Survival games come and go, but some manage to form a community that remains loyal for months. This is exactly what happened with Enshrouded, the surprise German success that has been growing steadily since January 2024 in Early Access. Hardly any other project in this genre has become such a permanent fixture in the Steam charts in such a short time – and the journey is far from over.
“We’re planning… years of new content” – a promise with weight
“Full steam ahead” – why version 1.0 is not the finish line
While many studios quickly move on to the next project after a game’s launch, Christoulakis makes it clear that for Keen Games, the work really begins after version 1.0. In the interview, he says: “We plan to keep adding new content to the game for years to come.” This statement is not just lip service. Behind it lies a clear philosophy – Enshrouded is intended to be a universe that grows over the long term, a game that will still offer new reasons to return to it years later.
Christoulakis also emphasizes that there are no plans to start a new project immediately after the final version is released. He explains that work on Enshrouded will continue “at full speed” – a rare focus in an industry that often thrives on fast cycles.
The creative director speaks openly about how unexpectedly big the success was. Since the “Wake of the Water” update on November 10, Enshrouded has recorded over 50,000 concurrent players on Steam at times. And even in quieter periods, the number hardly falls below 10,000. For Christoulakis, this is “pretty stable” – and anything but a given for a German indie studio.
Growth spurt behind the scenes – what 80 developers are now making possible
More than 4.5 million owners – a number that would make many AAA titles jealous. For Keen Games, however, this is just the beginning. Since the early access launch, the studio has doubled its staff from 40 to 80. This step is crucial, because only with a larger team can the ambitious roadmap that has been set for Enshrouded be achieved.
With the newly acquired manpower, the team can now work on fixes, systems, content, and the final polish in parallel. It is precisely this expansion that makes it possible for version 1.0 to actually be released next year. Although there is already an internal deadline, Christoulakis remains cautious. He points to “major challenges” that the team still has to overcome. An official date will only be announced when everything is certain.
Keen Games is making it clear that quality takes precedence over pressure. And fans can be sure that the final version will not be the end, but the beginning of a new phase for Enshrouded.
