Frostpunk 2: Everything We Know

11 Bit Studios’ Frostpunk 2 is hands down one of the most sought-after society survival games on the market. And it’s a crying shame, truly, that it hasn’t arrived sooner. Fact is, though, the long-awaited sequel is still playing it cool—frosty, even, with little to no details other than its initial trailer and basic outline. And yet, in spite of its radio silence, it is coming, and the likelihood of it being a worthy successor to the IP remains positively high.

“What we aim to deliver to players is an experience that goes vastly beyond that of the original Frostpunk,” said 11 Bit Studios’ Jakub Stokalski. “With a still-growing team of nearly 70 people, we have more manpower available to focus on all aspects of the game from the scale, the production value, and the quality of UX, but our ambition is to do more than a straight-up sequel.”

That was back in 2021, so progress has no doubt come a long way since then. Even still, a release date has yet to be nailed down, as have the platforms that it’ll arrive on. For what it’s worth, though, here are all the details we can currently share on the matter. Frostpunk 2: what can we expect from the ice-glazed follow-up chapter, and what are the actual chances of it being taken off ice before 2024?

What Is Frostpunk 2?

Frostpunk 2 is an upcoming society survival and management game by 11 Bit Studios. Its concept, much like the 2018 debut, will be centered around an icy metropolis on the brink of collapse. It’ll be your role, as the city’s tenacious governor, to usher in a new era of hope and prosperity. Easier said than done, of course, what with the harsh weather conditions forever brewing a series of icy roadblocks to fumble over.

It’ll be a tough one, is what we’re saying. And not just tough, but vigorously difficult, as made clear in the series’ first entry. But don’t let that steer you away — the original actually wound up earning itself a BAFTA nomination back in 2016. And what’s more, its questionably bitter learning curve even went on to garner mass praise from strategy and survival fans alike. So, embrace the challenge, is all we can say.

Story

Frostpunk 2 will take place thirty years after the events of the first game. In a similar situation, players will once again be left to govern a struggling community out in the thick of a frozen biome. With the wrath of the icy conditions leaving those left alive to fight for every last breath, you will need to take your place and guide the city through the storm — even if it kills you.

“You play as the leader of a resource-hungry metropolis where the expansion and search for new sources of power is an unavoidable reality. After the age of coal, conquering Frostland for the oil extraction industry is expected to be the new salvation of what’s left of humanity. However, change does not come easily, and not everyone in this new multi-layered society will welcome this new direction.” No pressure there then, folks.

Gameplay

One of the biggest questions that has been raised countless times since 11 Bit Studios first announced the sequel is this: how will it differ from the first? Well, according to the guys over at 11BS, Frostpunk 2 will add a new layer to several of the core game’s aspects, “be it politics, society, or technological progress.” So, expect a lot more than a simple rehash with a fresh lick of paint, basically.

“What players should expect is a wide universe of choices, the freedom to shape the society and the city however they see fit – and reap the consequences. Frostpunk 2 builds on the conflicts of its predecessor – survival vs human values, life vs the arctic frost. But most importantly, it adds a new layer that is present in many aspects of the game – be it politics, society or technological progress – the conflict between humans and their nature”.

Development

So, who do we have to thank for this frost-riddled sequel? Well, 11 Bit Studios, as it goes — the same creator behind This War of Mine, and Children of Morta. With the success of these IPs elevating the studio’s reputation to a whole new pedigree, the team went on to announce Frostpunk 2, a bigger, bolder, and far more ambitious follow-up to the original.

Unfortunately, we haven’t actually heard a great deal from 11 Bit Studios since its initial announcement back in 2021. Matter of fact, the only thing we’ve seen is a trailer, which aired back in August of that year. Speaking of which…

Trailer

In spite of the lack of details, 11 Bit Studios did go as far as to release a trailer to outline some of the game’s key features. And while we could’ve done with some gameplay footage, it still helped to kill that radio silence that bogged fans out since the formal announcement. It’s something, anyway. You can check it out for yourself in the video embedded above.

Release Date, Platforms & Editions

At present, we don’t actually know when Frostpunk 2 will be releasing, though we can safely say that it probably won’t be in 2023. There was a rumor at one point, actually, that said it would be shaping up for a January 2, 2024 launch. Having said that, 11 Bit Studios was quick to shoot that one down — so who knows? Either way, when it does decide to pop up, chances are it’ll be on Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.

There aren’t any special editions out in the open yet, either. Not that there will be at all, mind you, what with the original not having any. That said, if the sequel earns an equal amount of praise, then who’s to say it won’t release another Game of the Year version after its launch? Here’s hoping, either way.

Have the jagged winds of Frostpunk 2 caught your eye? If so, then be sure to follow 11 Bit Studios for all the latest updates here. We’ll be sure to let you know just as soon as the team announce a release date. Until then, you can go ahead and add the game to your wishlists on Steam here.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Frostpunk 2 when it eventually rolls out? Let us know your thoughts over on our socials here.