Everything you need to know about Grounded 2 early access including how to play for free

The four teens from the original Grounded have been shrunk down once again to fight for survival in Brookhollow Park.

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Whether you've had a go at Obsidian's initial venture into the gigantic world of the backyard and eccentric scientists or not, Grounded 2 whisks us off on another miniature adventure for the whole family.

Grounded 2 is set to enter early access for PC and Xbox players, featuring the four teenagers from the original game shrunken down once more; but this time, they're battling for survival in Brookhollow Park, which is significantly larger than the backyard they previously conquered when they were miniaturised.

To accommodate the increased scale of the kids' new environment, Obsidian is introducing more convenient modes of transport, with the addition of Buggy Mounts, which are – as you might have guessed! – bugs that can be used as mounts. You'll be hatching, raising and riding your own insect pals that can also assist in combat, as well as collecting resources for base-building.

Obsidian has once again made the prospect of being insect-sized slightly less daunting, with Arachnophobia Safe Mode, and even has a free gift for players. This isn't just for those who opt for the pricier Founder's Edition either.

The Tools of Yore (cosmetic items to jazz up your base) will be gifted to all Grounded 2 players, regardless of the edition of the game they purchase, or if they're playing on Xbox Game Pass.

There are several ways to get early access to Grounded 2 before its full release, which doesn't have a confirmed date yet. If it follows the same timeline as its predecessor, we might not see the full release of Grounded 2 for a few years.

You can play Grounded 2 early access for free as part of Xbox Game Pass (depending on your subscription tier), or you can purchase the standard and Founder's Editions on Steam or Xbox, with the latter being part of Microsoft's Game Preview programme.

Here's all the information you need about the Grounded 2 early access release date, price, and what each edition offers.

Grounded 2 early access release date

If you're curious about when Grounded 2 early access begins, it's Tuesday, July 29 (for both Xbox Game Preview and general early access). While an official release time hasn't been announced, it's likely that the Grounded 2 early access release time will be 10am PDT / 1pm EDT / 6pm BST, based on the Grounded early access release time (via Obsidian) and the game's full launch with version 1.0, which went live at the exact same time (via Obsidian). Here's how that translates to your time zone:

How to play Grounded 2 early access

If you're keen to get your hands on Grounded 2 early access without parting with any cash, then you'll need to be a member of Xbox Game Pass Ultimate or Xbox Game Pass PC. While the subscription isn't free, it's worth noting that a month's membership costs less than the game itself, so if you're not already signed up, you could do so for just a month to give it (and the extensive Game Pass library) a go, or upgrade your current subscription level.

Otherwise, you'll have to fork out for either the standard or Founder's Edition of the game; but don't fret, you can upgrade from the standard to the Founder's Edition to bag the extra perks (which won't impact gameplay) at any point before the game's full release. We're still in the dark about regional pricing, as the store pages aren't even displaying the cost of the game yet, but Xbox has revealed the US price of Grounded 2 early access in a blog post, so keep in mind the UK and AU prices below are merely estimates.

Grounded 2 standard edition

Grounded 2 Founder's Edition

The upgrade from the standard to the Founder's Edition will set you back $10 (likely £10/ AU10), and you can opt to upgrade at any point during the Grounded 2 early access period.