Survival city-builder fans eager to return to the unforgiving Frostlands will get an early chance to experience Frostpunk 2 next month. Developer 11 Bit Studios has announced a closed beta for the highly anticipated sequel, set to run from April 15-22.
The beta will grant access to players who have pre-ordered the Digital Deluxe Edition of Frostpunk 2, allowing them a “glimpse of our ambitious sequel” ahead of the game’s full release in July. The beta will focus on the sandbox “Utopia Builder Preview” mode, rather than the full survival campaign that will make up the core Frostpunk 2 experience.
“Return to the unforgiving Frostlands and experience a glimpse of our ambitious sequel in which, among the need to survive, you’ll face a new and deadly threat: human nature and its insatiable thirst for power,” 11 Bit Studios said in their announcement.
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Set 30 years after the events of the original Frostpunk, the sequel will task players with leading a resource-hungry metropolis as it expands and navigates internal conflicts in the frozen post-apocalyptic world. The developers have teased a greater focus on social survival elements, as the citizens now demand more of a say in how the city is run.
“The days of being able to justify anything to ensure your people’s survival ‘are long gone’, and the people now ‘expect to be heard in how the city is run, what the rules in the city are, and how it’s going to be shaped,'” 11 Bit Studios previously explained.
Those who participate in the Frostpunk 2 beta will be able to experience this new emphasis on community and internal politics, as they tackle the sandbox Utopia Builder mode. While it may not encompass the full story campaign, the beta will offer an early glimpse at the sequel’s expanded city-building systems and greater player agency.
With Frostpunk 2 slated to hit full release on July 25th, this limited-time beta provides an enticing opportunity for devoted fans to get a head start on their next frozen city-building adventure. However, access is limited to those willing to pre-order the Digital Deluxe Edition, which may give some pause given the inherent risks of pre-ordering. Nonetheless, for diehard Frostpunk followers, the chance to explore the Frostlands ahead of the sequel’s launch is sure to be an enticing prospect.
