Initial buzz about Grounded was minimal; just an inkling that something fresh might emerge in gaming. Yet its sudden explosion into mainstream consciousness proved otherwise; mesmerizing millions with its blend of survival, exploration, and crafting gameplay. Obsidian Entertainment seems to have created some form of magical shrinking potion that allows us to experience life from an ant's point of view! Grounded was an unexpected sensation that captured everyone's interest surprisingly early. A stealthy title that initially managed to stay under the radar before blossoming into something amazing and inspiring players around the globe; suddenly everyone was talking about survival in backyard environments!

Crafting Depth, Overcoming Challenges...

I have spent endless hours wandering among towering blades of grass, building intricate fortresses, and fighting massive insects that would send any arachnophobe shrieking with fear. It is an extraordinary world with beauty as well as fear; every dewdrop could provide life support while spiders could pose grave threats; its ability to transform everyday things into extraordinary experiences is truly astounding. Far from me to recommend to those who buy PS5 games a title that I did not finish and totally enjoyed it. Grounded may contain quirks - software bugs not of the garden variety - which are sometimes annoying, yet these issues are easily overlooked given its sheer joy of discovery. Every corner offers new challenges; discovering an underground cavern or crafting a powerful weapon are always exciting experiences in Grounded!

Stealth and Survival Mechanics

Survival mechanics in Antsy are deceptively deep for such an apparently straightforward premise, from gathering resources, crafting tools, and building your base to exploring your surroundings and fortifying against monstrous insects lurking behind every corner. I spent hours fortifying my base only for it to become overrun with angry ants; an experience both thrilling and frightening at once! A game about being shrunk down seemed like an odd choice of subject matter; yet once I ventured into that unfamiliar and overgrown world I became fascinated and became fully immersed in its strange beauty, creating an unparalleled feeling of discovery!

An Engaging Experience for Both Beginners and Veterans Alike

Every blade of grass and dewdrop holds something special to reveal; there's great pleasure in exploring this miniature world and piecing together what happened here. Grounded's humor also stands out: from absurdly large bugs to its quirky dialogue, Grounded, among PS5 adventure games, manages to be both frightening and delightful at the same time. Grounded stands as proof of what can be accomplished with fresh perspectives and taking risks; its success speaks for itself and millions are playing this beloved title!

Final Thoughts: Exceed Expectations

Obsidian Entertainment has conjured an immersive universe that is both intimate and massive in scale. A backyard that was once mundane transforms into an expansive wilderness where every dewdrop may become its own lake; every pebble becomes its own formidable mountain; not simply another take on "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids." Obsidian has created something bolder - an immersion into an alienated reality where survival becomes ever-present anxiety. Grounded isn't without its problems; performance issues may hinder gameplay at times and some of the later game content feels thin at times, yet these are minor drawbacks in what otherwise represents an exceptional package.

Microsoft’s decision to release some of its Xbox games on rival console the PlayStation 5 appears to be paying off, with Rare’s pirate adventure Sea of Thieves topping Sony's sales chart.

In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Sony revealed that Sea of Thieves was April’s most-downloaded …

I do not envy anyone working on the previously announced Legend of Zelda movie. Whereas, with Mario, they needed only make cute cartoons and load the film with jokes and easter eggs, Zelda feels so much more nuanced, and any angle is likely to displease many. Filmmaker Wes Ball has recently made it clear that his…

Read more...

There's something quietly quite exciting happening, and I wonder where it's going to lead. Earlier this week, Grounded - the Honey I Shrunk the Kids backyard survival game - arrived on PlayStation, and at the end of the month (30th April) pirating game Sea of Thieves arrives on PlayStation too. It's a momentous occasion, even though it might not sound it, because we've never had games conceived as Xbox exclusives arrive on PlayStation before. It's an unprecedented new approach by Microsoft and, should it work, it could open a whole Mary Poppins bag of possibility.

I don't want to talk about the colder business case for it, because that's not what excites me. What excites me is what it means for players and, I suppose, for the games themselves. How wonderful it feels to be excited about these games again, which are now a number of years old. We first played Sea of Thieves in early 2018, and Grounded in mid-2020, and they were terrifically exciting then, but now they're not. They've been with us so long they've become familiar. No one's pulling you aside and asking you, raw enthusiasm in their eyes, if you've played them yet.

