Grounded launched on PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on April 16, 2024, alongside the game’s Fully Yoked 1.4 update. The two versions share the same core backyard-survival adventure and support online co-op; the main practical distinction is that Switch can be played handheld or tabletop, while launch-period reviews reported visual and performance compromises on Nintendo’s system.
When did Grounded come out on PS5 and Switch?
Both versions launched on April 16, 2024. The release coincided with Fully Yoked, update 1.4, which Obsidian said went live across platforms. Its announcement described 1.4 as the last planned content update at that time, not as a guarantee that no further development would ever happen. Obsidian’s platform announcement and the Nintendo Switch listing and PlayStation US listing give the same date.
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Maximum Entertainment 34 Sports Games - World Edition (PS5) | $26.70 | Buy on Amazon |
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The Precinct: Limited Edition - PlayStation 5 | $34.99 | Buy on Amazon |
What were the preorder options?
Preorders were announced before launch, but that window is historical and should not be taken as an indication that preorders are still open. The March 25, 2024 announcement said digital preorders were available for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch. Physical preorders were announced through Limited Run Games for PS5 and Switch, as well as Xbox platforms. The announcement does not establish current stock, price, or retailer availability. Xbox Wire’s March 2024 announcement has the preorder details.
What changed in the Fully Yoked 1.4 update?
Fully Yoked added substantial content for the April 2024 platform launch. Obsidian highlighted three Ant Queens, a New Game+ mode, full Japanese voice-over, new weapons and armor, mutations and achievements, baby ant pets, and more building content. Hosts could also load a save during a multiplayer session and bring connected players into the new world. Since the update went live across platforms, the Switch edition did not launch with an earlier, content-light version of the game.
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How do the PS5 and Switch versions differ?
| Feature | PS5 | Nintendo Switch |
|---|---|---|
| Release date | April 16, 2024 | April 16, 2024 |
| Play modes | Home-console play | TV, tabletop, and handheld modes, according to Nintendo’s store listing |
| Core game and online co-op | Solo play or online sessions for up to four players in total, according to the PlayStation listing | Solo play or online play with up to three friends, according to the Nintendo listing |
| Technical findings from launch period | No directly comparable PS5 resolution or frame-rate benchmark is established in the cited reporting | April 2024 coverage reported visual cutbacks, lower resolution, and frame-rate drops in demanding scenes; see Nintendo Life’s summary of Digital Foundry’s analysis |
Shared gameplay
On either platform, Grounded is a cooperative survival adventure about exploring a backyard at miniature scale. Players gather resources, craft weapons and armor, build shelter, customize their characters, and fight oversized creatures. The store descriptions also highlight Shared Worlds, where a group can continue a world together. Both PS5 and Switch launched with the game’s broad content and online co-op premise.
Switch performance: what launch-period coverage found
Nintendo Life’s April 23, 2024 report, summarizing Digital Foundry’s analysis, said Switch could run around 30 frames per second in quieter open areas and fall into the 20s in busy scenes. It reported docked dynamic resolution from roughly 360p to 720p, often around 600p, along with visual cutbacks. Nintendo Life also noted autosave stutters on Switch and PS5, so they were not a Switch-exclusive issue. These are launch-period observations, not a verified assessment of every later patch.
Nintendo Life’s April 2024 Switch review also found frame rates could become less stable as player-built bases grew and reported online co-op problems during its review period. The reviewer considered the game playable, especially for people limited to Switch, while preferring another platform if one was available. That review does not establish the present state of online play, and no official PS5-versus-Switch benchmark in the cited sources provides precise PS5 resolution or frame-rate figures.
Which version should you choose?
- Choose Switch if portable, handheld, or tabletop play matters most, or if Switch is the platform you have. Keep the launch-era technical compromises in mind; individual results can vary, and the available coverage does not verify how every later patch performs.
- Choose PS5 if you want a home-console version and would rather avoid the specific Switch visual and performance compromises documented in launch-period reporting. This is a practical inference from the platform modes and reviews, not a claim based on a direct comparative benchmark.
Is Grounded crossplay between PS5 and Switch?
Yes. Obsidian said cross-play is supported across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC. Shyla Schofield, Obsidian’s Senior Communications Manager, stated in the March 2024 Xbox Wire announcement: “Cross play will be supported across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC.”
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How to enable cross-play
- Open Options in Grounded and turn on Enable Crossplay.
- Continue through the prompts. When asked, link a Microsoft/Xbox account using the code shown in the game.
- After linking succeeds, check the main menu for your Xbox Gamertag.
Obsidian’s April 11, 2024 cross-play guide says only one Microsoft/Xbox account can be linked to the game, so use the account you intend to keep. PlayStation also lists Microsoft account registration as required for cross-platform play.
Online-service requirements and hosting
Obsidian’s April 2024 guide says cross-platform multiplayer, Shared Worlds, and Playgrounds upload or download functions require a free Xbox Live account as well as the subscription for the player’s platform online service. Nintendo’s listing names Nintendo Switch Online for online play. Subscription terms can change, so check the current platform requirements before playing.
For mixed-platform sessions, Obsidian recommends that someone other than the Nintendo player host for the best experience. The guide does not identify an individual author for that recommendation.
How many people have played Grounded?
In its February 2024 platform-expansion announcement, Obsidian said Grounded had seen more than 20 million players since entering early access in 2020. That is a publisher-reported player count, not a sales figure.
Quick Recap
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