Enshrouded Hits 1.0 After Nearly Three Years in Early Access

Keen Games has officially launched Enshrouded out of early access. The 1.0 version brings a complete story and a larger map, nearly three years after the survival action-adventure first hit Steam on January 24, 2024, according to Rock Paper Shotgun.

The headline from Rock Paper Shotgun mentions the update has “way too much more to mention,” suggesting a substantial content drop beyond just those two main features. The story is now complete, and the game world has expanded since early access. This change gives players a clear ending for a title that has been in development for quite some time.

The 1.0 release is already making waves in reviews. GamingBolt’s review states it “Finally Feels Complete,” highlighting that this release marks the payoff for the game’s lengthy development. GameTyrant has also shared a review for version 1.0. Currently, Metacritic hasn’t assigned a score to the game, so the overall critic consensus is still being established.

Player interest remains strong. Steam shows 63,805 active players, and the game boasts an 87% positive rating from 55,696 reviews. Priced at $35.99 on Steam, this rating reflects the entire early access period, so it doesn’t fully reveal how version 1.0 is being received yet.

Keen Games has spent nearly three years refining the game in public, which aligns with the purpose of Steam’s early access program. With a finished story and a larger map, they’ve addressed some major concerns raised by early access players. Now, the key question is whether the combat and technical issues that drew criticism during early access have been resolved.

By The Numbers

Early access launch date	January 24, 2024
Steam reviews	87% positive (55,696 reviews)
Current Steam players	63,805
Price on Steam	$35.99
Metacritic score	Not yet available

Community Pulse

Our sentiment tracker shows mostly negative feedback from 10 recent signals. This sample is small and contrasts with the 87% positive rating on Steam, so consider it a glimpse of vocal critics rather than a definitive judgment. One negative reviewer acknowledged the strong foundation but slammed the combat: “The world is lovely and interesting to explore, and the base-building is top notch. Unfortunately, the game’s combat system is terrible.” Another critiqued performance: “Optimization is NOT any better. And now it looks worse. I’m confused.”

What To Watch

• Recent Steam reviews: The 87% all-time score reflects years of early access. Watch for the recent-reviews score in the coming weeks to see how 1.0 is being received.
• Performance patches: After the launch, players have voiced concerns about optimization. Keep an eye out for Keen Games’ patch notes post-1.0 to see if they address these issues.
• Combat feedback: Combat remains the most frequent complaint in negative reviews we’ve monitored. Any adjustments to balance or mechanics would indicate the studio is listening to player feedback.