"Frostpunk 1886 Remake Set for 2027, Devs to Update 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, and nearly a decade since the first Frostpunk game hit the shelves in 2018.

For this ambitious project, 11 bit studios is harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5, aiming to elevate the gaming experience. Frostpunk, renowned for its unique setting in an alternate 19th-century world during a global volcanic winter, challenges players to construct and manage a city while making critical survival decisions and exploring the harsh environment for resources and survivors.

IGN's review of the original Frostpunk awarded it a stellar 9/10, praising it as an "engaging and unique, if occasionally unintuitive, strategy game" that skillfully blends various thematic elements and gameplay mechanics. Frostpunk 2, while receiving a slightly lower score of 8/10, was appreciated for its expansive scale and deeper social and political complexity, albeit with less intimacy than its predecessor.

Despite the focus on the new remake, 11 bit studios remains committed to supporting Frostpunk 2 with free major updates, a console launch, and additional DLCs. The decision to move away from the studio's proprietary Liquid Engine, which powered both Frostpunk and This War of Mine, to Unreal Engine 5 marks a significant shift aimed at enhancing the game's capabilities and fulfilling long-standing community requests, such as mod support.

Frostpunk 1886 is not merely a visual upgrade; it promises new content, mechanics, laws, and an entirely new Purpose path, offering a fresh experience for both new players and veterans. The title honors a crucial moment in the game's universe, the Great Storm that descended upon New London, and aims to reimagine the harsh, morally challenging survival experience that captivated players in the first game.

Looking forward, 11 bit studios envisions a future where Frostpunk 2 and Frostpunk 1886 evolve in tandem, each enhancing the franchise's vision of survival in an unforgiving cold world. Meanwhile, the studio is also busy with another project, The Alters, set to be released in June.