Grounded 2: A Narrative-Driven Survival Adventure with a Relaxed Update Schedule
Grounded 2, the highly anticipated sequel to the 2022 survival game, has been confirmed to be set two years after the events of the first game. This detail was revealed in a recent interview with Obsidian Entertainment, the developer behind the game, which also provided additional insight into the game’s story and post-launch content plans.
During the interview, Obsidian’s game director and co-founder Chris Parker discussed the upcoming title’s narrative focus. While Grounded 2 will retain the survival mechanics of its predecessor, it aims to pair them with a stronger narrative. Parker labeled narrative as the developer’s core focus for Grounded 2, and while the game won’t have a complete story to offer from day one, Obsidian plans to release it in early access through Microsoft’s Game Preview program, gradually expanding all aspects of the game, including its narrative.
In contrast to the first Grounded, which had a monthly update schedule that proved to be a hassle for both fans and developers alike, Obsidian has decided to adopt a more relaxed update cadence for Grounded 2. The developer aims to provide more comprehensive updates, similar to those seen in the later early access stages of Grounded, by avoiding the pressure of delivering patches every few weeks. This approach will allow the community to offer feedback on complete segments of the game—namely, new areas of Brookhollow Park—rather than evaluating isolated features without the full intended context.
The first Grounded had significant content drops arriving once every four to five months. While there is no official word on how long Grounded 2 is planned to remain in early access, Obsidian is committed to providing a more relaxed and comprehensive update schedule that will allow for a smoother and more enjoyable experience for players.
In terms of gameplay, Grounded 2 will feature the same playable characters from the first game: Pete, Max, Willow, and Hoops. The quartet once again finds themselves shrunk to miniature size, kicking off the events of the new game during a statue unveiling ceremony held in their honor. The starting area of Grounded 2 is confirmed to be huge, which may surprise fans who played the first entry in the franchise.
Overall, Grounded 2 promises to be a more narrative-driven survival experience with a relaxed update cadence that will allow for a smoother and more enjoyable experience for players. With its early access release date set for July 29, fans are eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the Grounded franchise.
