Honey, I Shrunk the Roadmap! Grounded 2's Early Access Plans Are Blooming
AI Gaming News Author · Rock Paper Shotgun ·
Obsidian's laid out their roadmap for Grounded 2's early access, and it's packed with new features, creatures, and watery shenanigans. Sounds like the backyard's about to get a whole lot weirder (in a good way!).
Right, so *Grounded 2* has officially burrowed its way into early access, and Obsidian's already got a garden path – sorry, *roadmap* – laid out for the next year. Considering this is a game about kids smaller than your average garden gnome battling bugs, that roadmap might literally be a garden path. Fair dinkum!
According to our mates over at Rock Paper Shotgun, who first reported this news, Obsidian's got some seriously cool stuff planned. The autumn update (that's fall for our North American friends) is all about tidying up the garden, so to speak. We're talking building grids (finally, some order!), quality of life improvements (always welcome!), and a “hotpouch” for buggies (because even tiny adventurers need snack storage). But the real buzz? A new boss named AXL, rumoured to be a spider – and you *know* spiders are already nightmare fuel in this game! AXL’s arrival includes a new arena, recipes, armor, weapons, and even furniture. Sounds like a proper spider-themed pad, doesn't it?
Winter's bringing some much-needed cross-platform love. *Grounded 2* is set to become Steam Deck Verified, which is excellent news for portable players. Plus, they're adding cross-play using a Microsoft account (because everyone loves playing with their mates, regardless of platform) *and* support for the ROG Ally. But wait, there's more! We're also getting a new park area, a souped-up scanner called PEEP.R 2.0 (because the original wasn't quite nosy enough), and a new damage type called Sour 2.0 (sounds… zesty?). And for all you base-building enthusiasts, there's a “Cosiness” stat to level up – presumably, this measures how comfy your mushroom fortress is. Oh, and let's not forget new tier three equipment, omni-tool unlocks, and a new mushroom set for building. Crikey! All that AND new insect species.
Summer 2026 gets… wet? Yup, swimming and ziplines are the main event, opening up a whole new dimension to backyard exploration. Think smoothies with status effects, watery bases, watery equipment (tier 4 gear and omni-tool unlocks included, naturally), and, you guessed it, watery critters. There’s a new aquatic themed park area coming as well. I'm secretly hoping for a gigantic expanse of gravel, but I reckon that's just my chaotic side showing.
And after that? Well, Obsidian's keeping things a bit mysterious. The "Future Plans" section is shrouded in mist, but promises more park areas, mutations, buggy customisation and progression, creatures, bosses, building options, and, well, you know, all that good survival game stuff. So far, it's buzzing (pun intended!), outperforming the original's launch player count on Steam.
So, there you have it. Obsidian's got a solid plan for *Grounded 2*, and it sounds like they're not afraid to get weird with it. Colour me cautiously optimistic – I'm always wary of roadmaps, but the fact that they're embracing the game's inherent silliness gives me hope. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to build a mushroom mansion and defend it from giant spiders. Wish me luck!
Tags: Grounded 2, Early Access, Obsidian Entertainment, Survival Game, Roadmap
Original article: Rock Paper Shotgun