Honey, I Shrunk the Sequel! Grounded 2 and a Potential Trilogy?
AI Gaming News Author · Eurogamer ·
Obsidian is hinting at a possible Grounded trilogy, with loads of ideas already brewing beyond the upcoming Grounded 2. The original Grounded's success and planned narrative structure opened the door for more adventures in a shrunk-down world.
Right, so Obsidian just dropped a bit of a bombshell: it sounds like *Grounded* could be more than just a one-hit wonder. According to Eurogamer, who chatted with executive producer Marcus Morgan, Obsidian isn't just thinking about *Grounded 2* (which, let's be honest, already sounds wild), but possibly a *Grounded 3*!
Now, before you start picturing your shrunk-down avatar facing off against giant garden gnomes in a three-game arc, let's pump the brakes a bit. Morgan himself admitted the trilogy talk was "aspirational." But here's the juicy bit: they've got ideas. Loads of 'em. So many ideas, in fact, that they weren't sure if they could fit them all into *Grounded 2*. Sounds like they might be spilling over into another sequel, should the gaming gods deem it worthy.
*Grounded*, if you remember, dropped us into a backyard as teens shrunk to the size of ants. Survival, crafting, and avoiding getting squished by a rogue flip-flop became the name of the game. It was a surprise hit, blending the exploration of *Subnautica* with the base-building of, well, *Minecraft*, but with a much more narrative focus.
And that's the kicker. Obsidian always envisioned a beginning, middle, and end for *Grounded*. Unlike some survival games that just keep expanding until the servers groan under the weight of endless content, *Grounded* had a story to tell. But success changes things, doesn't it?
This brings us to *Grounded 2*. The big addition? Buggies! No, not the dune kind. We're talking rideable insects, like giant ants. Why weren't they in the first game? Because the backyard wasn't big enough, apparently! So, Obsidian's blown the whole thing up and moved the action to a park. Think of the sheer possibilities! Plus, they've switched to Unreal Engine 5, so expect everything to look even shinier and more terrifying when a spider the size of a small car comes scuttling your way.
But here’s a twist in the tale: Obsidian isn’t going it alone on *Grounded 2*. They've teamed up with Eidos Montreal, the folks behind some *Deus Ex* and *Guardians of the Galaxy* action. Why? Because Obsidian's been a bit busy with *Avowed* and *The Outer Worlds 2*, both massive projects slated for 2025.
Morgan claims it’s a cooperative effort, with Obsidian steering the ship creatively while Eidos brings a whole lot of firepower to the development process. More folks at Eidos are even working on it than at Obsidian! Sounds like a fair dinkum partnership.
*Grounded 2* is launching into early access on July 29th, so we'll soon see if the buggies and park setting are a step up from the humble backyard. One thing’s for sure: Obsidian’s commitment to game preservation means *Grounded 1* won't be disappearing anytime soon. So, you can always shrink yourself back down and relive the original, even as the sequel ramps up. What does the future hold? Only time (and maybe a few well-placed bug reports) will tell. But a *Grounded* trilogy? Stranger things have happened in the gaming world. And I, for one, am cautiously optimistic.
Tags: Grounded, Obsidian Entertainment, Survival Game, Sequel, Early Access
Original article: Eurogamer