Latest news with #ObsidianEntertainment
Engadget
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Engadget
Obsidian Entertainment has big ambitions for Grounded 2's small world
Obsidian Entertainment has been an incredibly versatile game developer over the years, even venturing outside its RPG comfort zone with the original Grounded . As a survival adventure game where you're shrunken down and explore the hidden, vast world of a backyard, it became a well-loved hit, and it evolved even further throughout its early access period. But now, the developers have big plans for Grounded 2 , which has new features and a larger scope that was too big for the original to contain. Shortly after the reveal during the recent Xbox Games Showcase alongside Summer Game Fest 2025, I got to play the opening of the sequel, which sees the familiar crew of teenage scavengers, now a little older and wiser, shrunken down once again to survive a new small world hidden in the town's park. Even as a new iteration of a familiar premise, which is essentially the survival gameplay of Rust by way of the whimsical Honey, I Shrunk the Kids , Grounded 2 is already showing some promise as the bigger and better sequel. To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Grounded 2 , which will also launch in early access, already feels like a bigger game, even from the confines of the tutorial zone. For starters, there's a larger focus on building up the experience of the four teenage scavengers and how they fit into the larger story. It's not quite Yellowjackets when it comes to teen drama, but the crew exploring the small world of the park have colorful language and quips at their disposal. There's a generally stronger sense of personality in Grounded 2 , which is bolstered by some more character-driven writing and opportunities to take in the lore of the company responsible for the experiments in town. The experience of playing Grounded 2 , much like the original and other survival games, is all about gathering resources from the land and acquiring knowledge to stay alive. Along with collecting materials to build weapons, armor and structures, you'll also have to keep your characters fed and hydrated. You'll also need to defend yourself against the various critters roaming about, such as the ants and the spiders. Also returning is the arachnophobia accessibility option to make them appear less disturbing for players. Thankfully, you can now use a dodge to avoid attacks – a first for the series – and combat is generally more responsive and fair. Grounded 2 feels like a more well-rounded and refined take on the original, which is a solid game in its own right. One great addition that I got to play with was the new ant mount, or buggy, as the devs call it. You'll be able to ride on top of a friendly ant that can attack enemies, move faster throughout the world, and even collect material far more quickly than the human scavengers. Shortly after my hands-on experience, I sat in on a roundtable discussion with game director Chris Parker and producer Miles Winzeler from Obsidian Entertainment, who explained how early access feedback from players helped bring the game to its current state. In order to fully implement their vision for Grounded, though, they would need a new game. "Almost everything in Grounded 2 comes from feedback from the community that we had gathered from the first game," Parker said. "We had to look at what was important to work on with the sequel. People always want more stuff to do. They wanted to have the buggies, which was a huge one and our number one most requested feature from out the gate on Grounded 1 . We then had to work on new creatures, armor and weapons, among other things. How can we further develop our progression systems? So those were all the things that we took on from the beginning for Grounded 2 ." Grounded 2 felt like a more fully realized game, which leveraged years of work on the original. Along with a more developed story campaign focusing on helping the kids survive the portion of Brookhollow Park they have to explore – which is more than three times the size of the original's map – The game will also launch with creative mode, which was a popular feature that let players focus on exploring and building up structures at their leisure. "We're always trying to challenge scale and how we can create a sense of awe and mystery by having something that's supposed to be normal but is now this gigantic thing," Parker said. "That's always the fun when making this game." I really took to the added scope of Grounded 2 . Not just as a shrunken person trapped on the grounds of a park but also for the new features and ideas at work for the sequel. With the game coming out in July for early access, Grounded 2 has already got me invested in making a return visit to this small world with big ambitions. Grounded 2 will release in early access on July 29 for Xbox Series X|S and PC, and will be available for Game Pass subscribers.
