Grounded 2 will enter early access on July 29, 2025, giving fans of the original a chance to jump back into the backyard survival adventure. If you’ve been curious about when exactly you can start playing depending on your location, I’ve got the details laid out for you.
Obsidian Entertainment’s follow-up to one of the most favorite survival crafting games will launch simultaneously on Steam Early Access and Xbox Game Preview. It’s a nice moment for those who enjoy this genre, especially since it coincides with some other updates in the crafting and simulation space.
Grounded 2 launch times by region
The game will be available starting at 10 am Pacific Time on July 29. Here’s a quick rundown of the release times around the world:
- 10 am PT, July 29 (Los Angeles)
- 12 pm CT, July 29 (Chicago)
- 1 pm ET, July 29 (New York)
- 6 pm BST, July 29 (London)
- 7 pm CEST, July 29 (Berlin)
- 1 am CST, July 30 (Beijing)
- 2 am KST, July 30 (Seoul)
- 2 am JST, July 30 (Tokyo)
- 3 am AEST, July 30 (Sydney)
- 5 am NZST, July 30 (Auckland)
If you have Xbox Game Pass, you’ll be able to access the game preview through the Microsoft Store. Otherwise, the early access version will be available for purchase on Steam simultaneously. It’s kinda nice that no matter where you are, you won’t have to wait more than a day to start playing.
Early access duration and update plans
Wondering how long this early access phase might last? The original Grounded stayed in early access for just over two years, so fans might expect a similar duration. But Obsidian is trying a different approach with this sequel. Instead of monthly updates, they plan to release bigger, less frequent updates every four to five months. Director Chris Parker mentioned these will be “longer, meatier updates,” which sounds promising if you prefer larger content drops over constant small patches.
Maybe they learned that monthly updates can be a hassle, which is fair. It’s a bit of a climb for developers to juggle constant patches and player expectations. Therefore, pacing the updates in this manner could help keep the experience fresh and meaningful for players.
Overall, the early access launch of Grounded 2 is shaping up to be an interesting time for survival crafting fans. Whether you’re on Steam or Xbox, the game will be ready to welcome you into its miniature world very soon. I’m curious to see how the larger update schedule will play out, but it’s good to see a different rhythm in development.
Feel free to share your thoughts or plans for Grounded 2 in the comments below.
