Update: The redesigned DuckDuckGo search engine is now live and available to everyone.

DuckDuckGo, a privacy-focused search engine that skyrocketed in size following mass-surveillance leaks, will soon be completely redesigned.

According to a blog post from DuckDuckGo chief executive Gabriel Weinberg, the search engine will relaunch next month with much-requested features such as image search, place search, and auto-suggest. Weinberg says he hopes to relaunch the service next month, depending on user feedback. You can try out the new service here.

While Google keeps busy with “moonshots,” DuckDuckGo is finally becoming a formidable Google Search competitor. With mainstream features like image search, DuckDuckGo company has far more potential to put a ding in Google’s and Bing’s search marketshare.

The new homepage [above] features subtle changes which make DuckDuckGo far more welcoming to new visitors. For all the major improvements, shift your eyes to the search results page [below].

Aside from a few blips, DuckDuckGo is growing at an impressive rate in Google’s shadow. So far this month, DuckDuckGo has averaged more than 5 million queries per day.

Although its name still evokes the memories of childhood playtime, DuckDuckGo’s search engine is finally reaching maturity.