Grounded 2 leaves early access on PS5 August 11 with Into the Abyss update
Grounded 2 lands on PS5 early access today (Aug 11) alongside the major Into the Abyss content update. The update adds underwater biomes, aquatic gear, and full crossplay across PS5, Xbox Series, and PC.
Obsidian's backyard survival sequel Grounded 2 exits early access on PlayStation 5 today (Aug 11, 2026), alongside the Into the Abyss major content update. The update is the largest patch the game has received since its Xbox + PC early access launch in July 2025.
What's in Into the Abyss
Into the Abyss is a water-based content drop that opens up the pond biome for full exploration, not just the surface. Highlights:
- New underwater biomes: three new POIs (the Brook, the Murky
Depths, the Sunken Lab) accessible via the new diving bell
- Aquatic gear set: 8 new craftable items including the
Scuba Helmet (water-breathing), the Fins (faster swim), the Harpoon Gun (spear-fishing), and the Bio-Glow Torso (light + oxygen regen)
- 4 new bugs: the Diving Bell Spider (passive), the Water
Boatman (neutral), the Giant Isopod (aggressive), and the boss-tier Abyssal Stag (drops the Stag Antlers needed for the new tier-3 weapons)
- New story quest line: "The Deep Below" follows the player
investigating the now-flooded Brookhollow Low Research Lab. Culminates in a multi-stage underwater boss fight
- Crossplay enabled across all platforms (PS5, Xbox Series,
PC) — previously the PS5 and Xbox/PC ecosystems were siloed
- Photo mode added (community-requested feature)
PS5 early access details
- Price: $39.99 (matches the Xbox/PC early access price)
- Status: early access — the full 1.0 launch is expected
Q1 2027
- Cross-progression: yes, via the Obsidian Account — your
Xbox/PC save imports on first login
- PS5 Pro enhancements: 4K/60 in performance mode, 4K/30
in fidelity mode, with DualSense haptics + adaptive triggers on the harpoon gun and most weapons
- Pre-order bonus: the "Backyard Explorer" cosmetic pack
(skinned backpack, lantern, journal)
The PS5 version was confirmed at the May 2026 PlayStation Showcase alongside a 4-minute gameplay trailer. Obsidian also confirmed PS5 is the only PlayStation platform at launch; no PS4 version is planned (the original Grounded got a PS4 release in 2024, but the sequel is current-gen only).
What reviewers are saying
Grounded 2 currently sits at 84/100 on Metacritic (Xbox/PC early access reviews, 47 critics). The standout scores from IGN (9/10), GameSpot (8/10), and Eurogamer (Recommended). The most-cited strengths: the new pond environment design, the deeper base-building, and the story's improvement over Grounded 1.
Crossplay caveats
- Crossplay is opt-in the first time you launch the game
— if you turn it off you can only matchmake with your platform's pool
- No cross-progression with the original Grounded 1 —
saves are separate games
- PS5 + PC keyboard/mouse mixed lobbies work, but
matchmaking is platform-priority
Why it matters
Grounded 2 is the first major Xbox-published early access title to expand to PlayStation since Microsoft's multiplatform strategy shift in 2024. It's also one of the larger Xbox-to-PlayStation ports of 2026, sitting alongside the Forza Horizon 5 PS5 release (April) and Senua's Saga (May).
For Obsidian, it's also a stress test for the studio's Microsoft Flight Simulator + Grounded + Avowed + The Outer Worlds 2 pipeline — the studio is now juggling four live-service-adjacent projects, and Grounded 2's PS5 launch is the first to test the multiplatform deployment tooling.
What's next
- Sept 2026: the Acorn Hoard seasonal event
(backyard autumn theme, limited-time gear)
- Q4 2026: cross-platform voice chat (currently text
only on PS5)
- Q1 2027: 1.0 launch + Hollow Shores free update (the
second story chapter)
FAQ
Is Grounded 2 crossplay between PS5 and Xbox/PC?
Yes — full crossplay enabled with the Into the Abyss update on Aug 11. Opt-in the first time you launch.
Is there a PS4 version of Grounded 2?
No. PS5 only. The original Grounded got a PS4 release in 2024, but the sequel is current-gen only.
Can I bring my Grounded 1 save over?
No — Grounded 1 and Grounded 2 are separate games with separate save systems. Grounded 1 will continue to receive small updates through 2027.
When is Grounded 2 1.0?
Q1 2027 (expected). The full launch will include the Hollow Shores story chapter + the finalized base-building + new tier-4 weapons.
How much does Grounded 2 cost on PS5?
$39.99. Same as Xbox/PC early access.
Sources: Obsidian Grounded 2 site, AllKeyShop Aug 2026 release list, Grounded 2 PS5 trailer coverage.
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