Express Tribune
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
The Outer Worlds 2 hits $80, Brandon Adler says we don't set the prices
The release of The Outer Worlds 2 is set to make waves with a price tag of $80, marking it as the first Xbox-published game to carry such a hefty price point. However, in an interview at the Summer Game Fest, Obsidian Entertainment's director, Brandon Adler, was quick to clarify that the developers had no say in the pricing decision. 'The price is set by the platform holders,' Adler said, referring to Xbox, which recently confirmed that several first-party games will carry the same price from this holiday season onward. The Outer Worlds 2, set to launch on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S on October 29, is the first example of this price shift. 'I wish everybody could play my game,' Adler continued, acknowledging the challenges the higher price could pose to some fans. 'But for the reasons behind the $79.99 price point, you'd have to talk to the Xbox folks,' he said, carefully deflecting any personal opinions on the matter. This price hike follows a trend seen with other major titles, such as Nintendo's Mario Kart World for the Switch 2, which debuted at the same price earlier this year. With the rising costs of AAA game production, discussions surrounding $80 games have intensified, especially as other publishers like Sony and Nintendo have implemented similar pricing structures. While the high cost of games may continue to be a point of contention, it's clear that the industry is evolving in response to production costs and market trends. Fans of the video game franchise have been voicing their criticisms online. The Outer World 2 trailer being sarcastic about "Capitalism" and whatnot just to launch with the $80 price tag... — Vboy (@The_Vboy) June 8, 2025 "Oh, it's Inflation raising game prices." Yeah, no. Expedition 33 is $50 and was released like 8 weeks ago. It's one of the greatest games I've ever played. And it cost $50 bucks. $80 for Mario Kart and Outer Worlds 2 is PURE GREED. — Fake Wizard (@RealLifeFakeWiz) June 9, 2025 PSA: Do Not buy The Outer Worlds 2 for $80. Instead get it on Game Pass, as it will be on that service at launch. This Xbox $10 price increase feels REALLY bad, especially on games like this. — Joe Vargas (@AngryJoeShow) June 9, 2025 As someone who is insanely hyped for The Outer Worlds 2, $80 is a scam. No, " just get Game Pass" is not a valid counter. I do not want my access to games locked behind a subscription, which keeps getting more expensive. Shame on @Xbox for hurting the hype of this for greed. — 🅁🄴🅃🅁🄾 🏳️🌈🇺🇦 (@totallynotretro) June 9, 2025 Whether The Outer Worlds 2 will become the new norm remains to be seen, but fans of the RPG are already gearing up for its launch, eager to explore the absurd perks that Adler and his team have packed into the new title. The conversation around pricing is set to continue as other upcoming titles, like Borderlands 4, spark heated debates among fans and developers alike. Gearbox boss Randy Pitchford, for instance, has faced backlash after suggesting that true fans would find a way to afford the higher price tag. As the industry moves forward, how players and developers navigate these changes will likely shape the future of gaming. In the meantime, The Outer Worlds 2 promises an eccentric journey through its RPG universe, with the game's quirky features already catching the attention of many. The launch in October will no doubt spark further discussions, not only about its pricing but also about its place in the ever-expanding world of AAA gaming.
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The Outer Worlds 2 Direct: Arcadia Is Nice This Time of Year
Immediately following the Xbox Games Showcase at Summer Game Fest 2025, The Outer Worlds 2 Direct revealed all of the new mechanics coming to Obsidian's upcoming sequel. It has been an absolute whirlwind of news, previews, world premieres and new gameplay reveals during the weekend of Summer Game Fest 2025. New looks were given to titles like Grounded 2, Ninja Gaiden IV, and even a new Call of Duty was announced, however, Obsidian Entertainment followed the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 with their very own The Outer Worlds 2 Direct. The teaser trailer presented at the Xbox Games Showcase 2025 presentation can be seen in full below, and a written breakdown of the direct follows. One of the most interesting things following the sequel is The Outer Worlds 2 is leaving the previous star system of Halycon, and it takes place in a further star system from Earth than even Halycon, in the Arcadia star cluster. What was made immediately transparent by the direct, is Obsidian leaned fully into their trademark humour and storytelling, and chaos will ensue everywhere. Arcadia is a lawless system cut off from Earth, featuring a pressure cooker of a colony bearing immense