Grounded 2, Obsidian's upcoming survival game where teenagers shrink to insect size in a sprawling backyard, introduces a highly anticipated feature - bug mounts. Players can now ride oversized insects like horseback, fulfilling longstanding fan requests that the studio prioritized honoring.
This mechanic represents core reasons for creating a sequel rather than expanding Grounded 1. The original game's technical limitations on Xbox One hardware prevented implementing mounts or substantial new content. Obsidian aimed to dramatically scale up their microcosmic adventure - a vision realized through Unreal Engine 5's enhanced capabilities.
"Multiple factors drove our sequel decision," explains executive producer Marcus Morgan. "First, Grounded 1 launched on Xbox One hardware constraints. We reached literal memory limits preventing meaningful expansions without compromising the seamless immersion central to our design."
Morgan notes Grounded 1 completed its narrative arc while leaving creative space for fresh storytelling. But the decisive factor became implementing "Buggies" - Obsidian's playful term for rideable insects requiring redesigned environments.
"We prototyped mounted creatures in Grounded 1, but environments weren't built for this movement paradigm. Faster traversal necessitates careful spacing between landmarks, adapted terrain navigation, interior scaling, and hazard placement. These considerations demanded entirely new spaces, expanding the sequel's scope significantly."
Obsidian collaborates with Eidos Montreal (Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy) in what Morgan calls true co-development. Xbox's partnerships group connected the studios after recognizing Eidos' team included passionate Grounded fans who helped shape the sequel's narrative framework.
While launching exclusively on Xbox and PC initially, Morgan emphasizes their philosophy: "Ride together, survive together." He expresses pride in Grounded 1's multiplatform reach, stating their ongoing goal involves maximizing player accessibility wherever friends play.
The team plans Grounded 2's early access to mirror its predecessor's trajectory - multi-year development culminating in full release. Morgan underscores their commitment to player-driven iteration: "We've architectured greater expandability than Grounded 1, but will let community feedback and technical feasibility guide long-term content plans."
