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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsObsidian announced Grounded 2 at the Xbox Games Showcase on June 8, 2025. The co-op survival adventure shrinks players to insect scale in Brookhollow Park, a new setting where they can tame and ride bug allies called buggies. It entered Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 29, 2025; Obsidian later announced PlayStation 5 availability for August 11, 2026.
What Obsidian revealed at the showcase
Xbox Wire said Grounded 2 was announced “today” during the June 8, 2025 Xbox Games Showcase. The game was also featured in a surprise Grounded 2 Direct presentation. Obsidian Entertainment and Eidos Montréal are developing the sequel; Xbox’s product listing names Xbox Game Studios as publisher. Xbox Wire’s announcement introduced a follow-up set two years after the first game.
A new park at insect scale
The setting is Brookhollow Park, described in the announcement as a 1992 suburban wilderness. Xbox Wire said the starting area alone was nearly as large as the original Grounded backyard map. The announcement also reported that the original Grounded had drawn over 25 million players by June 2025; that figure refers to the first game, not Grounded 2.
Buggies and survival play
The game is a first- or third-person co-op survival adventure. Its buggies are insect companions players can tame and ride, and fight alongside. Xbox’s product listing adds that players can hatch and raise them, command them in battle, and use them to gather resources. The announcement highlighted ants and spiders among the bugs, with different abilities intended to affect how players approach the game. Xbox’s product listing describes the current feature set.
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When it launched—and where it is available now
The announcement date is not the game’s release date. Grounded 2 entered Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 29, 2025. Obsidian’s June 2026 announcement says it became available on PlayStation 5 on August 11, 2026, alongside the Into the Abyss update, which opens the pond area.
| Milestone | Date and detail |
|---|---|
| Showcase announcement | June 8, 2025, at the Xbox Games Showcase. |
| Game Preview and Early Access launch | July 29, 2025, on Xbox and Steam, respectively. |
| PlayStation 5 availability | August 11, 2026, announced by Obsidian in June 2026 alongside Into the Abyss. |
Obsidian’s later platform update lists Game Preview on Xbox Series X|S, Xbox PC, and ROG Xbox Ally handhelds, Early Access on Steam, and the PlayStation 5 release. Xbox’s listing also identifies Xbox Series X|S and Windows 10/11. The launch-era Xbox and PC platform list therefore should not be treated as the complete current list. Obsidian’s PlayStation 5 announcement gives the later milestone.
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Ways to play: purchase, Game Pass, and co-op
Obsidian lists Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass as access routes. Its support FAQ, last updated July 29, 2025, said the game was included with Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and PC Game Pass, but not Game Pass Core or Standard at that time. Subscription catalogs and plan eligibility can change, so check the current plan and storefront listing before subscribing specifically for the game.
Online multiplayer and co-op are supported, including cross-platform play. The FAQ also says PC-to-Xbox progress saving is supported; Steam players need to link a Microsoft account to use cross-platform features. Local or offline multiplayer and co-op are not supported according to that FAQ. It also reported no in-game purchases or virtual currencies. Obsidian’s FAQ was last updated July 29, 2025.
Rank #3
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Launch-era prices and Founder’s Edition extras
These are the prices Obsidian announced for the July 2025 Game Preview and Early Access launch, not verified current prices.
| Launch-era option | Price announced in July 2025 | What it included |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Edition | $29.99 USD | Base game. |
| Founder’s Edition | $39.99 USD | Base game plus four cosmetic character skins with custom emotes, a digital artbook, and a digital soundtrack. |
| Founder’s Pack upgrade | $10.00 USD | Upgrade to the Founder’s extras. |
Obsidian said the Founder’s Edition extras were cosmetic or digital and did not affect gameplay or progression. For current prices and edition availability, use the relevant platform’s store listing. Obsidian’s July 29, 2025 launch article contains the launch-period details.
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Accessibility and language options listed at launch
Obsidian’s July 2025 launch article listed Arachnophobia Safe Mode, colorblind options, customizable subtitles, Read to Me narration, adjustable reticles, and configurable controls. These are useful options to check in the game’s settings, especially if arachnids, subtitle presentation, or aiming controls affect how you play.
The same launch article listed English, French, Castilian Spanish, German, Italian, Latin American Spanish, and Simplified Chinese as supported at launch, with more languages planned over time. That is the launch-era language list, not a claim about the current complete localization lineup.
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The following requirements come from Obsidian’s FAQ as last updated July 29, 2025. They are historical specifications, not confirmation of the current storefront requirements; check the live Steam or Xbox listing before buying or upgrading hardware.
| Specification | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10/11 | Windows 10/11 |
| Processor | AMD Ryzen 5 2600 or Intel i5-8400 | AMD Ryzen 5 5600X or Intel i7-10700K |
| Graphics | AMD RX 5700, Nvidia GTX 1070, or Intel Arc A580 | AMD RX 6800 XT or Nvidia RTX 3080 |
| Memory | 16 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Storage | 40 GB | 40 GB |
| DirectX | Version 12 | Version 12 |
The Xbox product listing does not establish a platform performance advantage, so these specifications alone are not a basis for ranking PC, Xbox, or PlayStation versions. The FAQ’s requirements should be treated as dated guidance and checked against the current store page.
What the announcement does—and does not—tell you
The showcase announcement established the sequel’s setting, broad survival and co-op premise, and buggy companions; later official updates supply the launch date and expanded platform picture. The announcement’s 25-million-player figure belongs to the original game. It does not provide a Grounded 2 player count, sales total, or measured platform-performance comparison.
In a July 16, 2025 Xbox Wire launch preview, Obsidian Senior Communications Manager Shyla Schofield wrote: “The countdown to Grounded 2 is nearly over, and we’re gearing up to welcome players back to Brookhollow — only this time, the world is bigger, the bugs are bolder, and the park is ready to play in so saddle up!” The quote appeared in that dated article, rather than in a recorded interview. The launch preview and availability details are from Obsidian’s July 29, 2025 publication.
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Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
