Summary
In the most recent development for Obsidian Entertainment’sGrounded, update 1.2.6 has just been released, marking another notable milestone in the evolution of this beloved backyard survival game. Having spent two years in early access,Groundedofficially made its transition to a fully-fledged title last Septemberand has since continued to thrive and expand. This latest update brings significant enhancements and bug fixes designed to elevate the player experience within this miniature world of exploration.
In April 2023,Groundedrolled out update 1.2, which introduced a wealth of new features to the game. This Super Duper update included an array of craftable items and introduced new creatures like wasps and the formidable Wasp Queen. Players gained access to the Super Duper machine withinGrounded’s Oak Tree Lab, allowing them to duplicate items and equipment using Raw Science materials obtained by locating Duper Discs. The update also enhanced the base building with quality-of-life improvements and introduced the Handy Gnat companion to assist with construction and material gathering. Additionally, a Base Coziness system was implemented, rewarding players for creating impressive dwellings with new recipes, mutations, and emotes.

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However, the latestGroundedupdate, 1.2.6, doesn’t introduce additional content or gameplay features. Instead, it addresses several critical issues within the game to enhance its overall stability and performance. According to the patch notes, some of the major fixes include resolving a memory leak crash that could occur when the game was paused. Additionally, efforts have been made to reduce memory usage on Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S to minimize out-of-memory crashes, which should lead to a smoother gaming experience.
One particularly annoying issue has also been addressed in this update: players will no longer experience randomly extreme lighting conditions, such as an excessively dark exterior or an overly bright interior, after respawning. The consistent delivery of updates, whether for introducing new content or refining existing mechanics, clearly showcases Obsidian Entertainment’s unwavering commitment toGrounded. Consequently, it comes as no surprise that such ongoing efforts have played a pivotal role in the game’s ascent, makingGroundedone of the best survival games.
What’s also worth highlighting is Obsidian Entertainment’s impressive pedigree, boasting critically acclaimed titles such asFallout: New Vegas,Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 2,South Park: The Stick of Truth, and many others in its portfolio. Given their storied history in the realm of RPGs, few expected a title like Grounded to emerge from the studio’s creative vault. Yet,Grounded’s success is a testament to Obsidian Entertainment’s abilityto tackle new challenges with fervor and innovation, making it a studio that can excel in diverse gaming experiences.
Groundedis available on PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.