Keen published the Enshrouded 1.0 changelog on 14 October, a day ahead of the release on 15 October at 16:00 UK time. For anyone running a server, it answers the biggest open question: Early Access worlds carry over, converted to a new save format the first time 1.0 loads them. It also adds a few new world settings and leaves dedicated server roles as they were.
Keen say the changelog is long enough to need several parts, and only the first is out so far. This post covers what that part means for your server. For the combat side (level 50, the new spells and the skill tree), see our earlier 1.0 post.
What's in the changelog for server owners
Your world carries over
There is no wipe. Keen's launch FAQ puts it plainly: "You can absolutely use Early Access saves once the game releases in 1.0." What changes is the format. In the changelog's words, 1.0 "uses a new save data format which results in smaller save game files and a simpler data structure in the save data folder."
The conversion is automatic. When 1.0 finds a save made with version 0.8 or earlier, the existing save data "will be firstly backed up and secondly automatically migrated to the new format." Keen have also added measures to load save data "as best as possible" when corruption is detected, and more protection for saves with an impossibly large number of Flame Altars.
Keen do suggest starting over if you're up for it, because the world and the first few hours of the game have changed a lot. Whether to start fresh is up to your group.
The changelog describes the conversion for the game. It doesn't say whether the dedicated server converts a world the same way, so take a backup before the update either way.
New and changed world settings
Four changes touch the settings a server owner controls:
- Automatic enemy amount. A new "Automatic" option for the setting that controls how many enemies spawn in each encounter. It scales the count to the size of the party, and the party only counts players "actively playing in the vicinity", so someone on the other side of Embervale doesn't make your fight harder.
- Pushing back the Shroud. Flame Altars can now push the Shroud back once a world reaches the final Flame level, 11. Keen say the required level "can be lowered to any level via the world settings".
- The values behind the enemy damage slider have been reworked so the setting "better reflects the factual damage increase observed during combat". If your server runs a custom value, expect fights to feel a little different at the same number.
- Updraft charge duration is now a world setting too, for groups who preferred the old instant updraft.
On a LOW.MS server, the first three are fields on the Manage tab: Enemy amount (with Automatic as an option), Flame level for altars in the Shroud and Enemy damage. They only apply when Difficulty Preset is set to Custom. The updraft setting isn't on the Manage tab yet. The server settings guide covers the rest.
Roles and passwords stay the same on dedicated servers
1.0 changes how permissions work when someone hosts from the game: the host sets one default level for everyone who joins, then promotes or demotes players one by one. Dedicated servers don't change. Keen's notes say "the user groups with the associated passwords work as before", and promoting or demoting isn't possible while playing on a dedicated server. Your Admin, Friend, Guest and Visitor passwords keep working.
Smaller fixes that help a busy server
Keen list a handful of server performance changes. 1.0 needs less memory for server and client communication, movement input stays more responsive when the server is under heavy load, and a struggling server has less effect on gliding (the flight path used to depend on the server tick rate). The server performance warnings have also been reworked, because they "could trigger too soon".
What your players will notice first
None of these are server faults, but they will come up on day one:
- The skill tree is reset for every character the first time it plays 1.0. Spend the points again before leaving base.
- Custom key bindings are reset to defaults, because 1.0 adds new controls.
- Worlds and characters are split into local and Steam Cloud tabs. A player who can't find their world is often looking at the wrong tab.
- Local saves have moved. On Windows they now sit in
C:\Users\<your name>\Saved Games\keen games\Enshrouded\default.
What your server needs to do
- Take a backup before the update.
- Update the server once Keen release the 1.0 server build.
- Check it starts and your world loads before telling everyone it's ready.
- If you use Custom settings, look at Enemy amount and Enemy damage after your first session.
Tip: On LOW.MS, Create backup is on your server's Backups tab, and the Update button is on the Game updates card on the Overview tab. Update stops the server, installs the latest game files and starts it again.
Hosting it yourself? Stop the server, back up its savegame folder, then update the dedicated server app with SteamCMD:
steamcmd +login anonymous +app_update 2278520 validate +quit
Not running a server yet? See our Enshrouded server hosting.
What's coming next
- 15 October, 16:00 UK time: Enshrouded 1.0 releases. That's 17:00 in Berlin, 11:00 in New York and 08:00 in Los Angeles.
- 15 October: Keen's Highlights video, "on the day of release".
- Soon after: the remaining parts of the changelog. Keen haven't said when.
- No date: cross-platform play. Keen say they are working on it but "have no current estimate on how much time it will take".
FAQ
Does Enshrouded 1.0 wipe my server's world? No. Early Access saves are supported in 1.0 and are converted to the new format automatically. Keen still encourage starting fresh, but it's optional.
Can I still upload a world from my PC to the server? The new format means a simpler folder layout, but Keen haven't described the files. Our upload guide covers the Early Access layout, and we'll update it once we've checked a converted 1.0 world.
Can I promote players to admin in game on a dedicated server? No. On a dedicated server, roles still come from the passwords. In-game promoting and demoting is for worlds hosted from the game.
Is Enshrouded 1.0 cross-platform? Not at launch. Keen are working on it with no estimate yet.
Do Early Access players get anything? Yes, three decorative base props, claimed from Redeem Add-Ons in the escape menu. Newer players can't place them, but an Early Access player can place them in a shared world.
Sources: Release trailer, changelog... everything you need to wait for tomorrow! (14 October 2026), Enshrouded Launch FAQ: Early Access reward, world (13 October 2026).