, this is a strong moment to return. Swimming and water physics meaningfully expand how you explore and build, and the roadmap—better onboarding, combat polish, sharing tools, console versions—reads like a player-first checklist. With Enshrouded 20% off until Monday, November 24 (down to $23.99 / £19.99), it’s an easy recommendation for co-op PvE fans who love to tinker and build.

TL;DR

Enshrouded’s water update finally fills the most obvious hole in its world, and it’s not a gimmick—it’s a system that deepens traversal and building. The director says 1.0 is on track for 2026 with console plans, better onboarding, combat tweaks and blueprint-style sharing on the way. If you’ve been waiting for the “go” moment, this is very close to it.