‘Frostpunk 2’ release date, gameplay: Sequel happens 30 years after and moves from coal mining to oil extraction

The critically-acclaimed city-building survival “Frostpunk” is getting a sequel, officially called “Frostpunk 2.” Aside from gameplay improvements, there is also a development in the plot as the second title moves forward from coals to oil.

Developer 11 Bit Studios announced the development of “Frostpunk 2” by releasing its first trailer on Thursday. The teaser, which runs for a minute and 30 seconds, does not reveal much about the actual gameplay changes in the sequel. But it provides an eerie preview of the state of the world 30 years after the age of coal mining.

While it may seem like moving forward to a new resource would mean the game’s world would look better, the “Frostpunk 2” trailer shows otherwise. The video teaser suggests the sequel may not look too different from how the first title ended.

The “Frostpunk 2” announcement trailer shows a little bit of the environment, and it appears to still be covered in ice. It can be recalled that there was a catastrophic blizzard by the end of the first game, and by the looks of the trailer, it may still have its effects in the in-game world after 30 years.

Aside from an icy world, the “Frostpunk 2” teaser also confirms that the main resource to gather in the sequel will be oil. On the game’s official Steam page, the developer confirms that players will still assume the role of a metropolis leader, whose main task is to provide the resource demands of their city.

“After the age of coal, conquering Frostland for the oil extraction industry is expected to be the new salvation of what’s left of humanity,” the “Frostpunk 2” developer teased. “However, change does not come easily, and not everyone in this new multi-layered society will welcome this new direction.” Of course, “Frostpunk 2” would not be complete without politics and other societal issues that would make more than just about building a city and gathering resources.

The first game was well-received, especially by critics. It was nominated as Best Strategy Game at The Game Awards 2018, PC Game of the Year at the 2018 Golden Joystick Awards, and for the best Narrative at the 15th BAFTA. So the expectations are understandably high for “Frostpunk 2.” Unfortunately, it may not be released anytime soon as developers told PC Gamer the sequel is still “pretty early in development.”