Okay, so picture this: I’m at Summer Game Fest 2025, right? And there I am, getting my hands on Grounded 2. It’s like those classic teeny-tiny adventures where kids are miniaturized, fighting off bugs with makeshift spears. I mean, I was jabbing at these gnarly little mites, and even though they weren’t spiders, it crossed my mind—this could totally freak out someone with arachnophobia. Thankfully, I’m not one of those people.
Oh, and hey, for all you folks who can’t stand the sight of spiders, good news: Grounded 2 has got your back with an arachnophobia mode. So, breathe easy.
I chatted a bit with Chris Parker, the brain behind the game. He talked about how the original Grounded team did solid work on that spider issue. Funny thing is, in the game, those creepy crawlers end up looking like balloon animals when you switch on the arachnophobia mode. Kind of hilarious, right? Chris said this laid the groundwork for the sequel.
Now, here’s the wild part. Grounded 2 has rideable bugs. Yup, you heard me. I got to hop on a giant ant during the demo, which was cool and all. But Parker dropped a bomb—there’s gonna be a rideable spider too. I chuckled a bit because, really, how do you avoid freaking out the spider-fearing crowd while letting others ride the darn thing? Turns out, they just tweak the visuals so it doesn’t look spider-y. Genius or just plain funny? You decide.
And then there’s the whole debate—how scary should they make it? I mean, you want a thrill, not nightmares, right? The team is grappling with that sweet spot between creepy and kid-friendly. Time passes, and these digital characters (and let’s admit, us players) get a bit older, a bit bolder. But, how much is too much?
Chris mentioned they wrestle with that question a lot. Sometimes they push those boundaries until someone waves a red flag. Then they’re like, “Eh, maybe not.” They dive into user feedback to get it just right, and with early access soon, they’ll be all ears. Grounded 2 drops on July 29 for Windows PC and Xbox Series X. So, if you’re quaking in your boots, Obsidian Entertainment wants to hear about it. Keep it real.
