Obsidian Entertainment's highly anticipated sequel Grounded 2 introduces a major feature fans have been requesting since the original game's release - the ability to ride giant insects like mounts. This "Buggies" system represents one of the core reasons developer Obsidian decided to create a full sequel rather than continuing to update the first Grounded.
Technical Limitations Spark Full Sequel
Executive producer Marcus Morgan explains that the original Grounded, built for Xbox One hardware, simply couldn't support mountable creatures or additional content expansions. "We were running out of space to physically add things to the game," Morgan reveals. The transition to Unreal Engine 5 for Grounded 2 allowed the team to expand both the game world and mechanics to accommodate features like insect mounts.
Since creature riding fundamentally changes player movement and world navigation, Obsidian needed to completely redesign environments. "We had to spread out points of interest, reconsider interior spaces, and redesign environmental hazards," Morgan notes, explaining why Grounded 2 features a significantly larger play area.
Collaborative Development Approach
For the sequel, Obsidian partnered with Eidos Montreal (developers of Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy) in what Morgan describes as "true co-development." The collaboration emerged when Eidos expressed strong enthusiasm for the franchise, even contributing to Grounded 2's narrative direction.
"Our tagline is 'ride together, survive together,'" Morgan emphasizes, highlighting the game's focus on cross-platform co-op. While initially launching in early access for Xbox and PC, the team remains open to future platform expansions following the first game's multi-platform success.
Obsidian plans to follow a similar development cycle to the first Grounded - starting with early access before a full 1.0 release. However, Morgan notes the sequel's architecture allows for more future expansion. "We're set up to be much more expandable this time," he says, while maintaining flexibility to adapt based on player feedback during early access.
The team's community-driven approach means additional content will depend on player response and technical feasibility. "We'll play that out as we work with the community through it," Morgan concludes, leaving Grounded 2's long-term evolution open to fan input.
