Grounded 2: Everything we know so far about the upcoming survival game

Grounded 2 is officially on the way, and we won't have to wait much longer for it to arrive. Set to launch in Early Access this July, the sequel to to Obsidian's 2022 survival adventure was first confirmed during the Summer Game Fest 2025 schedule, with a trailer debuting in the Xbox showcase, followed by a closer look in a dedicated Grounded 2 Direct.

Now set among the lineup of exciting new games for 2025, the follow-up promises to build on one of the best survival games of recent years by taking us to a bigger setting in a park, with mounts for traversal, new creepy crawly foes, and some other fresh features.

Below, we've gathered together everything you need to know about this new upcoming Xbox Series X game, from all of the latest news, to its gameplay features, world, and details from Obsidian. So read on below to get a full breakdown of everything that's set to come in Grounded 2.

Grounded 2 release date

The good news is that Grounded 2 will be launching into Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 29, 2025. This big news was revealed during the recent Xbox Games Showcase 2025 as part of Summer Game Fest, and shocked everyone.

The first Grounded was announced back in 2019, and then went into Early Access in 2020 before getting a full release in 2022. So far, it's unclear when the sequel will have its full release, but if it follows the pattern of the first game, we are looking at two years. During the Grounded 2 Direct, it was also revealed that a public roadmap will be launching that will based on player feedback.

Grounded 2 platforms

Grounded 2 will be available to play on Xbox Series X and PC once it launches into Early Access. Currently, there is no word on a PS5 or Nintendo release. However, before you start lamenting about owning the wrong console, it's worth keeping in mind that in 2024, the first Grounded was released on the Switch, PS4, and PS5, and Obsidian has even stated that is isn't ruling out PS5, but says that Grounded 2's initial release is "all about being in Game Preview and Early Access".

So, the sequel could follow in Grounded's footsteps and make its way to other consoles in the future. Who knows, maybe we'll see it added to our list of upcoming Switch 2 games as well! For now, though, it's looking to be an Xbox exclusive at launch.

Grounded 2 trailer

The first Grounded 2 trailer (which you can watch above) gave us our first look at the bigger setting we'll be exploring and venturing across in the upcoming sequel, with the small heroes running across everything from a spilled ice cream tub, to a giant juice carton in the park.

Grounded 2 story and setting

Grounded 2 is set a few years after the events of the first game in the year 1992, and will follow the story of the four original teens who are still missing.

If you're unfamiliar with the story of the first Grounded, basically, you are one of four teens who find themselves mysteriously shrunken down to the size of an insect and trapped in a backyard. As they explore and try to survive the brutal environment of the yard, they discover notes from Dr. Wendell Tully, who invented the machine known as SPAC.R, which can shrink objects and people.

It turns out that you are, in fact, in Dr. Wendell Tully's yard, and so is the SPAC.R. Thanks to an explosion, the pieces are scattered, and you must find them all to get back to normal. Along the way, it's discovered that the company Ominent is behind your kidnapping and has been experimenting on children.

In Grounded 2, Ominent appears to be back in full force and up to shady antics once again. During the Xbox Showcase at Summer Game Fest 2025, we learned the company seems to be back to its old tricks, and it's up to you to survive whatever they throw at you.

In the Grounded 2 Direct following the Xbox Game Showcase, the development team at Eidos Montreal and Obsidian Entertainment also revealed the world of 2 is larger than the first, and will take place in Brookhollow Park, which has new biomes, from the likes of an icy environment that takes the form of an overturned ice-cream cart that's contents has spilled out, as well as a "spooky" anthill.

Speaking with GamesRadar+ during the Summer Game Fest event, Obsidian co-founder and Grounded 2 director Chris Parker explained how the technical limitations of the Xbox One influenced the decision to build an expanded world from the ground up for the second game on the current-gen Xbox Series X/S.

Grounded 2 gameplay

Much like its predecessor, Grounded 2 is primarily a survival game that will have you scavenging a gigantic world for materials, as you loot bug corpses, dive into dungeons, craft shelters, and unlock upgrades that turn you into a tiny insect terminator.

Much like the first game, we expect that as you progress the story and battle massive boss bugs, you'll get to unlock technology and equipment that helps you survive as well as thrive in your shrunken state. Not only will you need to stay alive with all the creepy crawlers after you, but you'll have to manage your hunger and thirst levels as well.

Stamina also depletes during combat, and a nighttime cycle will make enemies more aggressive, so keep that in mind when you're out and about looking for resources. Like the first game, co-op is also a big gameplay feature, giving you the opportunity to play with your mates (or use them as a shield when fighting those giant bugs). The game can be played solo, though, so don't worry, no matter what kind of player you are, you are sorted here.

What truly makes Grounded stand out among other titles in the survival genre is its RPG-like quirks. Action is expected to be split up with witty dialogue from NPCs, and you'll cover tidbits of lore as you make your way through the game and work to survive as a mini-person just trying their best.

During the Grounded 2 Direct, we also learned more about new gameplay features, including the fact that we'll be able to dash this time around, but so can all of the enemies we face - with the reveal that we'll also be facing cockroaches.

Excitingly, the upcoming sequel will additionally feature mounts known as buggies that give us a new way to traverse and explore the world, and they'll fight alongside you when you jump off of them. You can read more about the expanded scope of the upcoming survival adventure in our Grounded 2 hands-on preview.

Can I pre-order Grounded 2?

Sorry, folks, but you can't pre-order Grounded 2 just yet. However, considering how the game is set to release sometime in July in Early Access, that may change soon.

You can now wishlist the game on both Steam and the Microsoft Store, so at least that's something! We'll keep you posted as we wait for more updates. In the meantime, you can read our original Grounded review to prepare yourself before the sequel hits.