Grounded 2 Preview: Explore Ant Riding, Now Exclusive to Next-Gen Platforms

Ah, L.A. Summers. And in 2025, of all times, I stumbled into this whirlwind called Summer Game Fest. Yeah, Xbox folks were going nuts over this idea – 2025 being Obsidian Entertainment’s big year. Three games! Count ‘em. But Grounded 2? Man, that’s where the real buzz hit.

So, Xbox had this whole shebang with trailers and showcases, and bam – there I was, hunkering down for 30 crazy minutes with Chris Parker, one of Obsidian’s big shots. Not sure why, but maybe it’s just me geeking out. No shame.

“So,” someone said, “why the two-year leap?” Maybe it was about giving those kid characters a growth spurt or something. Relatable, right? Pandemic gaming was kinda like that—everyone needed a bit of change, I suppose. Or maybe it was more about moving on to swanky Xbox gadgets and turning dreams into pixels.

Crafted spears? Check. Tutorials? Meh. Fast-forwarded and there I was, weapons blazing and this whole base with a Buggy, of all things. Imagine riding bugs – literally. Feels kinda bizarre ‘til you realize it’s all about zooming around faster than you can say “grounded.” New tech apparently makes it possible. Hooray for progress and riding bugs the size of your fears.

Of course, Obsidian chucked updates at the first game, but why settle, right? New platforms meant fewer headaches, larger worlds. Especially with Buggys – weirdly a fan favorite. It’s like they felt thrill-a-minute rides were the thing!

The catch? Snagging a Buggy’s no cakewalk. Egg hunting in ant or spider nests might cost you a freak-out or three. And once you’re cool mounting a Fire Ant, it’s fast rides and wave-your-sword fun. Parker’s vision? A game triple the original, thanks to some pals from Eidos Montreal.

Now, about feedback. If you ever wanted to test game-makers’ nerves, here’s your shot. But Parker’s a sport, hoping players chew over the whole Buggy biz with interest. Player chatter ironically seems to mold this game-world like clay—it’s launching as a preview, after all.

At this point, I’m no survival game veteran, but Grounded charmed me once; Grounded 2 might just repeat history. Tarantulas as future mounts? Please. Either way, I’m in for the ride. July 29, 2025, isn’t far – Xbox, Steam, Game Pass – you name it. Another Xbox magic trick. Let’s see where the bugs wander, right?