Grounded 2’s Into the Abyss Update adds a new area, buggy, and more

Grounded 2‘s Into the Abyss replace is the survival recreation’s second large inflow of recent additions following its early access launch in July 2025 — and it is a hefty one. Co-developers Obsidian and Eidos Montreal are filling out one other large chunk of Grounded 2‘s map and, fairly actually, going deeper. A large pond is the brand new space, and all of your adventures progressively lead you to its depths. Polygon attended a hands-off preview of the replace this week and noticed what the staff has in retailer.

The map itself is likely one of the replace’s greatest modifications — and that goes past simply the pond and surrounding areas. Obsidian and Eidos caught it onto the southern a part of the park, the place it adjoins Toxic Tangle’s garden and what was previously the sting of the Ice Cream Cart zone. Beforehand, you’ve needed to progress via the primary story to achieve the backyard, however with Into the Abyss, you’ll be able to entry the pond at any level within the recreation, even when you have not tackled the occasions on the statue but. It may be tougher than you are anticipating, however Obsidian rebalanced the sport to make it attainable.

A handy improve to the pneumatic tube system additionally turns near a dozen of these stations into quick journey factors, so in the event you spend Uncooked Science to unlock them at ranger stations, you’ll be able to immediately journey to any of the opposite unlocked tube stations, which is a welcome enchancment. Trudging round on-foot all over the place actually sells the “I am as tiny as a bug” really feel, however Grounded 2 is getting a bit large for that to not be an annoyance. The replace additionally consists of ziplines you’ll be able to place to assist make touring from excessive floor to low much less harmful.

Assuaging annoyance additionally drove Obsidian and Eidos’ resolution to revamp O.R.C. raids. Beforehand, you’d must fend off waves of remote-controlled bugs each three in-game days. After the replace goes reside, you may have an aggro meter that will increase if you assault O.R.C. bugs. The thought is that you simply get extra management over when raids occur, and in the event you simply actually need extra of them, there is a new choice to restore mixer stations and set off their raids once more, too.

The actual centerpiece is the pond space, although, and it is enormous. You’ve got bought:

• The pond itself, and its appreciable depths
• A lifeless oak tree on a small hill subsequent to the pond
• A forest of melted candles
• The bridge, a swamp-like phase on the fringe of the pond

All these spots have sub-locations and what Obsidian calls “journey areas,” which suggests factors of curiosity with bosses, uncommon supplies, or simply neat issues to search out. A few of them are comparatively small, like a shed or a fallen trash can. Others are like mini-zones in themselves. As Obsidian walked alongside the Sizzling Wheels observe that circles the lifeless oak tree’s trunk, we may see little caves opening up in numerous spots, feeder tunnels main right into a a lot bigger complicated beneath. Like with Poisonous Tangle, Obsidian and Eidos designed Into the Abyss with verticality in thoughts. Caves go deep, factors of curiosity could be far overhead and require some technique to achieve, and the ultimate space, the abyss itself, was designed with platforming challenges in thoughts.

The pond space has its share of recent and returning enemies, too. Some are brand-new just like the horrifying toe biter, based mostly on the eponymous bug from marshy areas of the northeastern U.S. Like its real-life counterpart, Grounded 2‘s toe biter injects its prey with venom that slows it down; in contrast to the true bug, this one’s venom slows you down with a chill impact, not an assault in your central nervous system. You will get this one as a buggy, too, which is essential for pond exploration. Extra on that shortly.

Picture: Obsidian Leisure/Xbox Sport Studios

A handful of recent bugs are upgraded variations of present enemies elsewhere within the park, together with wasps, mosquitos, scorpions, and the inexperienced protect bug, the latter of which is a souped-up stinkbug.

And a few are making a return from the primary Grounded, together with the diving bell spider. They’re much less terrifying this time — no much less aggressive, however with smaller well being bars — due to a brand new weapon: the harpoon gun. It really works a bit like a crossbow and helps soften foes earlier than you progress in for a closing blow, and it capabilities properly with the addition of lock-on choice to deal with a single goal.

Underwater areas have been fairly annoying within the unique Grounded, due to its murky depth filter and clunky motion. That is modified utterly in Grounded 2. There is no filter, so you’ll be able to see clearly till you begin descending deeper, and you may transfer just about the identical as you do on land. There’s even a multi-directional sprint you should use to scoot round sooner or dodge incoming assaults. And your toe biter buggy simply zooms via the water.

Underwater gear and sustaining your oxygen provide stay essential, however Obsidian and Eidos added temperature modifications, too. Your chill meter will increase as you dive deeper, and the one method to safely discover the pond’s backside is by carrying the brand new diving go well with. It is considered one of many new gear units added, and it sports activities insulation plus an infinite oxygen provide.

That is good for exploration, however much more so for underwater constructing. You possibly can plunk down full bases or crafting stations or something you need underwater. The magic of science provides you somewhat air bubble round your mattress and different essential locations, so you do not have to fret about operating out of oxygen whilst you relaxation.

Grounded 2‘s Into the Abyss replace goes reside on Aug. 11 for PlayStation 5, Home windows PC, and Xbox Collection X.