Obsidian Unveils Grounded 2 with Bug Mounts and Expanded Universe

In the upcoming Obsidian title Grounded 2, players shrink to insect size in a vast park, with a standout new feature: riding bugs like horses. This long-requested addition, eagerly embraced by Obsidian, lets players gallop through the miniature world.

The sequel’s creation stems largely from the original game’s limitations. Grounded 1, built for the Xbox One, lacked space for new features like mountable bugs. To expand the concept of a tiny world into something grander, Obsidian switched to Unreal Engine 5, enabling a larger, richer environment.

“Several factors drove the decision, but I’ll highlight a few,” says executive producer Marcus Morgan, explaining why Obsidian opted for a sequel over updates to Grounded 1. “We started on the original Xbox One, and we hit physical limits for adding content. Expanding further would have broken the immersive, seamless world we wanted to maintain.”

Morgan notes that Grounded 1 told a complete story, paving the way for a fresh narrative in the sequel. The introduction of “Buggies,” as Obsidian playfully dubs the mountable creatures, also demanded a new approach.

“We prototyped multiple creatures in Grounded 1, but the spaces weren’t designed for this playstyle,” Morgan explains. “Riding changes traversal speed, distances between key locations, and how we handle terrain and hazards. We needed a new, larger world to make it work.”

Obsidian isn’t crafting Grounded 2 alone. They’ve partnered with Eidos Montreal, the studio behind Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy, in a true co-development effort. Morgan praises the collaboration, noting that Eidos’ team, filled with Grounded enthusiasts, shaped the sequel’s story and antagonists. This partnership began when Xbox’s second-party team connected Obsidian with Eidos, whose passion for the project sealed the deal. [Morgan dismisses concerns that Grounded 2 delays a new Deus Ex game.]

Grounded 2 is slated for early access on Xbox and PC, with no confirmed plans for PlayStation or Nintendo platforms, unlike its predecessor. However, Morgan remains open to future possibilities.

“I’m thrilled Grounded 1 reached so many platforms,” Morgan says. “Our motto is ‘ride together, survive together.’ We want players to enjoy this with friends, no matter the platform. We’ll start here and see where it leads.”

Morgan avoids firm commitments about Grounded 2’s future but hints at a plan similar to Grounded 1: a few years of early access followed by a full release. He emphasizes flexibility, driven by community feedback.

“Grounded 2 is built to be far more expandable than the first,” he says. “We’ll shape its future based on player reactions and technical feasibility, working closely with the community to evolve the game.”