11 bit studios has exciting news for fans of the Frostpunk series: they've announced Frostpunk 1886, a remake of the original game set to release in 2027. This announcement comes just over six months after the launch of Frostpunk 2, and nearly a decade since the first Frostpunk debuted in 2018.

For this ambitious project, 11 bit studios is harnessing the power of Unreal Engine 5. Frostpunk is a renowned city-building survival game set in an alternate history of the late 19th century. Players are tasked with constructing and managing a city amidst a global volcanic winter, making critical decisions to ensure survival, and venturing beyond the city limits to gather resources and rescue survivors.

IGN's review of the original Frostpunk awarded it a stellar 9/10, praising its unique blend of thematic ideas and gameplay elements, describing it as an "engaging and unique, if occasionally unintuitive, strategy game." Meanwhile, Frostpunk 2 received an 8/10, with IGN noting its "ground-up rethinking of its ice-age city builder mechanics," resulting in a game that's "less intimate but more socially and politically complex than the original."

Despite the focus on the new remake, 11 bit studios remains committed to supporting Frostpunk 2 with free major content updates, a console launch, and additional DLC. The studio's decision to move away from its proprietary Liquid Engine, which powered both Frostpunk and This War of Mine, to Unreal Engine 5 for Frostpunk 1886 marks a significant shift. This change not only aims to enhance the visual and gameplay experience but also introduces long-awaited mod support and the potential for future DLC content.

Frostpunk 1886 is more than just a visual update; it promises new content, mechanics, laws, and an entirely new "Purpose path," offering a fresh experience even for seasoned players. The title honors a crucial moment in the Frostpunk universe, the Great Storm that descended upon New London.

11 bit studios envisions a future where both Frostpunk 2 and Frostpunk 1886 evolve together, each exploring different facets of survival in the harsh, cold world they've created. Alongside these projects, the studio is also working on The Alters, set to release in June.