Well, not yet.

Read more

UPDATE 18/4/24: The Grounded team has now sorted the connectivity issues on PC and PlayStation consoles.

A patch to sort the issue on Nintendo Switch is still in progress. "We appreciate your patience and we'll update users once the fix is available," Obsidian wrote.

The original story continues below.

Read more

There's something quietly quite exciting happening, and I wonder where it's going to lead. Earlier this week, Grounded - the Honey I Shrunk the Kids backyard survival game - arrived on PlayStation, and at the end of the month (30th April) pirating game Sea of Thieves arrives on PlayStation too. It's a momentous occasion, even though it might not sound it, because we've never had games conceived as Xbox exclusives arrive on PlayStation before. It's an unprecedented new approach by Microsoft and, should it work, it could open a whole Mary Poppins bag of possibility.

I don't want to talk about the colder business case for it, because that's not what excites me. What excites me is what it means for players and, I suppose, for the games themselves. How wonderful it feels to be excited about these games again, which are now a number of years old. We first played Sea of Thieves in early 2018, and Grounded in mid-2020, and they were terrifically exciting then, but now they're not. They've been with us so long they've become familiar. No one's pulling you aside and asking you, raw enthusiasm in their eyes, if you've played them yet.

Well, not yet.

Read more

UPDATE 18/4/24: The Grounded team has now sorted the connectivity issues on PC and PlayStation consoles.

A patch to sort the issue on Nintendo Switch is still in progress. "We appreciate your patience and we'll update users once the fix is available," Obsidian wrote.

The original story continues below.

Read more

Grounded creative mode opens up endless opportunities for players to craft and build within the backyard setting without restrictions. From constructing elaborate bases to testing out crazy contraptions, this mode unleashes your imagination. Keep reading to discover some of the most exciting things you can do in Grounded’s creative sandbox and why it’s a must-try part of the game.

Grounded Creative Mode Key Takeaways

• Infinite resources allow for limitless building and crafting in grounded creative mode
• No enemy threats so you can focus on creativity
• Fly and no-clip through the world for easier construction
• Spawn any item to test out wild design ideas
• Share creations with others via blueprint sharing

Building Your Dream Base

One of the most enjoyable aspects of creative mode is constructing the base of your dreams. With all resources available in unlimited quantities, you can build massive structures without worrying about gathering materials in grounded creative mode. Want to make a multilevel treehouse palace? A massive underground bunker? An intricate clocktower? The possibilities are endless. You also gain the ability to fly, letting you easily place blocks in hard-to-reach places high off the ground.

Testing Crazy Contraptions

Grounded Creative mode provides the perfect low-stakes environment to experiment with crazy contraption ideas. Want to build a massive Rube Goldberg machine? A crazy rollercoaster spanning the backyard? A elaborate trap system? You can spawn any item to bring even the wildest designs to life. With no enemy threats, you can focus entirely on your creations without distractions. It’s also easy to destroy and restart if a build isn’t working as planned.

Spawning Items On Demand

One of the most useful grounded creative mode abilities is instantly spawning any block, tool, or weapon with a few button presses. Need more raw materials? Spawn a stack with one click. Want to test out a rare weapon? Just summon it into your inventory. This makes item collection a non-issue so you can focus fully on construction. It’s also great for building demonstration areas, letting you instantly reset rooms to their pristine states.

Sharing Blueprints with Others

Once you’ve crafted an amazing build, you can share your creation with others using blueprint sharing. Export your build as a blueprint file which others can then import into their own worlds. This allows creative builders to show off their designs and also find new inspiration from what others have made. You might discover an ingenious building technique or get a cool idea for a new project of your own. The blueprint system opens up endless creative possibilities.

No Enemy Threats = Unlimited Focus on Building

Unlike the main game where hostile insects are constantly trying to destroy your base, grounded creative mode removes all threats. You’ll never be interrupted by a spider suddenly attacking or have to rebuild walls taken down by ants. This allows unrestricted focus on your constructions without distractions. You also can’t die or take damage, removing any stress when working high off the ground or experimenting with dangerous traps. It’s the perfect low-pressure environment for unleashing your inner architect.

