Targon Studios has officially launched their terrifying underwater extraction shooter into 1.0, bringing new districts, new submarines, and a commitment to keeping the base price exactly the same.
If your ideal gaming night involves cramming into a claustrophobic submarine with three of your friends, frantically trying to patch hull leaks while fending off deep-sea abominations, today is a very good day.
After a highly successful year in Steam Early Access, the 1-to-4 player cooperative extraction horror game Darkwater has officially launched into 1.0. Developer Targon Studios and publisher Playstack celebrated the milestone today by dropping the massive NATIONS update, delivering on the final promises of their Early Access roadmap and officially marking the game as “content complete.”
Here is a breakdown of everything waiting for you in the icy depths of Enceladus.
The NATIONS Update: Expanding the Abyss
Over the last year, Darkwater has received four major content updates, steadily expanding its roster of weaponry, enemies, and submarine layouts. The 1.0 NATIONS update serves as the crowning achievement of this roadmap, injecting a massive wave of new content into the game’s brutal ecosystem.
Players can now explore two brand-new districts: the Japanese Controlled District and the highly dangerous Government Restricted Mining District (which only spawns on district 20 of the endless mode). To populate these new waters, the developers have introduced three new enemy submarine spawning groups—Soviet, Japanese, and League of Nations—adding over 50 new enemy submarine variations to the procedural generation pool.
To combat these new threats, your crew has access to fresh hardware. The update introduces three new unlockable submarines (the Type 3, Type 5, and a highly classified Secret Submarine), as well as new weaponry, including the Officer’s Sword, a Kanobo, and the devastating Fool’s Shotgun.
Multiplayer Tweaks and Suit Upgrades
Darkwater is a game built on communication and chaos, and the 1.0 update brings some much-needed Quality of Life improvements to the multiplayer experience.
Most notably, player helmets will now physically light up when crew members are speaking over voice chat. In the middle of a frantic firefight or a catastrophic hull breach, this visual cue will be an absolute lifesaver for keeping track of who is screaming for help.
The update also introduces specialized Diving Suits to the loot pool. Alongside the standard gear, players can now find a Working Suit (which increases repair speed by 25% and halves item weight penalties) and an Agility Suit (which boosts movement speed by 25% and reduces stamina drain).
No Price Increase and a New Supporter Pack
In an industry where exiting Early Access almost always guarantees a mandatory price hike, Targon Studios is breaking the mold. The developers proudly announced that Darkwater will not increase in price at its 1.0 launch.
In fact, it is currently cheaper than ever. To celebrate the launch, Darkwater is running a 30% off sale from now until April 2nd at 10:00 AM PT, bringing the price down to just $6.99.
If you want to throw some extra support to the developers for keeping the price low, Targon Studios has released a brand-new Supporter’s Pack DLC for $4.99. While it provides absolutely no gameplay advantages, it does grant you the ultimate deep-sea flex: the Golden Diving Suit and Golden Wrench. The pack also includes the game’s complete 25-song atmospheric soundtrack.
With the narrative wrapped up and all planned features implemented, Targon Studios noted that while they will continue addressing bugs and highly requested features, Darkwater has reached the end of its major content roadmap.
Grab your crew, load your pneumatic launchers, and prepare to dive.
Watch the Darkwater 1.0 Launch Trailer: YouTube Link Buy Darkwater on Steam: Store Page