When is the Frostpunk 2 release date? Your objective in this city-building management game is the same as it ever was: survive the harsh winter to see another day. However, the needs of the people can sometimes not be in the best interest of the colony as a whole, and one wrong decision can spell absolute disaster.
The best management games always have some element of tension. However, rioting and the eventual collapse of an entire settlement because the heating’s gone out is one of the more unsettling ways to lose. We’ve been waiting a long time since Frostpunk 2 was announced in 2021, but we now have full confirmation of the Frostpunk 2 release date and the latest gameplay details before launch.
Frostpunk 2 release date
The Frostpunk 2 release date is Friday September 20, 2024. It was initially due to be released this summer, but after some feedback from the open beta, 11-Bit Studios decided that it needed a little more time to refine the final build.
Frostpunk 2 is available on PC via Steam, Game Pass, Epic Games Store, and GOG. We also have confirmation that we’ll be able to play Frostpunk 2 on Game Pass at launch.
The delay, like so many before it, can only be considered a good thing, as the developer team clearly want to make the best game possible. The initial delay statement cited player feedback as the reason for pushing things back, saying “Your observations, along with the existing backlog of features that we were already working on, made us realize that we can prioritize things better to guarantee you have the best possible experience at launch.”
Among the changes confirmed since the beta are changes to the Frostpunk 2 UI and HUD. On July 22, 2024, 11 Bit Studios confirmed that the HUD is being made more intuitive, while the Idea Tree is also being simplified, among other crucial quality of life improvements.
Frostpunk 2 beta
A Frostpunk 2 beta ran from Monday, April 15 to Monday, April 22, 2024. Players who pre-ordered the deluxe edition had the opportunity to play during this seven-day beta period, along with access to the Utopia Builder Preview sandbox mode.
11 Bit Studios revealed Frostpunk 2 received an average rating of 8/10 in the official survey that went out to beta testers following the beta’s conclusion. They also confirmed that 42% of players reached the 300 weeks time limit, while 24% of players failed to complete a quest on time. This certainly bodes well for Frostpunk 2’s overall challenge.
Additionally, while the beta language options were restricted to English and Simplified Chinese, 11 Bit Studios confirms that all additional languages noted on the official store page will be available on full release.
Frostpunk 2 trailers
Frostpunk 2 was officially unveiled in an announcement trailer in August 2021, with a cinematic showing several oil refineries in the distance. A narrator over a tannoy outlines the events of a deserted settlement in the snow, where a bloody massacre took place. Years later, we got another trailer with a narrator summarizing the general theme of the harsh reality of a falling Frostpunk city.
11 Bit Studios then dropped a gameplay teaser during the PC Gaming Show at the tail end of 2023. This trailer was tantalizingly brief, featuring an overview of a frostbitten city kept alive by industrial power lines and a fleet of aerial transport, culminating in a short message to “stay tuned for more.”
Our patience was rewarded with the launch date trailer that appeared in the Xbox Partner Preview 2024, which gave us a more in-depth look at Frostpunk 2’s political systems, map expansion mechanics, and cutthroat diplomacy – all of which demand decisive action if you hope to survive the cold.
Frostpunk 2 gameplay
Since this first trailer reveal, we didn’t get much info until a couple of years later when we attended a Frostpunk 2 preview. There, we uncovered that the sequel’s main campaign and scenarios will include endless mode from the beginning, a feature that was previously included as DLC.
Frostpunk 2 will also use AMD FSR3, with the developers praising just how easy it was to implement into their current game build. Die-hard fans have the perfect opportunity to upgrade their rig with the Frostpunk-themed Sapphire Pure AMD Radeon RX 7700 XT bundle, which includes pin badges and custom keycaps on top of its striking frostbitten hardware.
Our own Danielle Rose also had the opportunity to dip into the last Frostpunk 2 beta where she discovered the importance of Frostpunk 2 Frostland teams. These scouts gather resources to help expand your city and survive the harsh environment. She also delved into the political machinations of the Frostpunk 2 Council Hall, divided up into Factions that you must sway to pass laws that govern city management – though you’ll need Frostpunk 2 Heatstamps to keep those facilities up and running.
Frostpunk 2 deluxe edition
The Frostpunk 2 deluxe edition includes several bonuses available for players, most notably exclusive access to the Frostpunk 2 story mode three days ahead of the official release. It also includes the three DLC packs 11 Bits Studios has in the pipeline, along with the Warm Flesh novella, digital artbook, and soundtrack. Finally, players who purchase the deluxe edition will also receive an exclusive in-game item, though what this entails remains to be seen.
Now that you’re up to speed with the Frostpunk 2 release date, check the best city-building games while you’re waiting for this highly anticipated sequel. We’ve also got some excellent picks for strategy games where you have more direct control.