11 Bit Studios Confirms Frostpunk 2 Game Pass Day One Launch
Frostpunk 2, the sequel to hit dystopian city builder survival game Frostpunk, will launch straight onto Xbox Game Pass on day one of its release. Developer 11 Bit Studios has agreed a deal with Xbox owners Microsoft to offer their games as part of the Game Pass service.
Frostpunk
The original Frostpunk was set in an alternative 1886 in the midst of a volcanic winter. Players were tasked with protecting citizens from the cold while also dealing with revolts, uprisings, and the threat of population abandoning New London and heading to London. As well as a giant central generator, players could use steam hubs and heaters to keep buildings and citizens warm but also had to task players with jobs, provide food, entertainment, and a lot of healthcare.
Critically, the game did well. IGN described it as “a captivating experience” and gave it a 9/10 rating. According to Metacritic, it scored generally favorable reviews from critics and gamers alike. Its popularity led to a Frostpunk board game while the mobile game, Frostpunk: Beyond The Ice is currently open for pre-release and is set to launch fully later in the year.
Frostpunk 2 Official Trailer
Based on the trailer, Frostpunk 2 will be a very similar game to Frostpunk although laws do look to be more difficult to pass and the settlements more sprawling. Citizens will form factions, with different requirements and demands, so players will have to balance decisions to try and retain the status quo of the settlement. As Frostpunk 2 is set 30 years after the events of the first Frostpunk, there should be some advances in steam technology, too, so expect new buildings and technologies to play with. But, perhaps the biggest reveal of the official trailer is that the game is coming directly to Xbox Game Pass so subscribers will be able to play it on PC and Xbox as part of their subscription.
Frostpunk 2 is slated to launch in the first half of 2024, first on PC and then later on consoles.
More 11 Bit Studio Games
11 Bit Studios announced they had signed a deal with Microsoft for their games to be part of the subscription service in June 2023. The original Frostpunk is available on Game Pass already. This War Of Mine, another popular 11 Bit Studios Game is also available as part of the service, along with other 11 Bit games and more to follow.