pressure, torn apart by space-time rifts, factions with ever-shifting alliances, and these three power-hungry factions locked in a war for control. Like The Outer Worlds (and mostly every other Obsidian Entertainment game), The Outer Worlds 2 allows the player to create themselves from head to toe, giving an in-depth character creator to the player. In The Outer Worlds 2, you've been sent in as an Earth Directorate agent but how you approach problems, tense scenarios, and storyline segments is entirely up to the player. Obsidian gives players complete control, allowing you to select from a group of traits, flaws, and backgrounds that Obsidian promises will 'shape every decision.' The three warring factions are as follows: The Protectorate, Auntie's Choice, and The Order of the Ascendant. The Protectorate is the law of Arcadia and believes order = everything, while they believe they're beloved peacemakers, it appears locals have differing opinions. Auntie's Choice are those who align themselves with the Matriarch of The Outer Worlds 2, Auntie Cleo (her origin is explored in Prime Video's Secret Level series). This branch of her company is Auntie Cleo x Spacer's Choice, an in-game collaboration that promises freedom, fulfillment, and Auntie Cleo product placement in spades. The Order of the Ascendant is a science-based faction, determined to perfect humanity by solving the Universal Equation. In The Outer Worlds 2, players will travel with six companions and Obsidian has built upon the system considerably, each with personal stakes in the colony's future and of course, their own opinions on you're behaviour. The companions are listed (along with their allegiances) below courtesy of Obsidian Entertainment. Niles: Another Earth Directorate recruit torn between duty and defection. Inez: A former experiment from Auntie's Choice with a grafted combat edge and a moral core. Aza: A chaos-loving Rift worshipper with a taste for violence and room to grow—maybe. Marisol: A stoic killer from the Order of the Ascendant with calculations to settle. Tristen: A walking tank and judge from the Protectorate, looking to dispense justice — or redefine it. Valerie: A floating, chirping support unit with unexpected upgrades and untapped potential. Fans who pre-purchase can claim the Commander Zane Pack which comes with Commander Zane-theme armor skin, helmet, signature pistol and dagger, and an Earth Directorate drone companion pet. It's worth noting that if fans purchase the title from or the Xbox Marketplace, the purchase is cross-play enabled, you just have to link the accounts to pick up and play on either platform. The Outer Worlds 2 launches October 29, 2025 and fans can pre-purchase today for the new AAA title price of $79.99. Be sure to check out all of the other announcements from the Xbox Games Showcase
Yahoo
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Grounded 2 Surprisingly Revealed at Xbox Games Showcase 2025
At SGF 2025, Xbox unleashed their Xbox Games Showcase chock full of trailers and the next game from Obsidian, Grounded 2 was revealed. The Xbox Games Showcase 2025 laid many surprises at Xbox fans' feet, including the official reveal of the upcoming ROG Xbox Ally. Xbox still had a lot more in store for players, and although Obsidian Entertainment had the The Outer Worlds 2 Direct that follows the Xbox Games Showcase, they revealed another sequel during the Xbox Games Showcase. Grounded 2 is coming, and the first reveal trailer can be seen below. CGMagazine's review of the original Grounded called it 'a unique title with a simple premise, but a lot of meat on its bones' back when it launched in 2022. Instead of carving a live-service feel from the original Grounded from 2022 similar to how Xbox Studios handled RARE's Sea of Thieves, Xbox gave Obsidian Entertainment the green light to develop a full-fledged sequel. The original Grounded title was released two years after it entered early access for PlayStation, and although the trailer was brief, it made no mention of coming to the PlayStation platform. Grounded 2 follows the premise of the original game, but this time, the adventurous party of select-a-character kids are navigating a local park, riding ants, running along picnic tables and fallen popsicles, and battling a bevy of spiders and scorpions instead of just exploring a massive backyard. Obsidian Entertainment has been on a tear lately with their releases, The Outer Worlds (and a sequel), Grounded, and the Pillars of Eternity universe spin-off with Avowed. Xbox continues to greenlight many of the studio's upcoming projects. Interestingly enough, Grounded 2 is not only in development, but it's launching into Xbox Game Preview and Steam Early Access on July 29, 2025. Fans looking for more SGF 2025 coverage, can head to CGMagazine for all of it! Be sure to check out all of the other announcements from the Xbox Games Showcase
Digital Trends
