Obsidian Entertainment has revealed a detailed plan for the first year of Grounded 2’s early access period, which will run from Fall 2025 to Summer 2026. This plan includes three major updates, each aimed at expanding Brookhollow Park with new areas, bringing back improved features from the original Grounded.
This should add a wide variety of new weapons, armor sets, and base-building options. However, it is far more detailed than that, and players will be excited to see what they’re getting.
The Grounded 2 Early Access Roadmap for the First Year (Fall 2025 to Summer 2026)
The full 1.0 Grounded 2 release is likely not arriving until 2027, following the same two-year early access period as the first game. However, until then, there’s plenty of new information on what is coming.
The Fall Update for Grounded 2, expected around September or October 2025, will introduce the first major boss: AXL. This tarantula-like creature will come with AXL Recipes, AXL’s Arena, and new AXL-themed weapons, armor, and furniture. The update will also add a Hotpouch for Buggies, general improvements to the building grid and quality-of-life features, and in-game text support for Japanese and Brazilian Portuguese.
Next, the Winter Update will deliver a large amount of new content. While the name of the new park area is still unknown, this update will greatly expand gameplay with improved features like Sour 2.0 (a special damage type) and PEEP.R 2.0 (a scanning tool), as well as the introduction of “Coziness,” a stat that affects base progression.
Players can also expect “PlayGrounds,” a creative mode for designing levels. New insect types, including crickets and earwigs, will be added to the game, along with new variations of existing bugs. Buggy improvements will allow players to ride ladybugs and use PEEP.R while mounted. Additionally, the update will introduce new Tier 3 equipment, Tier 3 Omni-Tool unlocks, the Mushroom Set 2.0, new furniture, and base defenses. Importantly, this update will make Grounded 2 officially Steam Deck verified and compatible with the ROG Ally.
Finally, the Summer Update in 2026 will focus heavily on water-based content. Another new park area, likely centered around water, will be introduced, though its name has not yet been revealed. Swimming 2.0 will completely overhaul how players move through water, and ziplines will be added for faster travel. Smoothies 2.0, returning from Grounded 1 with updated effects, will also be included.
The update will introduce watery Buggies and creatures, possibly featuring aquatic insects like pondskaters or tadpoles. To support this theme, new Tier 4 equipment, Tier 4 Omni-Tool unlocks, watery gear, and options for building “watery bases” will give players the tools they need to explore and thrive in the game’s underwater environments.
Grounded 2’s Early Access Future Plans After Summer of 2026
Grounded 2 will receive major updates through the Summer of 2026, and its Early Access phase will continue with a wider range of future plans that are less tied to specific dates. Obsidian Entertainment has detailed many additions that will be introduced gradually, likely during the second year of early access, as the game moves toward its full 1.0 release, possibly in 2027.
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The upcoming plans include a major expansion of the game world with at least two new park areas, though their names are being kept secret to preserve the surprise. In addition to new locations, the game will expand character customization and progression with Passive Mutations and an upgraded Active Mutations 2.0 system, giving players more ways to personalize their shrunken heroes.
Fans of the game’s insect mounts will see a major overhaul, including more Buggy types, Buggy mutations for different abilities, deeper Buggy customization, and a dedicated Buggy progression system, which will strengthen the connection between players and their insect companions.
The world of Brookhollow Park will grow even more lively and dangerous with new creatures, challenging Park Bosses, and even larger, more massive threats. To help players survive these encounters, the game will add new weapons, armor sets, Omni-Tool upgrades, and character Archetypes, offering more strategic choices for combat and exploration.
Base building, a key part of the survival experience, will also get a big upgrade with new building materials, more structures, additional customization options, and the long-awaited feature allowing players to move entire bases, making settlement management more flexible.
There are a lot of ongoing updates coming to Grounded 2. If players keep giving the game attention, we’ll likely see a lot going into the game before the full release.
