11 bit studios has exciting news for fans of the Frostpunk series: they've announced Frostpunk 1886, a much-anticipated remake of the original game, slated for release in 2027. This announcement comes just over six months after the launch of Frostpunk 2, highlighting the studio's commitment to expanding this beloved franchise. The original Frostpunk debuted in 2018, meaning the remake will arrive nearly a decade after its initial release.
For this project, 11 bit studios is harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5, marking a significant shift from the studio's proprietary Liquid Engine, which powered both the original Frostpunk and This War of Mine. The decision to move to Unreal Engine 5 aims to provide a new foundation to carry forward the legacy of the first game, enabling enhanced visuals and gameplay mechanics.
Frostpunk is a unique city-building survival game set in an alternate history of the late 19th century. Players are tasked with constructing and maintaining a city amidst a global volcanic winter, managing scarce resources, making tough survival choices, and venturing beyond the city limits to find survivors, resources, and other valuable items.
IGN's review of the original Frostpunk awarded it a solid 9/10, praising its ability to blend various thematic ideas and gameplay elements into an engaging and unique strategy game, despite some occasional unintuitive elements. Frostpunk 2 received an 8/10 from IGN, noted for its expanded scale and increased social and political complexity, though it was less intimate than the original.
While continuing to support Frostpunk 2 with free major content updates, a console launch, and planned DLCs, 11 bit studios is also focusing on Frostpunk 1886. This remake isn't just a visual upgrade; it's an evolution of the original game, introducing new content, mechanics, laws, and a new Purpose path. This path promises a fresh experience even for seasoned players, reimagining the harsh and morally challenging survival scenario that defined the franchise.
The move to Unreal Engine 5 also paves the way for Frostpunk 1886 to become a living, expandable platform. This transition will fulfill a long-standing community request by enabling mod support, which was previously unfeasible due to the limitations of the original engine. Additionally, it opens up possibilities for future DLC content.
11 bit studios envisions a future where both Frostpunk 2 and Frostpunk 1886 evolve in tandem, each offering a unique path through the relentless cold of their world. The studio is also busy with another project, The Alters, which is set to release in June, keeping fans eagerly awaiting more from this innovative developer.
