"Frostpunk 1886 Remake Set for 2027, Dev Promises Ongoing Updates for Frostpunk 2"

11 bit studios has exciting news for fans of the Frostpunk series with the announcement of Frostpunk 1886, a comprehensive remake of the original game, slated for release in 2027. This announcement comes just over six months after the launch of Frostpunk 2, showcasing the studio's commitment to expanding its acclaimed franchise. With the original Frostpunk debuting in 2018, the upcoming remake will mark nearly a decade since its initial release, promising to breathe new life into this beloved title.

Frostpunk is renowned for its unique setting in an alternate history late 19th century, where players must build and manage a city amidst a global volcanic winter. The gameplay involves resource management, survival decisions, and exploration for survivors and essential items outside the city's borders. The game's blend of city-building and survival elements has captivated players worldwide, earning it high praise, including a 9/10 from IGN, who noted, “Frostpunk deftly mixes a variety of thematic ideas and gameplay elements into an engaging and unique, if occasionally unintuitive, strategy game.”

While Frostpunk 2 received an 8/10 from IGN, praised for its "ground-up rethinking of its ice-age city builder mechanics" and its "larger scale [that] is less intimate but more socially and politically complex than the original," 11 bit studios continues to support it with planned DLCs and a console launch.

With the transition from their proprietary Liquid Engine, which powered both Frostpunk and This War of Mine, to the powerful Unreal Engine 5 for Frostpunk 1886, the studio aims to enhance the game's foundation significantly. 11 bit studios emphasized that Frostpunk 1886 is not merely a visual upgrade but a substantial expansion of the original game. It will introduce new content, mechanics, laws, and an entirely new "Purpose path," ensuring a fresh and engaging experience for both new and veteran players.

The use of Unreal Engine 5 not only promises stunning visuals but also enables the game to become a "living, expandable platform." This upgrade allows for long-awaited mod support and the potential for future DLC content, fulfilling community requests that were previously unfeasible due to the limitations of the original engine.

11 bit studios envisions a future where Frostpunk 2 and Frostpunk 1886 evolve in tandem, offering fans two distinct yet interconnected paths through the unforgiving world of Frostpunk. Alongside these developments, the studio is also working on another intriguing project, The Alters, set to release in June.