Obsidian Entertainment is a massive studio that builds some of the best games around, but not all of its games are humongous AAA affairs like The Outer Worlds. Its newest project is Grounded, a passion project from a small team of 13 talented developers that is literally smaller than other games, It shrinks the player down to the size of an ant and has them working to survive in a tumultuous world. It's a unique take on the survival genre, and the team behind it wants the community to help develop the game, with feedback and suggestions take while in development.
To make this happen, Grounded has an Early Access and Game Preview version that anyone can play. Here's how you can join and play Grounded early.
It's a big(ger) world out there.
Obsidian Entertainment makes its exclusive debut on Xbox One and PC with Grounded, a unique survival experience that literally makes all of your problems much, much bigger. Join your friends as you're shrunk down to the size of an ant and are forced to survive in a dangerous backyard.
What is the Early Access and Game Preview for Grounded?
Grounded is an ambitious project from a rather small team, so turning to the community for feedback is a great way to ensure the game is as awesome as possible when it comes out. It also helps the team decide what features and mechanics they should prioritize when developing the game.
Developers then release a game in early access, which usually means releasing the game in an unfinished state specifically to get community feedback.
To make it easier for prospective players to get in on the ground floor wherever they happen to play, Grounded has two early access options. The first is Early Access through Steam, the largest storefront for PC gaming, while the other brings Grounded to us through the Xbox Game Preview program on Xbox and PC. This makes sense, as Grounded is an Xbox Game Studios title, and Microsoft has recently committed to bringing more of its first-party games to PC as well as Xbox.
How can I join the Early Access or Game Preview for Grounded?
Joining the Grounded Early Access or Game Preview programs is incredibly easy, and depends mostly on where you play your games. If you play on Xbox One or PC through Microsoft, all you need to do is either purchase Grounded's Game Preview from the Microsoft Store on or after July 28, 2020, or be subscribed to Xbox Game Pass, where Grounded's Game Preview will be included at no additional cost.
PC players can find Grounded early access on Steam where they can purchase it. Again, if you play on PC, and aren't picky about where you buy your games, Grounded's Game Preview will also work on PC, and be included in Xbox Game Pass for PC as well!
Grounded's Early Access or Game Preview costs $30, throughout its pre-release window.
When does it all go live?
Grounded became available globally at 1PM ET (US) / 6PM BST (UK), accessible via Xbox Game Pass on July 28, 2020. See it in the store over here.
What should I know about the Early Access and Game Preview for Grounded?
Of course, there's more to Grounded's Early Access and Game Preview than just "how to join," so we've compiled some of the most commonly asked questions and given you all the information you need.
Features
According to Grounded, the Early Access and Game Preview program includes the following game features:
- Roughly 20% of the full storyline
- Three major biomes: the grasslands, the hedge, and the haze
- Crafting
- Base building
- Single-player and online co-op play
- First two tiers of weapons and armor
- At least 10 insects
- Arachnophobia mode
The team behind Grounded will constantly add new content to the game as they collect feedback from the community, so of course, this list is absolutely subject to change in the future.
How long will the Early Access and Game Preview last?
There's no definitive date as of yet, but Grounded's Early Access and Game Preview programs should continue right up until the game is fully released. Obsidian Entertainment has promised they want to keep the community constantly updated, and will provide its best guesses, with the understanding that plans can change further down the line.
How will Obsidian Entertainment involve the community?
It's imperative that Obsidian is able to hear the voices of its community loud and clear, so there will be a variety of ways Grounded's team will update testers and collect feedback. You can check out its website the development blog, Discord server, monthly dev diaries, or Twitter.
Are you planning to join the Grounded Early Access or Game Preview?
What other questions do you need answers to? Let us know in the comments below!
A big value for a small price.
Xbox Game Pass Ultimate gives you everything you need to enjoy Grounded, from access to the Game Preview on Xbox and PC, to the full game being included at launch, and Xbox Live Gold access so you can enjoy online co-op with your friends and family. All of that at a low monthly price makes Ultimate the best value in gaming.
It's a big(ger) world out there.
Obsidian Entertainment makes their exclusive debut on Xbox One and PC with Grounded, a unique survival experience that literally makes all of your problems much, much bigger. Join your friends as you're shrunk down to the size of an ant, forced to survive in a dangerous backyard.
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