As Grounded 2 approaches its early access debut later this month, developers from Obsidian Entertainment have shared new insights on how the sequel builds upon the original game’s foundation. Speaking in an interview with the XEP YouTube channel, the team discussed several ways Grounded 2 differs from the first installment, including its scope, narrative approach, and community-driven enhancements.
When asked what sets Grounded 2 apart from its predecessor, one developer explained that while the original Grounded told a complete story, the sequel was conceived because there was more left to explore narratively. “With Grounded One, we had a story to tell. It had a beginning, it had a middle, it had an end… as we were finishing Grounded One, we felt like Grounded 2 was a story that we wanted to make,” they shared.
The sequel introduces not only a new narrative arc, but also multiple mechanical and technical improvements. “We’ve done [a lot] in terms of improving combat and the graphics are better and you know there’s more insects, the yard is bigger,” the developer added. Players trying out the early access version will essentially be playing through most of the first act of the story, which already offers a substantial gameplay experience.
One of the most requested features from the original game’s community has also made its way into the sequel: mounts. “At the very very top of that list in terms of distinctions from Grounded One to Grounded Two were mounts aka buggies and that’s really really important,” the developer noted. This addition marks one of the most significant gameplay changes and was directly influenced by player feedback from the first title’s early access period.
Regarding the scale of the early access release, the developers acknowledged that the scope is notably larger this time around. The world of Grounded 2, set in the fictional Brookhollow Park, already feels massive to explore even in its current form. “It’s ambitious for sure… in order to have that experience we needed to release like what is about a third of the park to tell that first chunk of the story and yeah it’s big,” one team member said, hinting at a broad and potentially long-term roadmap for the full release.
Announced during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2025, Grounded 2 continues the series’ unique premise of survival gameplay in an oversized natural world, this time with a visual style influenced by the early 1990s. Scheduled to launch in early access on July 29, 2025, for Xbox Series X/S and PC, the sequel appears to be aiming for more than just an iteration; it is presenting itself as a significantly expanded and refined vision of the miniature survival adventure.