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
Grounded 2 exists for one reason: fans wanted to ride the bugs
There were a lot of surprises at this year's Xbox Games Showcase, but few turned my head the way Grounded 2 did. I wasn't just shocked because it is Obsidian Entertainment's third game releasing in 2025 (behind Avowed and ahead of The Outer Worlds 2). I was more so surprised that the team made it at all. The first Grounded only hit early access in 2020 and enjoyed regular updates on its path to 1.0. It very much felt early for a full sequel to arrive. But it turns out that there's one very simple answer for why the team went full steam ahead: Its fans begged to ride the bugs. Following the Xbox Games Showcase this past weekend, I played 30 minutes of Grounded 2 and spoke to Executive Producer Marcus Morgan about its origin. While the sequel doesn't change too much about the original based on my early play time, it does expand the world of Grounded by a significant degree. Those changes simply couldn't have fit into another update. Recommended Videos My demo begins with a quick tutorial sequence where I'm introduced to the new story, the 90s setting, and the basic crafting loop. I have once again been shrunk to the size of an insect and need to fight my way through a backyard by crafting handy items from the nature around me. I quickly learn how to gather things like sap and grass blades, analyze them at a research station, and build the recipes I unlock from a workbench. I'm left to survive in the wild, avoiding giant insects until I can make weapons powerful enough to take them down. Simple enough. What I do learn after playing my demo is that the world I'm exploring, Brookhollow Park, is much bigger this time. The starting area that will be available in the early access release is the size of Grounded's complete map. When Grounded 2 finishes its life cycle, Moragn says that its map will be three times larger. 30 minutes wasn't enough to explore it all, but I did wander into some dangerous tunnels and scale an enormous picnic blanket draped over a bench, a natural platforming challenge that eventually required me to brave the cold interior of an iced beverage container. I don't find anything truly different about that loop until I load up a save file that's a little further along. Marcus Morgan directs me over to an ant hill. A friendly ant pops out and I jump on its back. It's my personal mount, and I can use it to ride around the world while still harvesting materials and attacking other bugs. I only rode an ant, but critters like spiders will be rideable too. It's a nice addition, but I initially wonder why it just wasn't added to Grounded post-launch instead. Morgan tells me why that addition demanded a sequel that was built for it. 'It's the number one requested feature we got from Grounded of what people wanted,' Morgan tells Digital Trends. 'It also is the baseline that generated why we expanded to make a new map, expanded to make a new game, expanded to make a new world. We didn't want buggies just to be something that you rode around on. We wanted them, one, fully integrated into the final experience. That's why you can craft with an ant buggie, you can fight, you can build with them. We actually prototyped out mounts in Grounded pretty early on, but the world wasn't designed to fit that in. Traversal changes, how you make POIs, how you do interior and exterior level design. All that stuff changes when you do it, and so it really is the catalyst for what created a lot of moving to Brookhollow Park.' After 30 minutes, I'm firmly back in the grounded loop. I'm hacking down blades of grass, fighting off bugs with my pebble spear, and living in an intricate base that can protect me from the giant bugs roaming around. It's all very familiar, but it's undoubtedly charming to be back in that world. Grounded 2 looks especially nice as an Xbox Series X/S and PC exclusive, as I feel like the environments benefit from warmer lighting pouring through the grass. Near the end of my chat with Morgan, I ask why the team wanted to return to Grounded so quickly after the first game rather than creating something new. His eyes light up. 'Because it's so frickin' fun making content in Grounded,' Morgan says with a big smile 'It's one of the few games where you walk outside and you have an inspiration of 12 ideas of what you can make. And there was so much we hadn't touched on. Sometimes when you're making a sequel, you're kind of stuck because you're like 'what else can I add here that makes this interesting?' With this one it's like, there's a million other bugs I want to do. I want to do bigger creatures at some point and time and figure out a way to make that work. There's wild new biomes that we can come with. We weren't out of ideas of what we could do more with.' Who can argue with enthusiasm? Grounded 2 launches into early access on July 29 for Xbox Series X/S and PC.
