The co-op survival game Grounded's Shroom and Doom update was revealed during the E3 2021 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase, showcasing a plethora of new content coming in late June. Set to introduce the game's first boss and additions to its building mechanics, the update is part of Obsidian Entertainment's move away from small, frequent updates to occasional Grounded updates with more substance.
Grounded is a big shift in scope for Obsidian, a developer with known for relatively large-scale RPG adventures like Fallout: New Vegas and The Outer Worlds. The game is heavily inspired by the classic film Honey, I Shrunk The Kids, with players characters shrunk down to a miniscule size and forced to build shelters and craft armor and weapons in order to confront the dangers lurking in a backyard. Grounded can be experienced alone or online with up to three other people.
Obsidian released Grounded in early access in July 2020, with a full release planned for a later date. During its preview state, Obsidian has been providing fixes and new content, including Grounded's Koi pond update and the addition of bees and mosquitoes. The Shroom and Doom update looks to continue adding fun changes to the game, including bug pets, the ability to sit in chairs, and more.
What Grounded's Shroom & Doom Update Is Adding
During the Xbox Games Extended Showcase, game director Adam Brennecke and community manager Aarik Dorobiala spoke at length about the update. Brennecke explained mushrooms will play a key role in building structures, as players will now be able to harvest mushrooms of any size, breaking them up into "mushroom stuff" that must be ground up and cooked in an oven to create mushroom bricks. These mushroom bricks can be used to build more fortified structures in Grounded, with the potential to build castles and other fortresses.
The Shroom and Doom update will introduce Grounded's first boss: the Brood Mother, an imposing spider players will have to defeat using their strongest gear and best mutations. Brennecke explained the Brood Mother was originally included in Grounded at release, but the team felt it didn't "hit the right marks," so it was removed and adjusted to present a more memorable challenge.
Brennecke said the team is eager to hear community feedback on the Brood Mother boss, urging players to express their opinions concerning its difficulty level and rewards in order to improve future bosses. If Adam Brennecke and the team at Obsidian continue to add meaningful changes to Grounded like those found in the Shroom and Doom update, players should have a lot to look forward to when the game fully releases.
Grounded's Shroom and Doom update will be available for Xbox and PC on June 30, 2021.
Source: Obsidian Entertainment via Xbox