The backyard in Grounded was just the beginning. Announced today in the Xbox Games Showcase, and shown off as a surprise in The Outer Worlds 2 and Grounded 2 Direct, welcome to Grounded 2, which enters Game Preview on Xbox and Early Access on Steam on July 29, 2025. Two years after the events of the first game, the teens return in an all-new setting for a game that promises to be bigger, bolder, and built with your help from the very beginning.   

Welcome to Brookhollow Park  

Brookhollow Park is a vibrant, nostalgia-soaked suburban wilderness set in 1992, with the starting zone alone nearly matching the scale of the first game’s entire backyard map. As a first- or third-person co-op survival adventure, Grounded has always been about teamwork, creativity, and the thrill of surviving while tiny—and with over 25 million players having joined us so far, we’re thrilled to keep growing this universe in Grounded 2.   

Whether you’re returning from the first game or starting fresh with Grounded 2, there’s never been a better time to jump in. Two award winning teams, Obsidian and Eidos Montréal, have joined forces to bring you the next chapter with even more depth, danger, and discovery to experience.  

And just as the world has grown, so have the teens: the original crew is back, a little older, a little bolder, and ready to take on whatever this supersized world throws at them. Familiar objects like snack shacks, trash cans, and a knocked over ice cream cart become awe-inspiring when you’re the size of an ant. With brand-new biomes, refreshed and reworked creatures, and all-new threats, this world stretches far beyond the original backyard—packed with secrets, surprises, and stories waiting to be uncovered.  

Meet Your Buggies  

Buggies are more than just mounts—they’re your ride-or-die insect allies, designed to help you build, battle, and survive the wilds of Brookhollow Park in style. These bugs bring more than just speed; each one has unique abilities that change how you play. Call in a Red Ant Buggy to lend a hand with your next big build, or zip into combat on the back of a web-slinging Orb Weaver that stuns enemies mid-fight.  

Buggies were one of the most requested community features from Grounded, so the Grounded 2 team worked to thoughtfully build them into the new game. Every Buggy we introduce has its own vibe, its own perks, and its own way of flipping the script on how you explore the park. Whether you’re diving headfirst into danger, pulling off a classic tag-team takedown, or causing just enough chaos to sneak past trouble, your Buggy’s got your back. Walkin’? That’s weak. Mount up and ride in style.  

New Features and Changes for Grounded 2 Game Preview  

• Omni-Tool introduced: A major quality of life upgrade that combines the hammer, axe, shovel, and wrench into one all-purpose tool, saving precious backpack space and streamlining your survival experience.  

• Story: In Grounded 2, we won’t tell you the whole story at the launch of Game Preview, but there’ll be enough there for you to start uncovering mysteries, chasing clues, and sharing your wildest theories right away (yes, we’re watching).  

• Expanded world-building brands: Expect the return of in-world favorites like Punch-O and Minotaurs & Myrmidons, alongside new brands and scenery that don’t just look cool—they tell a story (if you know where to look)—all coming together to bring Brookhollow Park to life with that signature Grounded charm.  

• New and returning bugs: Face off against familiar foes and never-before-seen creepy crawlies like the graceful cockroach, which adds new challenges and combat dynamics, such as having the ability to block your attacks.  

• Larger world, richer biomes: More spaces to build, explore, and survive in— Brookhollow Park is nearly as big as the entire backyard from the first game, packed with new secrets around every corner, from snack bars and toppled ice cream carts to long-forgotten edges of the park.  

• Community driven evolution: We’re building with you, and every update will be more meaningful and shaped by player feedback, with a public roadmap to keep you in the loop that we will share when Game Preview launches on July 29.  

• Combat 2.0 – Whether you’re flying solo or in full squad mode, new combat mechanics like dodging and smarter enemy behavior make every fight more intense—and more satisfying to survive.  

Returning to Game Preview—With You at the Core

Grounded was always a game built with its community, and we’re doing it again—together. Game Preview for Grounded 2 kicks off on July 29, and this time we’re coming in hot with more story, more systems, and a clearer roadmap from the jump. But what comes next? That’s where you come in. Your feedback will guide our updates, shape our priorities, and help define the future of Brookhollow Park. Whether you’re just joining the fun for the first time or diving back in, there’s never been a better time to jump in and help us build what’s next.  

Get shrunk, again, in Grounded 2—older, bolder, and ready to take on the dangers lurking in Brookhollow Park. Grounded 2 will be available in Game Preview for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud, and in Early Access on Steam on July 29, 2025 for $29.99 USD, and you can play it on day one with Game Pass. And with Xbox Play Anywhere, a single purchase lets you play with Xbox consoles and Xbox on PC with full cross-saves – at no additional cost.  

Ride together. Survive together. Wishlist now on Xbox and Steam and be ready when the park calls.  

Grounded 2

Xbox Game Studios

☆☆☆☆☆

★★★★★

Get it now

Shrunk again, but the world is much larger. Survive a sprawling open world alone or in co-op with friends. Craft weapons, forge armor, and build bases while exploring the park on your trusty Buggy mounts. Unravel hidden mysteries and face unexpected threats. But something else is out there—and it hasn’t forgotten you. Shrunk to the size of an ant, you’ll find once-familiar spaces turned into a sprawling, uncharted frontier. Survive alone or in co-op with friends, crafting weapons, forging armor, and building bases as you explore manmade playgrounds overgrown by nature. Traverse this new realm on trusty Buggy mounts—your capable allies—and uncover the mysteries lurking beneath bright colors and towering structures. But stay wary: something else is out there, and it hasn’t forgotten you. Survive, Adapt, Overcome The world is relentless, but so are you. Shape your adventure with unique archetypes, each offering distinct abilities to match your playstyle. Whether you rely on precision, cunning, or sheer strength, you’ll need every advantage to survive against the threats lurking in the park. Stronger Together The perils of the park are daunting alone, but with friends, every challenge becomes an adventure. Work together to build, fight, and uncover the secrets buried beneath the grass. Whether you’re facing danger side by side or continuing your journey in a shared world, survival is always better with allies. Because Walking is Bogus They scurry, they fight, and now—they help you survive. Hatch, raise, and ride your own insect friends – Buggies! Saddle up and traverse through the park, fight on them or alongside them in battle, or use them to gather resources and build your base. The right partner could mean the difference between thriving and barely surviving. A Shadow That Follows You The threat is always there—watching, learning, waiting. You don’t know where it’s coming from, only that it never leaves. The deeper you dig, the closer it gets. Some mysteries should stay buried, but it’s too late now. It knows you’re looking. And it’s ready. Every answer drags you deeper, every step invites something closer. You were never alone. You thought you were in control. You were wrong.