Fly and No-Clip Through the World

Grounded Creative mode grants some handy abilities like flying and no-clipping that make building and traversing the world much easier. Flying lets you soar high above the treetops to get a bird’s eye view of your projects. It’s also great for placing blocks in hard-to-reach areas of tall builds. No-clipping removes collision, letting you seamlessly glide through walls and structures. This comes in handy for intricate interior decorating or fixing issues on the inside of buildings. Both abilities massively boost construction convenience.

Testing Ideas Before Committing Resources

For those who enjoy the survival aspects of Grounded’s main mode, creative building provides a safe testing ground. You can prototype new base designs, crafting stations, and trap creations without investing limited-supply resources. This lets you iterate on ideas, seeing what works well and what doesn’t before committing valuable materials. It’s lower pressure than diving straight into a big build in the regular mode. You might discover more efficient designs or find issues you want to tweak before using the blueprint in a survival world.

An Endless Sandbox for Creativity

Overall, Grounded creative mode unleashes your imagination by removing all restrictions on building. With infinite resources, no threats, and handy abilities, you can focus entirely on crafting whatever wild structures and contraptions come to mind. Whether you want to build the biggest bases, craft insane Rube Goldberg machines, or just let your creative juices flow, this mode provides an endless virtual sandbox. Be sure to check it out and let your imagination run wild in the backyard setting!

FAQs

How do I access creative mode in Grounded?

To enter grounded creative mode, start a new game and select the “Creative” option when choosing your world type. You’ll spawn at the oak tree with all building and crafting options unlocked.

Can I build anywhere in creative mode?

Yes, grounded creative mode removes all building restrictions. You can construct freely anywhere in the backyard, even places normally obstructed like under the hedge or inside other structures.

Can I share my creative mode builds?

Absolutely. Once your build is complete, you can export it as a blueprint file then share that blueprint online or with friends. They can then import it into their own creative worlds.

What items are available in creative mode?

You have access to craft and spawn all items, resources, and blocks found in the main Grounded game. This includes all tools, weapons, armor, building parts, crafting stations, and more.

Can I play creative mode with friends?

Not yet, but the developers have said cooperative creative building is a planned feature. For now creative mode can only be accessed solo in a private world.

Grounded is coming up on its fourth birthday, and it's come a remarkably long way since it first appeared: updates have added loads of new features, made it easier to share, and even made it a Steam Deck mainstay. Its latest update, 1.4, is out now - and to celebrate, developer Obsidian is running a free weekend on Steam.

Xbox has announced a PlayStation release date for Sea of Thieves, its popular pirate live service game from British studio Rare.

PlayStation 5 players will be able to wishlist the game beginning tomorrow, 22nd February, ahead of its launch on Sony's console on 30th April.

A blog post from Microsoft tonight also confirms PlayStation dates for Pentiment (tomorrow, 22nd February) and Grounded (16th April) - the same as the dates confirmed for Switch in the Nintendo Direct earlier.

Read more

Nintendo's February Direct Partner Showcase has come and gone. This presentation was focused around third-party games so, as expected, there was no news on any homegrown Nintendo titles or the Switch 2's expected arrival in early 2025. However, the broadcast was still full of annoucements for games headed to Nintendo Switch from other publishers over the coming six months. Here's a roundup of everything which appeared during the 25-minute show.

Fresh from Microsoft's confirmation it was bringing more of its Xbox console exclusives to other platforms, the show began with a look at Obsidian's Grounded - where you have to explore a massive garden as a tiny human. Grounded will support online cross-platform multiplayer on Switch when it's released on 16th April.

After this, we entered the dying world of Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist. You take on the role of Lilac as she explores the landscape alongside a homunculus (Fullmetal Alchemist vibes anyone?). Ender Magnolia Bloom will be released on the Nintendo Switch later this year.

