Grounded 2

Grounded 2 is a survival action-adventure video game developed by Obsidian Entertainment and Eidos-Montréal and published by Xbox Game Studios. It is the sequel to Grounded and was announced during the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025.^[1] It was released in early access^[2] on July 29, 2025, for Windows and Xbox Series X/S.^[3]

Grounded 2
Developers	Obsidian Entertainment Eidos-Montréal
Publisher	Xbox Game Studios
Directors	Adam Brennecke Chris Parker Justin Vazquez
Producer	Marcus Morgan
Series	Grounded
Engine	Unreal Engine 5
Platforms	Windows Xbox Series X/S
Release	July 29, 2025 (early access)
Genre	Survival
Modes	Single-player, multiplayer

Continuing the core gameplay mechanics of Grounded, the game features players controlling miniaturized characters who must survive in an oversized natural environment. The sequel is set in Brookhollow Park, a fictional suburban park with a visual design inspired by the early 1990s.^[1]

Gameplay

In Grounded 2, players reprise the role of children who have been shrunk to the size of insects and find themselves in a vastly expanded environment. Set in an overgrown public park, the game tasks players with surviving alone or cooperatively in a world where everyday objects and locations have become dangerous and unfamiliar. Players must gather resources, craft weapons and armor, and construct shelters while contending with aggressive creatures and environmental hazards.

A key gameplay addition involves the taming and riding of insect mounts, known as Buggies, which offer new mobility and combat options. As players progress, they uncover hidden mysteries connected to their shrinking and the strange forces observing them. The narrative introduces a persistent, unseen threat that grows more present as players delve deeper into the park's secrets. With new character archetypes, expanded building tools, and co-op functionality, the game emphasizes exploration, survival, and teamwork in a dynamic, miniature open world.

Development

Grounded 2 is developed using Unreal Engine 5.^[4]

Early access

Grounded 2 was released in early access on July 29, 2025, through both Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access.^[5] It was announced during the Xbox Games Showcase in June 2025, with the game available on Xbox Series X/S and Windows platforms.^[6]

It will be made available to subscribers of select Xbox Game Pass plans on release day, including Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass.^[6]

The early access version will allow players to explore a portion of the expanded park environment, featuring new gameplay elements such as mounts, new weapons, and additional building tools.^[7] The early access phase is intended to gather player feedback and allow developers at Obsidian Entertainment to iterate on the core systems before a full release. At launch, Grounded 2 will support both single-player and multiplayer modes.^{[citation needed]} Grounded 2 surpassed 3 million players within two weeks of its Early Access across Xbox Series X|S and PC platforms.^[8]