Frostpunk: 1886 will let players zoom in on New London’s citizens

Polygon reports 11 bit studios is converting its 2018 city builder Frostpunk to Unreal Engine and will let players zoom in on individual citizens in the city of New London in the expanded Frostpunk: 1886, which is expected to release in 2027.

The studio says the new engine significantly improves graphics and will allow a closer camera and more animations so players can observe how people react to the brutal cold and harsh policies. "We plan to bring the camera closer and to improve the amount of animations of these people, so if a player wants, he can observe those people, how they are reacting and what they are doing," 11 bit studios game director Maciej Sulecki said, and he added the idea grew from the studio’s earlier game This War of Mine, where close-up civilian views helped create an emotional bond.

What’s confirmed: the expanded game will add more maps beyond the original eight, include an endless mode at launch, and support mods. Sulecki said Frostpunk: 1886 will also offer a third radical societal path though he would not provide details, and the 1886 team is working closely with the Frostpunk 2 team; 1886 is set in the immediate aftermath of the storm, while Frostpunk 2 is set 30 years later and focuses more on human nature and group dynamics.

Key Topics

Culture, New London, Maciej Sulecki, Unreal Engine