"Frostpunk 1886 Remake Set for 2027, Developer to Keep Updating Frostpunk 2"

11 bit studios has exciting news for fans of the Frostpunk series: they've announced Frostpunk 1886, a remake of the original game, set to launch in 2027. This announcement comes just over six months after the release of Frostpunk 2, showcasing the studio's commitment to the franchise. The first Frostpunk debuted in 2018, so the release of the remake will mark nearly a decade since the original's launch.

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 game challenges players to manage resources, make survival decisions, and explore the surrounding areas for survivors and essential items.

IGN's review of the original Frostpunk awarded it a commendable 9/10, praising it as an "engaging and unique, if occasionally unintuitive, strategy game" that skillfully blends various thematic ideas and gameplay elements. Frostpunk 2, while slightly less acclaimed with an 8/10 score, was noted for its "ground-up rethinking of its ice-age city builder mechanics" which, though less intimate, offered more social and political complexity.

11 bit studios confirmed that they will continue to support Frostpunk 2 with free major content updates, a console launch, and additional DLCs, even as they develop Frostpunk 1886. The shift to Unreal Engine 5 for the remake is significant, as the studio's proprietary Liquid Engine, which powered both Frostpunk and This War of Mine, is no longer in development.

"With the studio’s proprietary Liquid Engine, which powered not only the original Frostpunk but also This War of Mine, no longer in development, the team has long sought a new foundation to carry forward the legacy of the first game," 11 bit stated.

The new project, Frostpunk 1886, is named to honor a pivotal moment in the game's universe—the Great Storm that descended upon New London. This remake promises to build upon the original game's core, introducing new content, mechanics, laws, and an exciting new Purpose path. It's not just a visual upgrade; it's an evolution of the survival experience that started it all.

"Reimagining Frostpunk in Unreal Engine also allows the game to become a living, expandable platform, bringing with it long-awaited mod support—a community request that was previously impossible to realize due to technical limitations of the original engine—as well as the possibility to add future DLC content," the studio added.

11 bit studios envisions a future where both Frostpunk 2 and Frostpunk 1886 evolve together, offering fans two distinct yet parallel paths in the unforgiving world of Frostpunk. Meanwhile, the studio is also working on another project, The Alters, set for release in June.