Today the Obsidian team launched the first major content update to their already-fantastic Grounded 2. If you haven't heard of Grounded or its sequel, you can check out our hands-on preview with the game right here, but the premise is as simple as it is fun – you've been shrunk down to the size of an ant, and now you've got to embrace your new environment to survive. That means learning how to bend a leaf to retrieve the morning dew, crafting weapons and armor out of bark and twigs, and constructing a home out of leaves and sticks. It also means being able to defend yourself against all sorts of critters. Thankfully you have all sorts of bug friends you can tame and ride, and this new expansion brings all sorts of new "Buggy" friends like the Ladybug!
With the update, you’ll learn that Ominent’s experiments have taken a sour turn, and a strange new “Tang” corruption is spreading across Brookhollow Park. It is up to you to survive the new threats (and familiar faces) that await.
The biggest new threat is the Snake Colossus, but that massive monster is joined by all sorts of creatures like coordinated Earwigs, the bulky Potato Beetles, and the soon-to-be fan-favorite - the Woolly Aphid.
To help you with these new threats, there is a major expansion to the Mutation and BUILD.M system, as well as a few treats for Founders who joined the game during this Game Preview period:
Mutations have leveled up. They’re now split into active and passive types—actives still work the way you know and love, but passives now apply automatically based on your weapon loadout. That means less menu juggling and more time doing cool stuff, like perfect blocking a Tang-covered Rust Beetle or showing off your hybrid build mid-fight.
And for all the architects, decorators, and “I-just-need-one-more-wall-piece” players out there, this update’s for you. The builder toolkit gets a serious upgrade with new kits like the Pumpkin Set, a refreshed Mushroom Kit, Scale Roof Set, updated Acorn Stairs, and a community request for floor hatches. It’s all about more pieces, better parity between sets, and smoother snapping to bring your backyard blueprints to life.
Whether you’re crafting a greenhouse hideout, a pumpkin fortress, or a garden party palace, we can’t wait to see what you build—and share. Tag us, drop it in Discord, or show it off wherever you hang out. We’ll be watching (with admiration, not binoculars).
The Garden MIX.R and O.R.C. wave challenges are also live, ready for anyone who thinks they’re tough enough to survive the swarm.
Lastly, the Founder’s Pack also grows with this update, adding new base-building items like the High Roller’s Dice Bag, Champion’s Banner, and more ways to personalize your park adventure.
The other thing that was revealed today is a more detailed roadmap of what lies ahead for the rest of the year. Turns out, the team has a LOT in store for us!
The Steamdeck performance is already pretty great, but seeing it on the roadmap as a focus is a welcome addition. New Buggies and ways to interact with the world is making Grounded 2 a huge upgrade over its predecessor, and I can't wait to see it. That, and I need to know what in the world a "Buggy Milk Molar" is.
The Toxic Tangle update for Grounded 2 is available now in Game Preview for Xbox Series X|S, Xbox on PC, and Xbox Cloud, and in early access on Steam. Jump in today with Xbox Game Pass and untangle the chaos.
