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 highly anticipated 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 first Frostpunk having debuted in 2018, the remake will mark nearly a decade since the initial release.

Frostpunk is a gripping city-building survival video game set in an alternate history of the late 19th century. Players are tasked with constructing and sustaining a city amidst a global volcanic winter, managing scarce resources, making tough survival decisions, and venturing beyond their city to find survivors, resources, and other essential items.

IGN's review of the original Frostpunk awarded it a commendable 9/10, praising its unique blend of thematic ideas and gameplay mechanics: "Frostpunk deftly mixes a variety of thematic ideas and gameplay elements into an engaging and unique, if occasionally unintuitive, strategy game."

Frostpunk 2, while still well-received, scored slightly lower at 8/10. IGN noted, "Thanks to a ground-up rethinking of its ice-age city builder mechanics, Frostpunk 2's larger scale is less intimate but more socially and politically complex than the original."

Despite the new project, 11 bit studios remains dedicated to supporting Frostpunk 2 with free major content updates, a console launch, and additional DLCs. The studio explained that with the cessation of development on their proprietary Liquid Engine, which powered both Frostpunk and This War of Mine, they sought a new foundation for the franchise. Enter Unreal Engine 5 for Frostpunk 1886.

"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. “While Frostpunk 2 continues to forge ahead with free major content updates, a console launch, and DLCs, this newly announced project marks a return to the franchise’s roots, offering both newcomers and longtime citizens of New London an evolved take on the harsh, morally challenging survival experience that started it all."

The title Frostpunk 1886 honors a critical moment in the game's universe—the descent of the Great Storm upon New London. This remake is more than just a visual upgrade; it expands upon the original's core with new content, mechanics, laws, and an entirely new Purpose path, providing a fresh experience even for seasoned players.

"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 explained.

11 bit studios envisions a future where both Frostpunk 2 and Frostpunk 1886 evolve in tandem, each enhancing the vision of survival in the relentless cold. Alongside these projects, the studio is also developing The Alters, set to release in June, ensuring a busy and exciting period ahead for fans of their work.