What you need to do to play Grounded 2 before its full release

Grounded 2 is available through Steam's early access program right now, which means you can play it before the official launch. To access it, you need a Steam account, you need to own or purchase Grounded 2 on Steam, and you need to opt into the early access branch in your Steam settings. The game is not free — you pay the standard price once, and then you have access to all early builds as they release.

Early access is different from a demo or a free trial. You are buying the full game, but you are playing a version that is still in development. Obisidian Entertainment, the studio making Grounded 2, releases new builds regularly, and you get each one automatically when you launch the game.

Key Takeaways

  • You must purchase Grounded 2 on Steam to access early builds — there is no separate free preview.
  • After you own the game, you opt into early access through Steam's beta branch settings, not through a separate launcher or website.
  • Early access builds arrive automatically when you launch the game, and you do not need to manually download patches.
  • Early builds may have bugs, incomplete features, or balance changes that affect your save files between updates.

Buying Grounded 2 on Steam

Go to the Grounded 2 store page on Steam. You can search for it by name or find it through the Obsidian Entertainment publisher page. The game costs $29.99 USD, though regional pricing varies by country. Click "Buy" or "Add to Cart," complete the purchase through Steam's checkout, and the game will appear in your library.

Once the purchase is complete, you own the game and can begin downloading it. Steam will show you the download size — Grounded 2 is roughly 50 to 60 GB depending on your platform and which optional content packs you choose during installation. You do not need to do anything else to own the game; the early access opt-in happens after the download finishes.

Opting into the early access branch in Steam

Open Steam and go to your library. Find Grounded 2 in your games list, right-click it, and select "Properties." Click the "Betas" tab on the left side of the properties window. You will see a dropdown menu that says "None — LIVE" or similar. Click that dropdown and select the early access branch — it is usually labeled something like "Early Access Build" or "Public Test Branch."

Steam will prompt you to confirm, and then it will begin downloading the early access version. This may take a few minutes to an hour depending on your internet speed and how different the early build is from the live version. Once the download finishes, you can launch the game and play.

If you ever want to switch back to the stable release version, you return to the same Betas tab and select "None — LIVE" from the dropdown. Your save files will remain on your computer, though they may not be compatible with older builds if the save format changed.

What to expect from early access builds

Early access means the game is playable but not finished. Obsidian releases new builds on a regular schedule — usually every few weeks, though the exact timing varies. Each build may add new features, fix bugs, rebalance weapons or creatures, or change how certain systems work. You do not control when updates arrive; Steam downloads them automatically when you launch the game.

Bugs are normal in early access. You might encounter crashes, missing textures, creatures behaving oddly, or features that do not work as intended. If you find a bug, you can report it through the in-game feedback system or on the official Grounded forums. Obsidian reads these reports and uses them to prioritize fixes.

Save file compatibility is not may provide between builds. Sometimes a major update changes how the game stores progress, and your old save may not load in the new version. Obsidian usually warns you before this happens, but it is worth backing up your save files if you have invested significant time. Your save files are stored in a folder on your computer — you can find the exact location in the game's settings or in the Grounded community guides on Steam.

Switching between early access and the stable release

You can move back and forth between the early access build and the stable release version as many times as you want. Go back to Properties > Betas and select "None — LIVE" to play the official release, or select the early access branch to return to the development build. Steam handles the download automatically.

Keep in mind that if you play on the stable release and then switch back to early access, your save files may not be compatible if the early build is ahead of the stable version. The safest approach is to pick one branch and stick with it until you finish a playthrough, or keep separate save files for each version.

System requirements and performance

Grounded 2 requires a 64-bit Windows PC or Xbox console. On PC, the minimum specs are an Intel Core i5-9400 or AMD Ryzen 5 3600, 16 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia GTX 1060 or AMD RX 580. Recommended specs are an Intel Core i7-10700K or AMD Ryzen 7 3700X, 32 GB of RAM, and an Nvidia RTX 2080 or AMD RX 5700 XT.

Early access builds sometimes run less smoothly than the stable release because developers are still optimizing performance. If you experience stuttering, frame drops, or crashes, check the game's settings to lower graphics quality or resolution. You can also report performance issues through the in-game feedback tool — Obsidian uses this data to improve optimization in future builds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to pay extra to access early builds?

No. You pay once for Grounded 2, and that purchase includes all early access builds. You do not pay a subscription or a separate fee to opt into the beta branch.

Will my save files carry over when the game fully releases?

Obsidian has stated that save files from early access should carry over to the full release, but this is not may provide. It is a good idea to back up your saves before major updates, just in case.

Can I play early access on Xbox?

Yes. On Xbox, you can access early builds through the Xbox Insider Hub app. The process is similar to Steam — you enroll in the preview program, and the early build downloads automatically.

What if I find a bug in the early access build?

Report it through the in-game feedback menu or on the official Grounded forums. Include details about what you were doing when the bug happened and what system you are using. Obsidian reads these reports and prioritizes fixes based on how many people report the same issue.

Can I refund the game if I do not like the early access version?

Steam's refund policy allows you to return a game within 14 days of purchase if you have played for fewer than 2 hours. After that, refunds are at Valve's discretion. Early access games are not exempt from this policy, so you have the same window as any other purchase.