Read more

Following last week's long-rumoured announcement Microsoft is bringing four of its previously Xbox-exclusive first-party games to Switch and PlayStation 5, we've finally got official confirmation of the first two games making that multiplatform leap: Obsidian's historical narrative adventure Pentiment comes to Switch tomorrow, 22nd February, while inch-high garden adventure Grounded arrives 16th April on Nintendo's platform.

Starting with Pentiment, it cast players as Andreas Maler, a master artist who finds himself embroiled in murders, scandals, and intrigue over a period of five years in 16th century Bavaria. It's fantastic stuff - Eurogamer's Christian Donlan called it a "brilliant narrative adventure that is filled with intelligence and heart" in his Recommended review back in November 2022 - and the choice-driven adventure is paired with a striking art style, inspired by the great manuscripts and the earliest printed books of the time.

As for Grounded, Microsoft's second Switch-bound Xbox title, it's a wonderful co-op-imbued survival and crafting adventure with a distinctly 80s twist, taking a leaf out of cinema favourite Honey, I Shrunk the Kids. As in that movie, Grounded's four protagonists are miniaturised and left to fend for themselves in a sprawling backyard garden, building bases and crafting armour to forge ahead against deadly bugs, fish, and other wildlife.

Read more

This week on the Eurogamer Newscast, we discuss Microsoft's business update that brought us confirmation Xbox will launch four console exclusives - for now - on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

But why did Microsoft choose not to name those four games (even though Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Grounded and Sea of Thieves were immediately reported to be the titles in question)? What happened to the previously-reported plans to include larger games such as Starfield? And where will Microsoft draw the line for what to launch elsewhere? Right now, these four feel like something of a soft launch for Microsoft's multiplatform strategy,

As well as all that, we also discuss the news nuggets Microsoft dropped for the Xbox faithful - including mention of new Xbox console hardware this year and the proper next-gen Xbox that's still years away. With me this week are Eurogamer's Ed Nightingale, Victoria Kennedy and Liv Ngan.

Read more

Following mounting reports Xbox is preparing for some kind of multiplatform future, Microsoft has confirmed it'll be bringing four previously Xbox-exclusive first-party titles to PlayStation 5 and Switch later this year, with more likely to come in the future.

Reports that Microsoft was preparing to release a number of first-party games on competing consoles - namely Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush - first surfaced at the start of this year, but it wasn't until last week's claims high-profile exclusives such as Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would also be going multiplatform that Microsoft broke its silence, promising to reveal more in a podcast this week.

And now, as reported by The Verge - which was pre-briefed by Microsoft ahead of tonight's reveal - Xbox gaming boss Phil Spencer has confirmed the company has "made the decision that we're going to take four games to the other consoles". Bafflingly, Spencer does not name the games directly, only saying two are community-driven titles and two are smaller games.

Read more

At Xbox, we strive to create games that inspire, entertain, and connect players from around the world. As a publisher and platform we are committed to meeting players where they are, by bringing more games, to more people, and on more devices. And at the heart of all we do are our players, and the vibrant communities that they build around the games they love. 

Today we are announcing that four fan-favorite Xbox games will be coming to Nintendo Switch and Sony platforms this spring. The studios that built these celebrated games have drawn on their multi-platform experience to open the worlds they created to even more players and communities.  

• Pentiment from Obsidian Entertainment, a truly unique, critically acclaimed, and award-winning narrative adventure game with a striking visual style inspired by history itself will be coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on February 22.   

• Hi-Fi RUSH, the award-winning and beloved rhythm-based action game where the world syncs to the music from Tango Gameworks/Bethesda Softworks will be coming to PlayStation 5 on March 19 at midnight UTC, with pre-purchase available on PlayStation 5 digital storefronts on February 22.  

• Grounded – also from Obsidian Entertainment – a co-op survival adventure phenomenon that has welcomed 20 million players into the backyard, will be coming to PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch on April 16. Cross play will be supported across Xbox, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch and PC.   

• Sea of Thieves, the shared world adventure game from Rare, will be coming to PlayStation 5 on April 30 – and will be available to wishlist by PlayStation 5 players starting tomorrow, February 22. Having built a passionate community of more than 35 million players from around the world, the support of cross play for Xbox, PlayStation and PC will allow players to experience epic pirate adventures with friends on more platforms. 

