During my visit to Los Angeles for the Summer Game Fest 2025, several representatives from Xbox shared with me that they consider the year 2025 as the “Obsidian Year.” This is because the Obsidian Studio is set to release a total of three unique games this very year.
One clear demonstration is the upcoming announcement and soon-to-be release of Grounded 2, the sequel to Obsidian Entertainment’s widely appreciated cooperative survival game.
Following the unveiling of the game at the Xbox Games Showcase as well as the Direct presentation, I got a brief opportunity to test out the game for approximately 30 minutes in a conversation with Chris Parker, who is one of Obsidian Entertainment’s co-founders and serves as the director of Grounded 2.
As a researcher, I found myself advocating for a slight increase in the ages of our young participants due to the unique formative experiences they’ve had while playing Grounded during the pandemic. This decision was made with the aim of better aligning their maturity levels with the game’s intended design and narrative depth.
The demonstration kicked off simultaneously with the start of the game, featuring a bit of narrative buildup as the children discovered yet another instance of being miniaturized.
Two years have passed since the occurrences in the initial Grounded game, and we’ve intentionally progressed the narrative this far. This decision was made thoughtfully as the team recognized that numerous young gamers had a significant, developmental encounter with Grounded during the pandemic. As a result, they wanted the characters to grow older.
Moving onto newer Xbox hardware helped the team realize their vision
Following the creation of some spears and concluding the initial tutorial, I advanced my game progression to a saved point numerous hours later, which featured a well-established base, quality weaponry, and crucially, a Buggy.
In the upcoming sequel, Grounded 2, players will have the opportunity to traverse environments more swiftly by hopping onto tamed insects, known as Buggys, for rides. This not only expedites exploration but also simplifies combat against larger foes. Interestingly, although Obsidian continued to update the original Grounded post-1.0 release, they ultimately opted to focus on a different project due to limitations imposed by platforms.
Buggys were by far the most requested feature from fans, and the team wanted to deliver.
Given that Grounded needed to operate on the Xbox One, the team encountered technical challenges that were more manageable with a stronger foundation. This necessitated a sequel as it was simpler to tackle these issues when starting fresh, particularly in the development of Buggys.
This was particularly significant because Buggy vehicles were overwhelmingly the most desired feature among fans, and the team aimed to fulfill this request.
Buggys add another level of strategy, if you can get one
During the demonstration phase, I had a fun time cruising on the buggy; however, it might present some challenges for players when the game initially launches.
To obtain a Buggy, you need to locate its egg, which involves infiltrating either a Fire Ant or Orb Weaver nest and surreptitiously retrieving the egg for your own shelter. This task is easier said than done, as both species are unlikely to welcome your presence.
Parker clarifies that each Buggy serves unique functions. The Fire Ant Soldier is capable of enlisting Workers to assist it, whereas the Orb Weaver boasts a roaring attack which can stun adversary insects, thus specializing it for combative roles.
Parker eventually expects Grounded 2 to be three times the size of the first game.
A ride on a Fire Ant offers a thrill; it lets you swiftly trim the grass and sprint across the landscape easily.)
Initially, the map for Grounded 2 will match that of Grounded 1.0 at its release. However, as the game progresses and undergoes updates during its time in Game Preview, creator Parker anticipates that Grounded 2 will ultimately expand to a size roughly three times larger than the original game.
One significant factor behind this outcome is that the team from Obsidian Entertainment collaborated with Eidos Montreal for additional assistance. This partnership allows Eidos Montreal to offer external development support, making it simpler for Obsidian to incorporate new creatures, vehicles like Buggys, and expansions to various areas gradually over time.
Obsidian is looking forward to player feedback
At the end of our meeting, I inquired about the type of player feedback (positive or negative) that Parker is anticipating.
As a researcher, I express my expectation: “I certainly hope they are enjoying their experience, don’t I? I also earnestly desire that they appreciate not only the outcome but the approach, steps, and interaction involved in acquiring, sustaining, and engaging with Buggys.
The interaction between players and developers plays a crucial role in their decision to release the game through Game Preview again.
In addition, Parker highlights that the entire squad eagerly awaits player insights on aspects that aren’t functioning optimally, emphasizing the vital communication between players and creators as a primary reason for opting to release Grounded 2 in Game Preview.
On a personal note, although I’m not particularly fond of survival games, I enjoyed my time with the original Grounded. I anticipate that enjoyment will persist with Grounded 2. I’m excited to discover what novel Buggys will be incorporated into the game as updates roll out. My fingers are crossed for a tarantula to make an appearance!
The highly anticipated game, Grounded 2, is set to debut simultaneously on Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 29, 2025. It will be accessible on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox Cloud, and Windows PC (Steam and Xbox PC). Just like other Xbox first-party games, it will also be offered on launch day through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.
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2025-06-14 18:09