Within the corridors of 11 Bit Studios, there’s an previous saying: the toughest problem for a band is recording a second album that surpasses the debut. This sentiment echoed via our minds when interested by a sequel to Frostpunk. The primary recreation was designed not essentially to be adopted by a direct sequel however to ascertain a world that would host completely different sorts of video games. And but, right here we’re, greater than six years later, on the eve of Frostpunk 2’s launch on Home windows PC and PC Sport Cross.
Creating one thing new at all times comes from a want to say one thing recent—whether or not it’s a brand new thought, a brand new story, or an revolutionary gameplay expertise. The problem for us was to make sure we had one thing significant to say about life in a post-apocalyptic metropolis that will resonate simply as deeply as the primary recreation, however on a a lot bigger and extra advanced scale. We wished to discover new elements of human survival that felt each acquainted and completely new, delivering a real and creatively vital sequel.
It didn’t really feel proper to easily have gamers survive a harsher winter or a extra violent storm. That wouldn’t push the boundaries or fulfil our ambitions. By late 2019, the imaginative and prescient for Frostpunk 2 had begun to take form, taking a big step past primary survival. A 30-year leap ahead, actually—as a result of that’s how a lot time has handed between the primary and second video games. Whereas the unique Frostpunk was all about retaining a single metropolis alive and holding onto hope in an all-freezing world of despair, the sequel treats society itself like a fluid. Humanity has tamed the frost, and now it’s time to grapple with ideologies and visions of the longer term.
Because the newly elected Steward, changing the deceased Captain, it’s the participant’s function to handle this fluid society—a society that may movement, boil, and even ignite. Gamers should navigate the wants of factions, realizing when to push for votes, even when it means turning into entangled in an internet of conflicting guarantees. Typically, it’s higher to step again, letting the whims of delegates play out, and observe the implications. Frostpunk 2 is just not about authoritarian rule, however about political and ideological battle.
The “society survival” side of the primary recreation is elevated in Frostpunk 2. To really really feel the load of long-term choices, we’ve scaled up the sport. As an alternative of days, weeks and months move. As an alternative of establishing particular person buildings, you’ll be constructing whole districts. The societal affect can be extra profound in Utopia Builder mode, which is analogous to the Countless mode from the unique recreation. Right here, gamers can freely develop their cities and societies, unhindered by the narrative constraints of the marketing campaign.
And for these desirous to take their creativity additional, we’re introducing mod assist with our Frostkit instrument. Beginning in beta, it should ultimately permit gamers to switch almost each side of the sport—from maps and fashions to whole eventualities. With all of this, we couldn’t be extra excited to welcome gamers again to the frozen world of Frostpunk 2, launching as we speak for Home windows PC, with Sport Cross.
Frostpunk 2
11 bit studios
Frostpunk 2 elevates the city-survival style to a brand new degree. Take the function of a Steward and lead your metropolis via a cascade of calamities happening in a postapocalyptic, snowy setting. Construct giant metropolis districts with their string of infinite wants and calls for. Navigate via conflicting pursuits of factions that populate your metropolis. Because the wants of the town develop and factional energy at its core rises, solely you may steer the society in direction of an unsure future.
The town grows
The world is overtaken by an ever current winter, which makes growth of the town the one means for the survival of mankind. To be able to develop, the metropolis wants assets like coal and oil, identical to its residents require meals and heat. In Frostpunk 2, it is your job to deal with this by no means ending circle of provide and demand.
Metropolis districts
Your metropolis is split into zones serving completely different functions, reminiscent of housing or extraction. It’s as much as you to construct new ones and ensure that these already current work in good unison.
Particular buildings
In time, you’ll have to construct locations like Metropolis Corridor or Analysis Institute. Inside these buildings, you’ll put forth legal guidelines and initiatives to make sure that your metropolis develops within the correct course.
Colonies
To make sure that your metropolis development won’t falter, you must enterprise into the frostland. There, you may construct in depth colonies that may present all the required assets.
Perlis of human nature
The variety of your residents steadily grows, making the duty of governing them and satisfying their calls for all of the tougher. Because the Steward you’ll have to maneuver rigorously throughout the pursuits of many teams inhabiting the town.
New Londoners
Your residents can type communities and factions, every with completely different concepts for the town’s future. Within the Council Corridor you’ll put forth legal guidelines and negotiate them with the faction’s delegates.
Council Corridor
Help of each faction contained in the Council Corridor prices dearly, as one’s faction ascension breeds discontent amongst others. Meaning you must rigorously assume via each alliance.
In direction of progress
The Analysis Institute is the place you forge the town’s future. Every new undertaking should be entrusted to a faction, forcing you to maneuver and type strategic alliances.
Factions
Folks of your metropolis wish to have a voice in the way you run issues. Every faction has its personal ideology and concepts for the longer term, but in addition they have one factor in widespread – insatiable thirst for energy. Select your allies within the Council Corridor correctly.
Story Mode and Utopia Builder
The story of Frostpunk 2 introduces a multi-chapter saga set within the frozen wastes. Spanning throughout the lifetime of the Steward this marketing campaign permits you to really feel the burden of management as you’re taking the duty for 1000’s of lives. On the identical time, the sandbox mode referred to as Utopia Builder with infinite play time leaves you room for boundless social and infrastructural experiments.