One of last year’s best games is getting a sequel, and I can’t believe it’s coming out this soon

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Among the outstanding video games from 2024, one that garnered significant attention was Frostpunk 2, the much-anticipated sequel to 11 bit studios’ 2018 post-apocalyptic city builder, Frostpunk. After a wait of six long years since its initial release, the second installment made its debut on Windows PC in September of the previous year, receiving widespread praise from critics. Now, it has been officially confirmed that another title is under development. Surprisingly, it’s expected to arrive sooner than many might anticipate.

11 bits studio recently disclosed some updates about their business in a fresh press release on their website. The statement included insights from its Management Board President, Przemysław Marszał, who touched upon both recent triumphs and setbacks in the company’s operations. Additionally, they announced two new games scheduled for release. One of these is an upcoming installment in the Frostpunk series, expected to hit stores in 2027, while the other is a more extensive game due out in 2029.

As an analyst within our development and publishing team, I’m excited to share our strategic approach: we aim to expand the scope of our projects and their production timeframes. This includes seizing short-term, financially promising opportunities, as articulated by Marszał. To put this into action, we have begun production on a new project within the Frostpunk universe, with an anticipated launch as early as 2027. Simultaneously, we are also embarking on the development of a larger-scale title, slated for release in 2029.

Moreover, Marszał pointed out that there’s still a lot more to unveil for Frostpunk 2, as 11 bit Studios has “just started” with monetization strategies for the game. In the near future, additional DLC expansions featuring innovative gameplay mechanics are expected, and they plan to release the Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 versions of the survival city builder towards the end of 2025.

According to Marszał’s remarks, we are still in the early stages of earning revenue for

11 Bit Studios ended up with a modest profit in 2024, which was less than they had anticipated. They had expected much higher profits, but were faced with lower earnings from games like The Thamaturge and Creatures of Ava, as well as the challenging choice to shelve an upcoming project known as “Project 8.

11bit Studios is optimistic that their revenue will expand in 2025, with the release of their action-adventure sci-fi game The Alters in June, Digital Sun’s RPG sequel Moonlighter 2 anticipated for summer, and The Outer Zone’s card game Death Howl – a “Soulslike Deckbuilder” – slated for later this year.

A Frostpunk 2 follow-up earlier than I expected

Given that it had been six years since 11 bit studios released a sequel to Frostpunk, I wasn’t anticipating them to start work on another game in the series so soon. However, when you consider their current circumstances, this move becomes more understandable. After all, Frostpunk is one of 11 bit’s most successful franchises, meaning a new installment could be among those lucrative short-term opportunities they are keen to seize.

Last year, I had the pleasure of analyzing Frostpunk 2, which was generally well-received. At the time of my review, it held an “Generally Favorable” Metacritic score of 85/100. In my assessment for Windows Central, I gave it a near-perfect rating of four and a half stars. This game transcends the conventions of city-building games and survival experiences by interweaving tales of human resilience and struggle. Its stunning visuals and significantly expanded gameplay set it apart from its predecessor, but only a few minor issues slight its overall appeal.

At its regular price, Frostpunk 2 costs $44.99. However, there are several options to play it at a lower cost. Firstly, you can access it through the PC Game Pass and Xbox Game Pass Ultimate services, so remember to consider this option. Secondly, you can purchase a permanent copy for only $22.49 from CDKeys, which offers a significant 50% discount.

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2025-04-16 22:09