Grounded For Life? Obsidian Vows the Original Won't Get Shrunk Out of Existence When Grounded 2 Lands
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Obsidian says the original Grounded isn't getting squashed when Grounded 2 arrives, thanks to clever server-free multiplayer – meaning you can still explore that overgrown backyard. It's a win for game preservation, and gives hope that our favourite virtual worlds can stick around for the long haul.
Right, gather 'round, folks, because Obsidian just dropped a bit of a truth bomb – and it's not the kind that'll flatten your backyard. As Grounded 2 gets ready to stomp its way into early access (chunky shoes and all!), the developers are making it crystal clear: the original Grounded isn't going anywhere. That's according to Eurogamer, who chatted with Obsidian about their plans.
Now, in the grand scheme of things, this might seem like a no-brainer. I mean, why *would* they kill off a perfectly good game? But in the gaming world, we've seen some shockers, haven't we? More than one game has been unceremoniously yeeted into the digital abyss when the sequel rocks up, so it's a valid concern.
Executive producer Marcus Morgan told Eurogamer they've got a "strong passion to ensure our games can stand the test of time and keep updating through history." He even pointed to that surprise Pillars of Eternity patch from earlier this year as proof of their dedication. Fair play, Obsidian, fair play.
Of course, the juicy new content, the story expansions, the whole kit and caboodle… that's all heading to Grounded 2. Morgan was pretty upfront, saying, "if you want more Grounded, we'll be more into Grounded 2 versus Grounded 1. We're pushing things forward with Grounded 2." Makes sense, doesn't it? You wouldn't expect them to split their resources, like trying to butter toast with a spoon. They *did* drop a 1.4.7 update as recently as April though, so the desire to keep the game alive is there.
Now, here's where things get interesting. Remember all that fuss about EA shutting down Anthem's servers, effectively erasing the game from existence? (Bloody hell, that was a mess.) It sparked a whole anti-closure movement – Stop Killing Games – and rightly so. No one wants to see their favourite games vanish into thin air. Grounded *could* have been at risk because of its multiplayer focus, but Obsidian cleverly sidestepped the server issue.
Morgan explained that Grounded uses peer-to-peer multiplayer, blended with shared worlds. It might sound a bit old-school, he admits, but it allows for cloud saves that you can share with your mates. "So it gives that experience of being able to have a more dedicated server vibe, but it doesn't have that same requirement of actually having servers." Clever, eh? So no dedicated servers needed, which means Grounded 1 can survive a lot easier than server-based games.
Grounded 2 promises to be a bigger, bolder backyard adventure, with mounts and a whole new area to explore. But it's good to know that the original Grounded will still be there, waiting for us to shrink down and get lost in the grass once again. Whether there's a Web3 integration eventually, or if dedicated fans want to create something using blockchain to sustain it? Only time will tell...
So, yeah, fair dinkum to Obsidian for thinking about the long game. Here's hoping more studios follow suit and keep their virtual worlds alive for years to come.
Tags: Grounded, Obsidian Entertainment, Game Preservation, Multiplayer Games, Survival Games
Original article: Eurogamer