11 Bit Studios changed the city builder genre with the original Frostpunk, and Frostpunk 2 looks like it will iterate on the formula to bring about yet another new age.
Frostpunk 2 is the highly-anticipated sequel to one of the most engrossing city builders in recent memory. No longer do players only need to worry about gathering resources, expanding their city, and keeping their people happy. They must also now fight back against the cold by heating their city to keep citizens warm, deal with their unique requests in Earth’s icy past, and cope with new strains that an environmental disaster presents when you’re trying to craft a utopia carefully.
What is the release date for Frostpunk 2?
Frostpunk 2‘s release date is July 25, 2024. Those who pre-order the Deluxe Edition of the game will be granted 72 hours of early access. Fans can also get beta access to the game’s sandbox mode via Steam from April 15 to 22, 2024.
How is Frostpunk 2 different from Frostpunk?
Frostpunk 2 takes place 30 years after the original game. So if Frostpunk took place in roughly 1886/87, Frostpunk 2‘s vague timeframe is 1916/17. The Earth is still overwhelmed by the massive, world-changing Great Storm that’s engulfed much of it in snow and ice. You are the steward of a settlement and must elect leaders and work with them to maintain peace while feeding the needs of a city that relies so heavily on resources to remain warm.
The sequel allows players to build like never before, adding entire districts on a scale you could only dream of in Frostpunk. That comes with additional challenges, though, meaning you must keep peace between all the working parts of the city.
The way the developer has described the shift from the first game to the second is with a plethora of choices that players must now make. You’ve got to establish order, work with every faction that rises, no matter how evil their intentions, and find some way for the city to continue, even if it’s not what you had first envisioned. There will be a never-ending need for change, peace, and more resources, but on a scale players won’t have seen in any other city builder.
What platforms will Frostpunk 2 be available on?
Frostpunk 2 will be available on PC via Steam, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game will come to PS5 and Xbox Series X/S sometime after the PC release. However, in a recent Twitter thread, developer 11 Bit Studios spoke about how fans could get beta access on PC Game Pass. This means you aren’t restricted to Steam if you’re playing on PC.
All Frostpunk 2 editions and where to pre-order them
At the time of writing, there are two editions of Frostpunk 2 you can pre-order on Steam. These are the standard and Deluxe Editions. I’ve outlined what’s included in each below so you can purchase with full knowledge of what you’re getting.
- Frostpunk 2 Standard Edition (£37.99/$49.99) – The base game only.
- Frostpunk 2 Deluxe Edition (£62.99/$74.99) – The base game, access to sandbox beta in early April, 3 post-launch DLCs, 72 hours early access, an exclusive in-game item, “Warm Flesh” digital novella, digital artbook and soundtrack.
If you pre-order the Deluxe Edition early enough, you might get it slightly cheaper because 11 Bit Studios has been offering a 10% discount. Especially early on.
I can’t find a Frostpunk 2 Collector’s Edition anywhere, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be one. There was a massive Victorian Edition of the original Frostpunk, so there’s every chance that the developer will announce an extremely limited Collector’s Edition of Frostpunk 2 closer to release.
All trailers for Frostpunk 2
Below, I’ve listed every trailer for Frostpunk 2 that’s ever been released. Initially, it was crazy how few there were and how close to the chest 11 Bit Studios was holding the game, but it also had a few others to get out the door first.
The release date trailer is the best look at Frostpunk 2 we’ve had to date, and its visuals are so impressive.
The teaser trailer is short, but it does give us a glimpse of some gameplay.
The City Must Not Fall trailer is a cinematic video showing the proof of concept of the evolving world of the series.
