New Enshrouded update Wake of the Water totally transforms the world, but its dev was "mindful not to destroy your base"

New Enshrouded update Wake of the Water brings one of the most long-absent features to the world: the titular wet stuff. The fantastical, open-world survival-crafting creation of developer Keen Games has always had a lot going for it. I'd certainly rank it not only among the best survival games in recent years, but also one that really stands out from the rest of the pack mechanically. However, it's been notoriously dry… until now. As the team prepares to unleash water across your Enshrouded worlds, I spoke with creative director Antony Christoulakis to learn how deep the simulation goes, and what it means for your existing characters.

Unsurprisingly, water is very much at the heart of the Enshrouded Wake of the Water update. Integrated with a voxel-based simulation that allows it to move freely and be interacted with dynamically, it will flow across the environments of the open-world game and even right through your base if you let it. You can swim in it, catch fish from it, use it to water and grow plants, gather it up and store it in barrels and pools, whatever you might imagine. While it'll be most present in the new biome, a lush, forested region called the Veilwater Basin, Christoulakis tells me it'll be added everywhere else "in more limited quantities."

The Veilwater Basin acts as the new Enshrouded endgame, with ten more levels and a range of additional skills, weapons, armor, and so on to earn. "Obviously, it would be sad if players have to wait until they reach this biome [to see water]," Christoulakis remarks. "So we have smaller lakes in different locations, like an oasis in the desert, stuff in all the biomes so players can get to it early."

Because Wake of the Water works with existing worlds, he says the team has tried to minimize the chance that you'll end up with a lake right where you've set up camp. "The water won't spawn in your base, but the lake will spawn outside your base, and this could lead to water spilling into your base after you launch the game." Fortunately, you can quickly suck this up with tools such as a watering can. Drains are also easily accessible, and these are relatively player-friendly, essentially siphoning any water into the mystical underground void without having to think too hard about where it's going.

Early on, you'll have to actively seek out water and transport it to your base, but later in the progression curve you'll be able to craft springs that will generate as much as you need. "The water will spill out indefinitely up to the level of the spring, basically," Christoulakis explains. "There's no guardrails. But the ground itself has different properties - ground like sand will suck up water automatically, so it'll flow over it, but after a while it will dry out." Because the water level doesn't rise above the spring, you can also put one into a pool and it won't overflow.

Swimming and diving is a big part of the update, and you'll certainly need to do it when exploring the Veilwater Basin. Not only is it required to explore part of a dungeon I'm shown, but a later chest trap causes the room to fill with water, which means you're forced to swim to find your way out. Christoulakis says that you'll have a limited air supply to deal with, which he compares initially to the time you can sustain against frost in areas of extreme cold. You'll be able to increase this eventually, and there are also objects in some underwater zones that will allow you to refill your air on the go.

"You can also build underwater bases, which might be interesting," Christoulakis adds. "You cannot directly place an altar into a lake, but you can place it next to one. And then in your building range, you can place another so that one is underwater. We try not to make it super easy, because then there are easy ways to drain the lakes, and we didn't want to [encourage] cheating that way. But if you build an altar, it will have a little air bubble around it, so you can always spawn safely in your base if it gets flooded for whatever reason."

The other good news for base-building enthusiasts is that water isn't destructive and won't push all your carefully placed objects around. "There will be situations where water gets into your base, especially when we launch the feature, and we were very mindful not to destroy your base," Christoulakis reassures me. Additionally, there's a new server role that will limit a player's ability to manipulate the world outside of bases, which you can use if you're worried about someone going rogue and attempting to siphon a nearby lake into your beloved home.

Another long-time request is the introduction of two-handed greatswords, which come with a wide range of moves including vertical, overhead swipes, long-range pokes and thrusts, and flashier options such as spin attacks and enemy-launching uppercuts. Combat has been given a dramatic overhaul with balance changes and adjustments to make it feel more fluid and dynamic. You're even able to grow, roast, and grind coffee beans, with different varieties of hot drink providing class-specific buffs.

You'll need to come well equipped if you're going to take on the new lizardfolk race, the Drak, who bring big swords and giant leaps into battle. They're naturally adept underwater, but just as dangerous on land, especially if they group up. I get to see a Drak Heavy in action, who's about two to three times the player's height and will cover the floor in obsidian spikes that bar your path if you aren't quick to clear them out with attacks.

While the Drak are primarily hostile, you can learn about them from various lore items dotted around the new biome, although doing so will require the use of a potion to read their language. You'll also be able to get your hands on vast piles of gold coins, which can be found in impressive amounts and mined for your own use. There's a new fisherman NPC who likes these and will use them in certain recipes, but outside of that they're mostly a decorative tool.

"I don't think we have a new gold building block," Christoulakis ponders, "but there is gold being used for certain other blocks that have gold decorations, so you will need some for that. But the gold coin stuff is mostly a thing to finally have proper treasure chambers in the game for players. That was the key intent in the beginning."

The update has plenty of other options for thematic building, too, with a range of new resources such as bamboo. You'll also spot welcome quality-of-life upgrades like the ability to put down signs anywhere (either on walls or freestanding) so that you can leave messages and labels. Personally, I can't wait to see some of the grander creations the Enshrouded community is able to bring to life now that they can incorporate fully free-flowing water.

The Enshrouded Wake of the Water update is out now. You'll find the game on Steam, priced at $29.99 / £24.99. Head here if you're ready to dive into the new offering.