Conventional wisdom dictates that a video game sequel should be bigger, better, and bolder. It creates a challenging environment for studios as they attempt to balance their growing ambitions against both expectations of the community and the rising costs and complexities of development. Speaking with Obsidian Entertainment in the aftermath of Grounded 2's reveal at the Xbox Games Showcase, the team is quick to pinpoint one area of focus as it thought about scaling up beyond Grounded's backyard: the size and scope of the open world.
"The starting point for Grounded 2 in early access is the same size as the entirety of Grounded 1.0," says executive producer Marcus Morgan. "One reason for that is: this is Grounded 2, right – obviously it's got to be bigger! But the more important reason is that it facilitates the Buggies, which are our mounts. We really had to push to redesign the entire world, because now that you have mounts you can navigate the world much more quickly. That decision has actually changed the way we design all of our areas in Brookhollow Park, both above and below ground."
