Obsidian Entertainment's highly anticipated sequel Grounded 2 introduces one of the most requested features by fans: the ability to ride insects like mounts. This mechanic, which players have been clamoring for since the original game's release, represents a significant evolution for the survival adventure where teenagers navigate a backyard at microscopic scale.
Technical Limitations Inspired Sequel
The mountable "Buggies" system wasn't possible in the original Grounded due to technical constraints. Executive producer Marcus Morgan explains how developing for Xbox One hardware limited their ambitions: "We started Grounded 1 on the original Xbox One. And we were running out of room to actually physically get things into the game." The shift to Unreal Engine 5 for the sequel allowed the team to create a vastly expanded world designed specifically for mounted traversal.
"The challenge was we didn't design all of the spaces to match that new style of play," Morgan continues. "You change the speed of traversal, you have to spread out your distance between [points of interest], how you handle over lands, how you handle interior spaces - all that stuff wasn't really thought through for mounts in the first game."
Collaborative Development Approach
Obsidian is partnering with Eidos Montreal (creators of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy) for Grounded 2's development. Morgan describes the collaboration as extremely productive, noting that Eidos staff contained many Grounded enthusiasts who helped shape the sequel's narrative direction.
The game will debut in early access on Xbox and PC platforms, though Morgan expresses enthusiasm about potential future platform expansions: "Our goal always is to reach as many players as possible. We'll start off with this, we'll see where it goes in the future."
Players can expect Grounded 2 to follow a similar development trajectory as its predecessor - launching in early access with plans for ongoing updates based on community feedback. However, Morgan emphasizes they've built this sequel to be "much more expandable" from the ground up.
Download Grounded 2 when it releases on Xbox and PC platforms. For more gaming updates, check out our coverage of other major titles entering early access this year.
