The long-awaited day for both Grounded veterans and newcomers has come, as developer Obsidian has released the sequel and shared a new roadmap revealing what to expect during the first year of Early Access.

Grounded 2 brings players back to a miniaturized world, this time set in Brook Hollow Park two years after the events of the first game. It’s a much larger environment than the backyard from the original. Pete, Willow, and Hoops return as older, more experienced characters, joined by new figures like Sloan Bowmont from Ominant Practical Technologies. The current version of the game includes Act 1 of the story, with a clear beginning, middle, and end. It is designed to be accessible whether or not you’ve played the first game.

At launch, the game already offers more content than Grounded did in its early stages. Brook Hollow Park features a wide range of biomes, secrets, and survival challenges. Players now have access to the Omni Tool, a multipurpose item that combines chopping, digging, repairing, and smashing. The goal is to simplify inventory management and resource gathering.

The new Ranger Station acts as a central hub where players can upgrade tools, purchase crafting recipes using raw science, and take on Ranger Quests that ease the onboarding process. There is also an archetype system that supports flexible playstyles. Whether you prefer close-range combat or stealth-based movement, gear choices help shape your character’s role without forcing you into a strict class system.

One of the most notable additions is the introduction of buggies, which are tameable insects that can help with a variety of tasks. Red ant soldiers assist with hauling resources while orb weavers offer support in combat and traversal. These insect companions can also help with building and harvesting, and their roles are expected to grow over time. Combat has also been updated with new movement options like dodging, and enemies now have blocking behavior.

The shared worlds feature returns, letting players build and progress together even when others are offline. Crossplay works between Xbox and Steam through Microsoft account linking. Creative Mode is also available from the start, allowing players to explore with or without enemy threats. A high-difficulty setting called “Whoa” enables permanent death for buggies, though player perma-death is not currently part of the game. Split-screen play is being considered, though no confirmation has been given due to performance concerns.

A detailed roadmap outlines updates planned for the rest of the year and beyond. Upcoming content includes new biomes, boss encounters, and additional tameable insects. Seasonal updates will introduce features like an overhauled swimming system, new gear sets such as the mushroom defense kit, and aquatic environments filled with unique bugs. Steam Deck compatibility is in progress. Achievements are not yet available but are expected in a future patch.

Grounded 2 is now available for Xbox Series X|S and Steam. The base game is priced at $29.99, while the Founders Pack edition is available for $39.99 and includes four cosmetic skins, emotes, a digital art book, and the full soundtrack.