These titles join franchises like Minecraft, Call of Duty, Overwatch and Diablo – which already reach players and fans on multiple platforms – and we’re excited for more players to experience these worlds and stories on more platforms.   

Whether it’s Nintendo Switch and PlayStation players surviving in the backyard together in Grounded, or PlayStation players getting to live a pirate’s life in Sea of Thieves, with cross-play, these multiplayer titles available will bring more people together and continue to grow their communities of players.  

Last week on The Official Xbox Podcast, we also discussed how our Xbox consoles will continue to provide a flagship experience for players. This is what it means to be a part of Xbox: 

• The biggest games in the world will be on Xbox.    
• Our first party games will come to Game Pass day one.  
• A robust and innovative multi-year hardware roadmap. 
• Compatibility with your library is a priority, inclusive of cross-play, cross-save, and robust cloud features.   
• Xbox will continue to help game creators find the biggest audience possible. 

And as we shared at Developer_Direct, earlier this year, players can look forward to Senua’s Saga: Hellblade II, Avowed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and more on Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Cloud Gaming, and Xbox Game Pass this year.  

There’s never been a better time to play, and we can’t wait for more players to experience these great games.  

The post New Platforms, New Players: Four Fan-Favorite Xbox Games Coming to Nintendo Switch and Sony Platforms appeared first on Xbox Wire.

Xbox games Pentiment and Grounded are confirmed to be coming to Nintendo Switch and PlayStation consoles.

Both Obsidian-developed games launched first on Xbox and PC, but arrive on Nintendo Switch as part of Microsoft’s new multiplatform push, signaled by Xbox boss Phil Spencer last week during …

As expected, Microsoft yesterday confirmed that four of their games are headed to rival consoles: Pentiment to PlayStations 4 & 5 and Nintendo Switch; Hi-Fi Rush to PS5; Grounded to PS4, PS5, and Switch; and Sea Of Thieves to PS5. It's nice to see barriers between systems coming down and all, and it'll likely have consequences of note to serious businessheads, but what relevance does this have for us as a PC gaming website? Well! Grounded and Sea Of Thieves will support cross-platform multiplayer, so we'll be able to play them with our consolatory chums. That's nice.

Read more

This week on the Eurogamer Newscast, we discuss Microsoft's business update that brought us confirmation Xbox will launch four console exclusives - for now - on PlayStation and Nintendo Switch.

But why did Microsoft choose not to name those four games (even though Hi-Fi Rush, Pentiment, Grounded and Sea of Thieves were immediately reported to be the titles in question)? What happened to the previously-reported plans to include larger games such as Starfield? And where will Microsoft draw the line for what to launch elsewhere? Right now, these four feel like something of a soft launch for Microsoft's multiplatform strategy,

As well as all that, we also discuss the news nuggets Microsoft dropped for the Xbox faithful - including mention of new Xbox console hardware this year and the proper next-gen Xbox that's still years away. With me this week are Eurogamer's Ed Nightingale, Victoria Kennedy and Liv Ngan.

Read more

Following mounting reports Xbox is preparing for some kind of multiplatform future, Microsoft has confirmed it'll be bringing four previously Xbox-exclusive first-party titles to PlayStation 5 and Switch later this year, with more likely to come in the future.

Reports that Microsoft was preparing to release a number of first-party games on competing consoles - namely Sea of Thieves and Hi-Fi Rush - first surfaced at the start of this year, but it wasn't until last week's claims high-profile exclusives such as Starfield and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would also be going multiplatform that Microsoft broke its silence, promising to reveal more in a podcast this week.

And now, as reported by The Verge - which was pre-briefed by Microsoft ahead of tonight's reveal - Xbox gaming boss Phil Spencer has confirmed the company has "made the decision that we're going to take four games to the other consoles". Bafflingly, Spencer does not name the games directly, only saying two are community-driven titles and two are smaller games.

Read more

Xbox revealed its "vision for the future" today in a podcast featuring executives Phil Spencer, Sarah Bond, and Matt Booty, who did their best to articulate the path forward for the platform amid reports of plans to embrace a third-party publishing strategy.

The business update confirmed that four …